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Chief Development Officer Jobs in Michigan (NOW HIRING)

Senior Development Associate

Southfield, MI · On-site

$31.25 - $36.05/hr

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, this position plays a key role in advancing the organization's fundraising goals by building relationships with donors, volunteers, sponsors, and community ...

This position will report to the Chief Development Officer. They will function as the main support for all business needs as it relates to the Franchise development of new restaurants. They will act ...

Chief Financial Officer

Ann Arbor, MI · On-site

$190 - $259/hr

Chief Financial Officer LOCATION: Hybrid (Remote/Ann Arbor) STATUS: Full Time, Exempt TRAVEL ... Provides regular development feedback to team and accountability related to practices including ...

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Chief Development Officer information

See Michigan salary details

$48.4K

$118.1K

$184.8K

How much do chief development officer jobs pay per year?

As of Jul 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for chief development officer in Michigan is $118,069.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $86,700.00 and $139,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

Is being a BDM a stressful job?

A Business Development Manager (BDM) role can be stressful due to targets, client negotiations, and workload management. The level of stress varies based on industry, company culture, and individual skills in sales and relationship building.

What does a Chief Development Officer do?

A Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for overseeing an organization’s development and growth strategies, including fundraising, strategic partnerships, and program expansion. They often lead teams, develop long-term plans, and utilize tools like CRM systems to manage donor relationships and development initiatives.

What jobs make $1,000,000 a year?

Chief Development Officers in large corporations or successful entrepreneurs in industries like finance, technology, or real estate can earn $1,000,000 or more annually through salaries, bonuses, and equity. High-level executive roles often require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and strong leadership skills, with compensation heavily influenced by company performance and stock options.

What are some typical challenges faced by Chief Development Officers when leading fundraising initiatives?

Chief Development Officers (CDOs) often encounter challenges such as balancing short-term fundraising goals with long-term strategic growth, engaging diverse donor bases, and ensuring coordination between development, marketing, and program teams. They must also adapt to evolving donor expectations and leverage data-driven strategies to maximize fundraising efforts. Collaborative leadership, strong communication, and adaptability are vital for overcoming these hurdles and driving sustained organizational growth.

What Is a Chief Development Officer?

A chief development officer (CDO) is an executive-level employee at a business or non-profit. As a CDO, your job duties include overseeing the financial stability, fundraising, or growth of the organization. You maintain close communication with internal executive officers, such as the CEO and CFO, advising them on strategies to improve donor relations or increase revenue while providing input for yearly budgets and other financial issues. Qualifications for this career include experience working in a senior business development position, such as a Director of In-House Consulting or Corporate Strategy. You should also have experience in improving business revenue and productivity. To succeed in this role, you must have a strong desire to do research, analyze data, and be able to work well alone and with others. A CDO typically has a bachelor’s degree and an MBA as well as strong leadership and communication skills.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Chief Development Officer, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Chief Development Officer, you need expertise in fundraising strategies, donor relations, and nonprofit management, often supported by a degree in business, communications, or a related field. Familiarity with donor management systems (like Salesforce or Raiser’s Edge), analytics tools, and relevant certifications such as CFRE are typically essential. Exceptional leadership, strategic thinking, and persuasive communication set top performers apart in this role. These skills are crucial for securing resources, building strong partnerships, and advancing the organization’s mission.

What is the difference between Chief Development Officer vs Chief Fundraising Officer?

AspectChief Development OfficerChief Fundraising Officer
Primary FocusOverall organizational growth, including development strategies, partnerships, and program expansionFundraising activities, donor relations, and revenue generation
Required CredentialsTypically advanced degrees in business, nonprofit management, or related fields; experience in development rolesSimilar credentials, often with emphasis on fundraising certifications or experience in donor engagement
Work EnvironmentExecutive leadership in nonprofit or corporate settings, overseeing development teamsFundraising departments, donor relations teams, often within nonprofit organizations
Industry UsageCommonly used in nonprofits, educational institutions, and large corporationsPrimarily used in nonprofit organizations and charitable foundations

The Chief Development Officer focuses on broad organizational growth and development strategies, while the Chief Fundraising Officer specializes in fundraising efforts and donor relations. Both roles require similar credentials and often work closely, but their core responsibilities differ in scope and focus.

