Chief Development Officer (CDO) / Development Director – Fund Development Department
COMPANY: Sicangu Co (REDCO)
JOB TITLE: Chief Development Officer (CDO) / Development Director – Fund Development Department
REPORTS TO: REDCO CEO
FLSA STATUS: Exempt
TYPICAL SCHEDULE: 40 hours per week
SALARY RANGE: CDO $115,000 - $140,000 / Development Director $85,000 - $100,000
Sicangu Co is recruiting a lead for the Fund Development department, either a seasoned fundraising executive at the Chief Development Officer level, or an experienced mid-level professional at the Development Director level, who would be supported by consultants for strategic and technical expertise.
ABOUT SICANGU COAs:
the economic engine of the Sicangu Lakota nation, Sicangu Co’s purpose is to improve the financial and social well-being of our tribal relatives. We are guided and inspired by the 7Gen Vision, which imagines the type of world we'd like to see our descendants living in 175 years from now. We ask, how do we live today to create a healthy, just, abundant world for our grandchildren’s grandchildren? Grounded in our ancestral and cultural wisdom, with a deep understanding of the profound challenges faced by our people, Sicangu Co is working towards Wicozani or “the good way of life” for the Sicangu Oyate - holistic health, economic self-sufficiency, cultural revitalization, sustainable housing, food sovereignty, climate resilience, and shared lasting prosperity. Sicangu Co is a coalition of three organizations that form a collaborative ecosystem: Rosebud Economic Development Corporation (REDCO), an independent company wholly owned by the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, and the nonprofit organizations Sicangu Community Development Corporation (Sicangu CDC) and Tatanka Funds, an emerging Native CDFI.
JOB SUMMARY:
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) or Development Director will oversee all fundraising activities for the Sicangu Co ecosystem. The CDO will focus on strategic leadership, executive-level partnerships, and long-term funding sustainability, while the Director will manage day-to-day fundraising operations and team execution. Both roles will steward donor relationships, cultivate new funding opportunities, and ensure effective systems are in place to meet Sicangu Co’s needs.
The CDO / Development Director will ensure effective strategies and systems are in place to meet Sicangu Co's present and future needs. This leader will spearhead efforts to secure sustainable funding and stakeholder support through strategic partnerships, institutional relationships, and diversified revenue streams. The CDO / Development Director will cultivate and maintain relationships with institutions, individual donors, government entities (Tribal, State, and Federal), investors, community groups, and other key stakeholders to support the mission, activities and enterprises throughout Sicangu Co.
The CDO / Development Director will be part of the Sicangu Co Central Services Hub at REDCO, which provides centralized back-office functions, communications, and fundraising support. Reporting to the CEO of REDCO, the CDO / Development Director will also receive guidance and direction from executives at Sicangu CDC and Tatanka Funds on matters related to their respective programs, operational funding, and partnerships. Strong collaboration and alignment with the objectives of Sicangu CDC and Tatanka Funds, as well as with REDCO's leadership team, are essential. The CDO / Development Director will work with this executive team to develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy focused on resourcing and promoting the success and impact of Sicangu Co's activities.
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY:
Strategic Leadership
● Serve as a key member of Sicangu Co’s ecosystem leadership team, collaborating with REDCO’s CEO, Sicangu CDC’s Executive Director, Tatanka Funds’s Executive Director, and other ecosystem leadership staff to advance Sicangu Co’s strategic vision.
● Build and manage a high-performing Fund Development team aligned with the organization's mission and strategic priorities.
● Provide leadership, guidance, and mentorship to Fund Development staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
● Collaborate with the CFO to develop analytic reports that assess fundraising performance and financial sustainability for executive leadership and each organization’s Board of Directors.
● Develop and implement performance metrics and evaluation tools to measure the impact of fundraising strategies.
● Oversee budgeting and efficient use of resources for fundraising in coordination with the Executive team
● Identify and implement process optimizations and standardizations.
● Represent Sicangu Co at high-level meetings, conferences, and networking events to enhance visibility and funding opportunities.
