Chief Development Officer

About SparkWheel

Today’s students face incredible challenges every day. For some students, going to school is a chance to learn and share with friends. For others, school is the place where the only hot meal of the day is served, and they can forget about struggles at home. For these students, it is difficult to focus at school, and poor academic outcomes show the results.

We envision a world where barriers such as hunger and poverty do not stand in the way of students reaching their goals. To get there, we work with schools and community partners to gather local resources, which we connect with the students and families who need them the most. Our presence and connection to the student, families, school, and the community allows us to respond with whatever is needed, whenever it is needed.

For more than 25 years, schools and families have counted on SparkWheel to remove barriers, fill gaps, and be personal champions to help students thrive. Our trustworthy, passionate staff work inside schools alongside community partners to do everything we can to help students reach their full potential. Through the Integrated Student Supports framework, we help to support students’ academic and non-academic needs, resulting in an increased sense of well-being and greater success in school. Today, SparkWheel serves more than 30,000 students in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Iowa, with plans to expand to ten new states in the next five years.

You can learn more about our vision, impact, and programs on our website.  

The Opportunity

The Chief Development Officer will provide leadership and strategic direction to develop and sustain the fundraising engine at SparkWheel as we enter an exciting chapter of growth and expansion. Working in close partnership with the President & CEO, CFO, and Program leadership, the CDO will be responsible for guiding and implementing the organization's philanthropic support and donor relations across current and new geographies.

They will lead the Marketing & Communications team to further an External Relations strategy that supports fundraising goals and builds brand recognition and visibility at the local, regional, and national level. The CDO will play an important role in implementing our newly updated Strategic Expansion Plan and securing the necessary funds to make such growth possible.

Reporting directly to the CEO, the CDO will serve on the Executive Team and manage a team of three direct reports: Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Associate Vice President of Development, and Director of Donor Relations – KC Metro, and work in close partnership with the Vice President of Policy & Government Relations.

Key Responsibilities
Development Strategy & Expansion

• Partner with the President & CEO to create the vision for strategic funding priorities and operationalize that vision with measurable goals and outcomes.  
• Serve as the lead strategist of private sector fund development, defining tactics, tracking progress, and ensuring accountability across teams and programs.
• In alignment with the Strategic Expansion Plan, collaborate with the Chief Program Officer and cross-sector expansion team to implement programmatic expansion and replication.
• Share best practices, creative solutions, and innovative approaches to meeting fundraising goals with a collaborative approach and can-do attitude.

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship 

• Identify opportunities that will allow us to sustain, diversify, and grow our base of support across various revenue sources including corporate, foundation, and individual giving, as well as community-based campaigns and annual giving.
• Ensure the effective stewardship of new and existing donors, serving as the primary relationship-manager for a portfolio of donors and supporting other senior leaders and Board members in cultivating donors.
• Oversee the proposal and funding requests for public and private sector donors, including overseeing grant proposals and reports to foundations and governmental agencies.
• Lead the development and implementation of SparkWheel’s signature event, community fundraising, and partnership programs.

Communications Strategy & Innovation

• Further develop and implement a comprehensive communication strategy to effectively convey the organization's mission, accomplishments, and impact to a diverse array of audiences, including donors, the media, partners, and the public.
• Present monthly reports on the agency’s marketing and communications goals and performance for CEO and Board review.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of marketing and communications efforts, adapting and innovating new strategies for maximum impact.
• Ensure consistent messaging and branding across all communication channels and materials. Maintain a strong and positive public image for the organization.

Team Leadership

• Provide mentorship, guidance, and support to the Development and Marketing & Communications teams, supporting staff toward achieving individual and shared goals.
• Foster a collaborative and innovative work environment that promotes growth and achievement, while building systems and processes that ensure efficient and effective management of time and priorities.
• Lead by example to create a vibrant and progressive organizational culture, with a commitment to staff success, program impact, and mission clarity.

Candidate Profile

The Chief Development Officer will be an experienced, growth-oriented, and collaborative leader with exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. While no one candidate will possess every quality outlined for this position, the successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal attributes:

• Passion for and commitment to SparkWheel’s mission and values, with experience in, or appreciation for, the rural and tribal communities in which we work.
• 10+ years of professional experience in fundraising roles, with increasing responsibilities and demonstrated leadership within the development function.
• Experience cultivating and closing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations across regional or national networks.
• Experience developing and implementing strategies and related plans, tools, and processes in fundraising, communications, and event planning.
• Dedication to relationship building and a commitment to working as an integral part of the team, while exercising significant initiative and autonomy.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to develop strong relationships across a diverse spectrum of internal and external constituents.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience public speaking.
• Strong attention to detail, ability to manage often complex and competing projects and priorities.
• Results-oriented with a passion for making a difference for families and communities.

Compensation & Benefits

This is a full-time salaried position. The expected salary for this position is $120,000. SparkWheel’s generous benefit package includes medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401k match, life insurance, FSA, EAP, plus 20 vacation days, 9 holidays and a one week closure for winter break.

The SparkWheel National Office is located in Lawrence, Kansas. Applicants do not have to be based in Lawrence; however, they must be able to travel both to Kansas and other SparkWheel locations at regular intervals.

Contact

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group has been retained for this engagement, which is being led by Cassie Scarano and Ariella Pasackow. Please submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. 

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.