Chief Development Officer at Vera Institute of Justice

The Vera Institute of Justice is an independent nonprofit national research and policy organization in the United States, and a leader in criminal justice reform.

About the Organization

The Vera Institute of Justice is powered by hundreds of advocates, researchers, and policy experts working to transform the criminal legal and immigration systems until they're fair for all. Founded in 1961 to advocate for alternatives to money bail in New York City, Vera is now a national organization that partners with impacted communities and government leaders for change. We develop just, antiracist solutions so that money doesn't determine freedom;

fewer people are in jails, prisons, and immigration detention; and everyone is treated with dignity. For more information, visit vera.org.

With a staff of just over 200 people, Vera has headquarters in Brooklyn, New York and offices in Washington, DC, Los Angeles, and New Orleans. We are an equal opportunity employer with a commitment to diversity in the workplace. We expect our staff to embody our values of racial equity, collaboration, respect, commitment, and independence—both in our outward-facing work and the internal culture of our workplace.

We value a range of experiences in people s educational backgrounds and encourage people who have been directly impacted by the criminal justice system to apply.

You can learn more about the Vera Institute of Justice .

About the Role

What You ll Do

As a member of Vera's Leadership Team, the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will serve as the chief architect of the organization's fundraising strategy and culture at a pivotal moment in its history. Vera's revenue model is evolving in response to shifts in its funding strategy, and the CDO will set an ambitious multi-year vision to expand resources, diversify revenue, and accelerate impact across the justice system.

The CDO and their team will be charged with growing a current program of $25M annually, with a sharpened focus on principal and major gifts. This leader will play a vital role in identifying, cultivating, and stewarding new funders whose interests intersect with Vera's core justice work (e.g. champions of democracy and civic engagement, immigration justice, and economic prosperity and mobility).

They will have the vision and storytelling ability to connect Vera's mission to the values and aspirations of new and existing partners, broadening the circle of those invested in systemic change.

Inspiring and guiding a talented development team, the CDO will help embed a culture of philanthropy across the organization and partner closely with the Board to unlock bold new opportunities. They will also work as a trusted advisor to the President & Director, aligning fundraising strategy with Vera's visionary programming and national leadership on urgent issues of justice and equity.

For an accomplished development leader with a deep commitment to equity and systemic change, this is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the nation's most influential justice organizations at a dynamic and consequential time.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Design and execute an ambitious fundraising strategy to grow the fundraising program (current average: $25M)
• Develop and implement annual and multi-year development strategies and goals with a focus on continual growth
• Establish clear goals, benchmarks, and metrics to measure progress and ensure accountability, creating and solidifying a results oriented culture of philanthropy
• Serve as a strategist for ongoing development of the principal and major gifts program
• Identify, cultivate, and elevate high net worth donors to secure principal and major gifts of six-and-seven figures
• Manage and grow a personal portfolio of about 30 prospects
• Anticipate shifts in the philanthropic landscape and seize opportunities that align with Vera s mission and strategic priorities

• Lead the donor cultivation strategy, elevating other team members as needed, to implement a consistent and effective approach that keeps funders engaged and team members…