What jobs pay $500,000 a year in the US?

Chief Development Officers and other executive-level roles such as CEOs, CFOs, and surgeons can earn $500,000 or more annually, often through a combination of salary, bonuses, and stock options. These positions typically require extensive experience, advanced degrees, and leadership skills, and are common in large corporations, finance, healthcare, and technology sectors.
What are the most commonly searched types of Chief Development Officer jobs in Michigan? The most popular types of Chief Development Officer jobs in Michigan are:
What job categories do people searching Chief Development Officer jobs in Michigan look for? The top searched job categories for Chief Development Officer jobs in Michigan are:
What cities in Michigan are hiring for Chief Development Officer jobs? Cities in Michigan with the most Chief Development Officer job openings:
What are popular job titles related to Chief Development Officer jobs in MI? For Chief Development Officer jobs in MI, the most frequently searched job titles are:
Infographic showing various Chief Development Officer job openings in Michigan as of July 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $118,069 per year, or $56.8 per hour.

Chief Development Officer

The Zekelman Holocaust Center

Farmington Hills, MI • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Retirement

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Job Type
Full-time
Description
Summary of Responsibilities:
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) is responsible for leading and executing the organization's comprehensive fundraising strategy. This role oversees all philanthropic revenue streams-including individual giving, major gifts, corporate and foundation grants, planned giving, annual fundraising campaigns, special events, and donor stewardship. The CDO plays a crucial leadership role with an exceptionally invested and generous community of donors and staff. They will enhance the development strategy and lead the day-to-day operations of the development team. They need to lead by example by personally driving major and leadership-level gift solicitations while also training, inspiring, supporting, and bringing cohesion to an evolving Development team. They will foster collaboration, maintain a positive, productive work environment and ensure the team has the resources and guidance needed to succeed.
Who We Are:
The Zekelman Holocaust Center (The HC) was founded by Michigan survivors in 1984 as a lasting memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Our mission is to engage, educate, and empower through remembrance so that individuals and society will recognize, combat, and prevent antisemitism, discrimination, and hate-based violence. The Center teaches history's darkest period to 100,000 visitors each year, including students and adults of all backgrounds. Our new permanent exhibit places Holocaust victim and survivor stories at the center, making extensive use of archival footage, images and video testimony. Artifacts include an authentic WWII-era boxcar and a sapling from the tree located outside Anne Frank's hiding place window. The Center also invites the public to make use of its 20,000 volume Library Archive. Museum Educators and Docents provide customized tours, workshops and programs, empowering visitors to apply the lessons of the Holocaust to create a more compassionate world where people take responsible actionThe HC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
We value candidates who are community-oriented and civic-minded, and who demonstrate a commitment to serving others.
Why Join Us:
First and foremost, you will be making a difference in the world. Benefits include tremendous work/life balance, medical/dental/vision insurance, organization-matching 401K, generous holiday schedule, and much more.
Responsibilities:
  • Be an active participant in the planning and execution of the $100M capital campaign ($60M is already solidified)
  • Build relationships with existing donors, and be present at events and programs throughout the year
  • Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to organizational decision-making.

Leadership and Strategy
  • Lead the day-to-day operations of the Development team to meet or exceed annual revenue targets.
  • In partnership with the CEO, lead efforts to identify and secure new major individual donors at the seven-figure level.

