National Nonprofit CDO Executive Search

At Scion Executive Search, we specialize in identifying and placing exceptional Chief Development Officers (CDOs) and development officers who drive fundraising strategy, strengthen donor engagement, and expand revenue opportunities. Our team partners with mission-driven organizations nationwide to secure high-impact development leaders who align with your vision and long-term funding goals.

A strong CDO is more than just a fundraiser—they are strategic growth architects, relationship cultivators, and champions of your mission. Whether you need an experienced fundraising executive to lead multimillion-dollar campaigns or an interim development leader to navigate transitions, we provide tailored search solutions to meet your needs.

Recognized by Forbes and the Business Times, we have been trusted by nonprofits since 2006. Our expertise in executive search ensures your organization gains a proven leader who can drive sustainable financial growth and increase mission impact.

The Right CDO for Your Organization

A nonprofit CDO plays a critical role in ensuring financial sustainability through strategic partnerships, donor engagement, and effective fundraising leadership. We specialize in placing development executives with expertise in:

✔ Comprehensive fundraising strategy & revenue generation
✔ CEO/Executive Director partnership and functional leadership
✔ Board engagement & strategic development leadership
✔ Foundation & grant funding acquisition, major gifts, capital campaigns & planned giving leadership
✔ Donor cultivation, stewardship & retention improvements, corporate partnerships & sponsorship expansion
✔ Overall fundraising and organizational stability enhancement

With extensive experience in nonprofit executive search, we ensure your next CDO has the leadership skills, strategic vision, and fundraising expertise necessary to propel your organization forward.

A Proven Approach to CDO Recruitment

As specialists in nonprofit executive recruitment, we combine deep sector knowledge with advanced search methodologies to identify and attract transformational development professionals.

Our Process for Securing High-Impact CDO’s

Understanding Your Needs: We collaborate with your leadership team to assess fundraising objectives and define key success factors for your CDO.
Targeted Executive Search: We leverage an expansive nonprofit leadership network and proprietary search tools to connect with top-tier development professionals.
Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation: Our rigorous vetting process ensures candidates bring a track record of fundraising success, mission alignment, and strategic growth expertise.
Seamless Hiring & Onboarding Support: From interview coordination to final negotiations, we guide you through every step of the hiring process to secure the right leader for your team.

With a vast established network of nonprofit development and philanthropic executives, we quickly identify and introduce mission-driven CDOs who can accelerate fundraising success.

Let’s Find Your Next Nonprofit CDO

At Scion Executive Search, we have built an extensive network of top-tier nonprofit development professionals, ensuring our clients gain access to fundraising experts with the skills and experience necessary to elevate their organization’s financial future.

Start your search today! Contact our team to discuss your hiring needs and discover how we can help you secure transformational fundraising leadership.

Request development leadership now

Specialized Nonprofit Development Executive Search

We specialize in placing dynamic fundraising executives who drive impact and growth across a wide range of mission-driven sectors, including:

🏛️ Nonprofit Organizations
🤝 Philanthropic Foundations
🎓 Educational Institutions
🏥 Healthcare & Medical Organizations
🎭 Arts & Cultural Institutions
✊ Advocacy & Social Justice Organizations
🌱 Environmental & Sustainability Groups
🌍 International NGOs & Humanitarian Organizations
🏡 Housing & Community Development
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Youth & Family Services
❤️ Social Services & Public Benefit Organizations
⚖️ Legal Aid & Advocacy Groups
📚 Educational & Academic Institutions
🛠️ Labor Unions & Membership Organizations
⛪ Faith-Based & Religious Institutions
🍎 Food Security, Nutrition & Access Initiatives

Whether you are searching for a permanent Chief Development Officer to build long-term fundraising capacity or an interim leader to provide stability and direction, our team connects you with accomplished executives who align with your mission and goals.