The Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising - Tapa dura

Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising took me out of my comfort zone. For all of us CDOs who love "the ask," Schiller pushes us to explore how prepared we are to lead and succeed on an institutional level. Whether as newcomers or veterans, this insightful book gives us a framework to grow in the job and stretch our fundraising muscles inside our organization. Even with two decades of service as CDO, having Schiller as a thought partner will make me a better thought partner to my CEO, Board, executive team, and staff. -- Sandy Sedacca, Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, and Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Planned Parenthood Action Fund A practical and thoughtful guide for new and aspiring CDOs from an exceptional practitioner, mentor, and friend. -- Tim Child, Vice President of Institutional Advancement, The Getty Trust Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising provides a rare, holistic view of one of the most challenging roles in the nonprofit world. The book's exploration of the shifting dynamics of managing and integrating fundraising, as well as the necessary symbiosis between the CDO, the organization's CEO, its Board and other constituencies, makes Beyond Fundraising a valuable resource for chief executives committed to achieving what many often describe as the elusive development chemistry within their organizations. -- Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D., President of Franklin & Marshall College With The Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising, Ron Schiller debunks stereotypes and assumptions about good development leaders and shares characteristics of the most successful chief development officers based on real-life experience and interviews. This should be required reading for any CEO or board chair hiring a new CDO and for any aspiring development officer who thinks he or she wants the job. -- Elizabeth Boluch Wood, Vice President for Development, Princeton University The role of the chief development officer (CDO) has expanded greatly over the past two decades, and Ron Schiller draws on his experience as a CDO and extensive research to offer sound advice to those taking on that role and those hiring a CDO. His examples of how CDOs excel or fall short can assist nonprofit organizations in making wise choices when it comes to filling this crucial position. -- Robert J. Zimmer, President, University of Chicago Ron has remarkable insight into the role of the chief development officer and cuts right through the rhetoric to get to the core of what leads to success. -- Susan K. Feagin, Special Advisor to the President, Columbia University Ron Schiller's book is important because it looks at the complexity of being a chief development officer. It goes way beyond the traditional fundraising role and shows the additional skills it takes to be a successful leader in higher education and other nonprofit organizations. This is an important book for presidents, governing boards, students of nonprofit management, and especially fundraising leaders who want to improve or who aspire to top leadership development positions. This book is an important contribution to the professionalism of development. -- Jerry May, Vice President for Development, University of Michigan

Until recently, the chief development officer (CDO) has focused primarily, if not exclusively, on fundraising. In the past two decades, largely in response to greater demand and competition for fundraising revenue, the responsibilities and corresponding required competencies of CDOs have evolved. Today's CDOs play senior, strategic leadership roles in their organizations. The Chief Development Officer: Beyond Fundraising is a guide to those preparing for the role of CDO and to those charged with selecting, appointing, and supporting CDOs. It includes nine chapters, each presenting a role beyond frontline fundraising and fundraising program management in which today's successful CDO excels. There are many wonderful development leaders and many wonderful nonprofit organizations, but not always the best `marriages' between leaders and organizations. The immediate goal of this book is better `marriages,' supporting an ultimate goal of continued health and growth of nonprofit organizations and the essential contributions they make to a civil society.