Chief Development Officer

Founded in 1913 by 10 doctors and five laypeople in New York City, the American Cancer Society, Inc. (ACS) is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, ACS has been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. ACS is committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer.

ACS provides the support and guidance people impacted by cancer need at every step – from increasing access to screening at the local, state, and federal levels and advocating for more affordable health care to guiding patients and caregivers through their free 24/7 helpline and helping them get the treatment they need by offering free transportation and lodging. ACS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation governed by a single Board of Directors that is responsible for setting policy, establishing long-term goals, monitoring general operations, and approving the organizational outcomes and allocation of resources. The Board is composed entirely of volunteers from the medical and lay communities.  With a presence in more than 21,000 communities, ACS is working to support people facing all types of cancer, in every community. ACS helps mobilize communities in the cancer fight, delivering potentially lifesaving programs and services and raising crucial funds to support their mission. ACS organizes its efforts around four main Pillars: Advocacy, Discovery, Patient Support, and Development. 

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) of ACS and the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) serves as a bold and visionary leader, entrusted with shaping the future of fundraising to fuel the ACS mission: to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. As the strategic architect of the Development Pillar, the CDO holds systemwide authority over all aspects of revenue generation within the Development Pillar, ensuring that every dollar raised directly supports ACS’ life-saving work in advocacy, discovery, and patient support. This role is not just about raising funds — it’s about mobilizing hope, accelerating breakthroughs, and expanding access to care for every person touched by cancer. 

The CDO leads a dynamic and mission-driven team of approximately 1,350 professionals and volunteers across the country. Together, they drive a diverse and evolving portfolio that includes corporate partnerships, major and planned giving, digital and peer-to-peer fundraising, Discovery Shops, and signature events — both virtual and in-person. The CDO also champions regional fundraising strategies, empowering local teams and volunteers to bring the mission to life in their communities.

As ACS continues its transformation from an event-centric model to one rooted in strategic philanthropy and high-impact partnerships, the CDO will be a catalyst for innovation. They will reimagine how ACS engages donors, inspires giving, and builds enduring relationships that reflect the urgency and humanity of the cause. This is a rare opportunity to lead with purpose at one of the nation’s most trusted organizations. The CDO will closely collaborate with the CEO and senior leaders to align fundraising with mission priorities, ensuring that ACS resources are maximized to prevent cancer, save lives, and support every person on their cancer journey. As a senior strategist, this leader will be a key partner to the CEO in establishing the organization’s long-term strategic plan and elevating fundraising for optimum mission delivery.

While ACS will consider a broad range of backgrounds, the ideal candidate will have the following qualifications/experience:

• Authentic connection to and passion for the ACS mission and vision.
• Minimum of 15 years of experience in fundraising/development at progressively more responsible management levels. Proven fundraising knowledge and skills, especially in the areas of corporate, individual, and peer-to-peer relationships.
• Proven track record in fundraising from diverse sources, including experience applying moves management and facilitating leadership gift conversations with individual, corporate, and/or foundation donors. Demonstrated ability to develop and implement successful cultivation and solicitation strategies as well as to provide leadership in major campaign planning and execution.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively, iteratively, and creatively with a diverse set of stakeholders, including scientists and researchers, to co-create processes and solutions that meet the needs of the organization as well as those of donors and funders.
• Demonstrated leadership ability, confidence, and executive presence – ability to motivate, inspire and produce outstanding results.
• Track record of successfully managing teams and providing leadership to boards, team members, and volunteers in fundraising activities. Experience leading teams to achieve ambitious objectives by leveraging best practices, clear goals and metrics, and shared accountability as well as facilitating cross-departmental collaboration when necessary. A track record of rebuilding a development program(s) and team(s) in partnership with human resources colleagues is strongly preferred.
• Ability to set priorities, balance the demands of multiple tasks, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to think strategically and creatively, as well as to implement and follow-through. Demonstrated ability to integrate data into strategy development and decision-making.
• Knowledge of the nonprofit sector and awareness of the context in which ACS operates.
• Exceptional interpersonal skills with high emotional intelligence to inspire, motivate, and manage donor relationships effectively.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, and the ability to passionately communicate the impact of ACS’ work.
• Familiarity and comfort with development database systems (i.e., Salesforce).
• Bachelor’s degree in fields of business management, finance, or other relevant discipline (or equivalent work experience).
• Ability to travel on a national scale to support organizational priorities and strategic communications, including planning, personal cultivation and solicitation, or special events.

 
ACS is committed to a policy of Equal Employment Opportunity and will take positive action to continually ensure equal opportunity to its employees and to its applicants in the conduct of all business activities. The Society is dedicated to providing equal opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, veteran’s status, caregiver status, genetic information, or any factor that is a prohibited consideration under applicable law.

If you are having difficulty in applying for a job due to a disability, please contact ACS at 1-800-227-2345 to request accommodation to ensure that you can submit a timely application and have an equal opportunity to compete for jobs.

ACS has retained the DSG Fundraising & Advancement Practice of DSG Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link or directed to the leader of the search team.

https://talent-profile.dsgco.com/search/v2/22250

Gerard F. Cattie, Jr.
Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder – DSG Fundraising & Advancement
DSG Global
[email protected] | 212.542.2587