Resource Mobilization
● Lead the design and execution of a comprehensive fundraising strategy to secure funding for Sicangu CDC, REDCO, and Tatanka Funds initiatives.
● Develop and implement a comprehensive grant strategy for government and philanthropic funders, including identifying and prioritizing funding opportunities, overseeing the creation of high-quality proposals, and managing awarded grants to ensure compliance, maximize impact, and achieve long-term sustainability.
● Cultivate and strengthen relationships with institutional donors, government agencies, and corporate partners to secure multi-year funding and impact investments.
● Identify and implement diversified revenue streams, including major gifts, impact investments, corporate partnerships, and individual giving campaigns.
● Serve as a key relationship manager for major donors and institutional partners, ensuring alignment with Sicangu Co’s mission and priorities.
External Relations
● Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for Sicangu Co, effectively communicating the organization's mission and impact to stakeholders.
● Develop and strengthen partnerships with Tribal, State, and Federal agencies.
● Foster collaboration with community leaders, funders, and policymakers to create sustainable solutions that advance Sicangu Co’s mission.
● Oversee engagement strategies that cultivate a strong donor base for Sicangu Co’s programs.
Management retains the right to assign or reassign duties as necessary.
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will possess a combination of the following qualifications. While we understand that no single individual may embody every attribute, we encourage applications from those with a strong foundation in several key areas.
● CDO - 10+ years of experience in high-level nonprofit fundraising, with experience securing funding from government entities (Tribal, State, and Federal), philanthropic organizations, and corporate partners.
○ Development Director – 6+ years experience in nonprofit fundraising and project management, with experience securing funding from government entities (Tribal, State, and/or Federal), philanthropic organizations, and/or corporate partners.
● Visionary leadership with the ability to take initiative and work within a community-driven framework.
● Demonstrated passion and understanding of Sicangu Co’s mission and commitment to economic development and social well-being.
● Established relationships and experience working with Native communities, Tribal governments, and Indigenous-led initiatives.
● Strong management and team-building skills, with experience mentoring and developing high-potential early and mid-career professionals.
● Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills, with experience interacting with boards, funders, Tribal leaders and high-level stakeholders.
● Strong organizational, project management and time management skills to balance and deliver with competing priorities and deadlines.
● Self-motivated and able to work independently.
● Proven track record of successfully managing and growing diverse revenue streams, including major gifts, government grants, and impact investments.
● Ability to develop and execute multi-year fundraising strategies with clear benchmarks for success.
● Experience with fundraising CRM systems or other donor management platforms.
● Experience with project management systems such as ClickUp, MS Project, Asana or other platforms
● Ability and willingness to travel as needed for in-person meetings in Mission SD, and for events, in-person meetings and networking opportunities across the United States.
At the time of this posting, the Fund Development team consists of four full-time employees. Sicangu Co is committed to further investment in the team members and in growing the department. We will actively support the professional development and career advancement of the right candidate to build their skillset with the expanding needs of the growing ecosystem.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS & WORK ENVIRONMENT
· The ideal candidate will either live within commuting distance of Mission, SD, or be based near a major airport with established ties to the Sicangu Oyate, the region, and Lakota values. Remote candidates are expected to travel frequently to the Rosebud community.
· Travel to local and national conferences, events, and funder meetings (20-40%).
· A hybrid work schedule is negotiable for local candidates
· Sicangu Co allows for a flexible work schedule, but employees are generally expected to be responsive to emails and messages between 8am and 5pm CT.
· Occasional flexibility to work evening or weekend hours for special events may be required.
· Physical demands include sitting and working on a computer for extended periods, standing for occasional events (3–4 hours), driving, air travel, and occasional lifting (up to 25 lbs).
COMPENSATION:
Sicangu Co salaries are based on education, qualifications, and experience, and are competitive with regional offerings. The salary for this position will depend on the level the candidate is hired into the organization and factors described above.
Benefits include 401(k) matching, generous personal and sick paid time off, wellness days, as well as health, dental, vision, and life insurance options.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 - $140,000.00 per year
Benefits:
401(k)
401(k) matching
Dental insurance
Health insurance
Life insurance
Paid time off
Vision insurance
Schedule:
Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person