Note: A separate Director of Development, reporting to the CEO, is dedicated exclusively to a small number of $1M+ donor relationships tied to the comprehensive campaign. (That role operates independently and does not oversee or manage Development department staff or operations.)
  • Guide the Major Gift Officers in donor and partner cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to raise the remaining balance toward the capital campaign goal.
  • Lead the team in developing a fundraising plan that allows for new donor development, increased annual donor support, stewardship of donors and securing of long-term commitments.
  • Develop a comprehensive development strategy, including annual and longer-term revenue goals and plans to diversify and increase organizational budget from foundation and individual donors (major donor, smaller-level donors, online, etc.), as well as other appropriate sources such as corporate sponsorships.
  • Establish performance metrics, improve processes, and cascade fundraising best practices across the department.
  • Guide foundation and government grant strategy, including working closely with grant writers on proposal development, relationship management, and reporting.
  • Ensure a high-quality donor experience through effective stewardship, recognition, and relationship-building practices

Gala Planning & Execution
  • Lead the efforts of the planning, coordination, engagement, fundraising and execution of all aspects of the annual Gala. Currently, over 1200 people attend.
  • Work closely with the Senior Event Manager to oversee all aspects of the evening
  • Work closely with the Major Gift Officers to ensure comprehensive outreach to all Gala donors and prospects, with a focus on maximizing attendance, sponsorships, and giving opportunities throughout the event cycle.

Staff Management & Organizational Culture
  • Manage a team of 11 development/marketing professionals, including seven direct reports, and ensure alignment between fundraising, marketing/communications, and organizational priorities.
  • Recruit, train, inspire, and manage staff, creating a dynamic, effective, and integrated Development team.
  • Develop clearly defined expectations, processes, systems, metrics, and performance measures to foster an environment of achievement and to ensure staff accountability for excellence.
  • Ensure compliance with ethical fundraising standards and donor confidentiality requirements.

Requirements
Desired Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
  • Strategic Mindset - Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.
  • Drive Vision and Purpose - Paints a compelling picture of a vision and strategy that motivates others to action
  • Stakeholder Focus - Building strong stakeholder relationships and delivering targeted solutions
  • Interpersonal Savvy - Relating openly and comfortably with diverse groups of people
  • Instills Trust - Gaining the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity

Preferred Qualifications:
  • The Chief Development Officer will ideally have 15+years of fundraising and development experience with at least five years in a leadership role overseeing operational and performance outcomes.
  • A successful track record of soliciting and closing six-figure gifts.
  • Demonstrated success in implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies that include major and principal giving and foundation support, resulting in a significant increase in resource development and overall funding levels.
  • Proven ability to effectively motivate, manage and lead cross-functional development team with a coaching mindset, fostering a collaborative and high-performing work environment.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and harmoniously with the senior leadership team, fostering an environment of open communication, trust, and shared goals.
  • A motivational communicator, both written and verbal, who is effective in 1-on-1 and group settings, as well as equally engaging with internal and external audiences.
  • Knowledge of trends in prospect identification, donor relationships, and research.
  • Experience developing and managing budgets.
  • A passion for Jewish community and Holocaust remembrance.
  • A strong work ethic, including the ability to work efficiently under pressure; meet deadlines; demonstrate strategic thinking and good decision-making; maintain and model high personal, ethical, and professional standards; and preserve an entrepreneurial spirit.
  • Excellent people skills. Possessing a warm, honest, and fair approach to dealing with others, including both direct reports and donors.
  • Ability to interact and engage comfortably with a variety of key constituencies
  • A flexible self-starter with proven ability to manage multiple concurrent projects and responsibilities.
  • Demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities, proposing new ways of creating efficiencies, and guiding investment in people and systems.
  • Personal qualities of integrity, empathy, credibility, and aligned to The HC's values and mission. Computer literacy in Microsoft Office and comfortable learning other apps, platforms, and systems that are utilized at The HC.

The HC has a fully onsite work environment, with flexibility for personal matters which arise on occasion.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and levels of work to be performed and are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties.
The HC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need.