Chief Development Officer

About the role

• FULL TIME JOB VACANCY
• CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER
• Development and Outreach Department
• Multiple Locations Considered (NYC Preferred)
• Application Deadline: Open Until Filled

The Role

The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will bring fresh vision and strategic leadership to build on and boldly advance the organization's fundraising, marketing, and donor and community engagement efforts, deepening impact and expanding reach at a pivotal moment for HRW.

This is a critical position for the organization and an exciting opportunity to shape and accelerate the fundraising strategy and roadmap for HRW's future, developing and implementing ambitious fundraising, outreach, and constituency building strategies.

The CDO must be committed to HRW's mission to take on human rights abuses around the world, communicate passionately about its work, and inspire its staff, volunteer teams, and donors.

The CDO will report directly to Executive Director Philippe Bolopion and will serve on HRW's Executive Committee, the organization's senior leadership team. The CDO will lead a high-performing Development & Outreach Team of approximately 110 staff members, spanning leadership and principal giving, donor committees and council fundraising, Board of Directors engagement, foundation giving, marketing, planned giving, and fundraising systems and data analysis.

Fundraising Context

HRW's fundraising has grown steadily over the years, and it currently raises approximately $100M annually, with approximately 70% of its revenue from gifts of $100,000+.

A focus of fundraising and outreach at HRW has been the HRW Council, a collective of some 20 committees and 1,000 individuals around the world who help fundraise, engage new constituents and potential donors, partner with local organizations to promote human rights issues, and advocate on behalf of HRW and its mission.

The CDO will be responsible for growing existing revenue streams and diversifying the organization's income through principal, leadership and major gifts, institutional funding, marketing, and planned giving to ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the organization.

The greatest opportunity for the CDO lies in engaging donors at the highest levels to support major strategic work while also determining the optimal level of resources for growing the base of support. In 2024, HRW adopted a five-year Global Strategy to guide the organization's programmatic and operational direction. In July 2026, the strategy was refined to help position HRW for maximum impact in a rapidly shifting human rights environment. The CDO will shape how HRW grows and diversifies revenue to support the organization's strategic priorities and deliver on the ambitions set out in the refined strategy.

Underpinning all of this is a mandate for stability and steady leadership. HRW seeks a CDO who will lead the function credibly over the long term - reinforcing continuity, strengthening the pipeline, and building the confidence of the Development & Outreach Team.

The CDO will partner closely with an engaged Board, providing the structure and clear, well-framed strategies that enable board members to fundraise effectively, and bringing the judgment and gravitas to offer candid counsel to both the Board and the Executive Director.

The Executive Director is a highly effective, door-opening presence with donors, and the CDO will amplify that strength through strategic partnership, disciplined preparation, and timely briefings. Finally, the CDO will invest in the Development & Outreach Team itself - building capacity, fostering trust across a distributed group, and marrying HRW's activist passion with professional fundraising rigor.

Key Responsibilities

• Play a critical leadership role in shaping the organization's overall strategy and multi-year financial planning, working closely with the Executive Committee and Finance team to align revenue growth with organizational priorities;
• Translate those priorities into an ambitious multi-year development and fundraising strategy, developing and implementing compelling plans and campaigns that inspire donors and partners to join HRW in addressing unprecedented challenges to human rights;
• Provide strategic direction across all aspects of HRW fundraising and outreach activities, including leadership gifts, foundations, marketing, donor experiences, planned giving, development operations and analysis, donor committees and board engagement;
• Represent HRW's work to donors, prospects, and the Council to cultivate and grow the organization's base of support;
• Set and meet fundraising objectives, monitor and evaluate progress, and pivot strategy as needed to capitalize on emerging opportunities and maximize impact;
• Develop comprehensive, ambitious funding proposals that will engage and inspire top-tier donors to make transformational gifts;
• Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion within the Development & Outreach Team and across relationships with donors, board, and committee members;
• Determine the appropriate short and long-term investments in development, setting budgets, leveraging data analytics, and maximizing revenue while building a robust pipeline of major and planned giving donors;
• Collaborate across the organization to ensure development activities are well coordinated with and supportive of organizational priorities;
• Support and amplify fundraising efforts of the Executive Director, senior leadership, and Development & Outreach Team;
• Sustain and strengthen Board of Directors engagement and stewardship in consultation with organizational leadership;
• Lead, motivate and mentor a high performing team, setting clear expectations, establishing performance objectives, providing timely and constructive feedback, supporting professional growth, and attending to staff well- being and resilience;
• Foster an inclusive, positive work environment where all staff feel welcome, heard and able to succeed, actively soliciting diverse perspectives, advancing equity and inclusion, and addressing any bias or discrimination proactively; and
• Perform other tasks as may be required.

Candidate Profile

The Chief Development Officer will be a collaborative, innovative, and visionary leader with exceptional people, communications, and management skills and the passion and capacity to lead a sophisticated global fundraising operation. They will bring high intellectual and emotional intelligence, sharp cultural awareness, and the ability to communicate and influence effectively across a complex, highly distributed organization.

The ideal candidate will understand the nuances of fundraising across multiple geographies and cultures, inspire and motivate experienced teams, and embody a deep commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. They will be passionate about HRW's mission and able to articulate a compelling vision that engages staff, volunteers, advocates, and donors, and catalyzes giving.

Ideal Experience

• At least 12 to 15 years of fundraising experience, with at least five (5) years of experience in a senior role such as Chief Development Officer, Deputy Chief Development Officer, or equivalent.
• A deep commitment to HRW's mission of defending the rights of people worldwide, and the ability to communicate about its work with passion and conviction.
• Proven experience leading and motivating fundraising teams in a complex, global organization, setting ambitious objectives, managing performance, and driving results.
• Expertise across major gift fundraising, marketing, capital campaigns, and planned giving, with a keen awareness of evolving trends and best practices.
• A strong track record of cultivating and closing transformational gifts from major donors, including foundations.
• The ability to master, represent, and compellingly communicate the organization's mission and programs to diverse audiences.
• A global perspective on philanthropy and the cultural competency to work effectively with staff, donors, and board and committee members across geographies.
• An ability to foster an inclusive team culture characterized by creativity, collegiality, mutual respect, and professional growth.
• Outstanding oral and written communications skills in English; proficiency in additional languages is a plus.
• A data-driven approach to developing, implementing, and measuring fundraising strategies, with a demonstrated ability to drive transformational growth.
• Superior analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills.

Location and Compensation

This position is preferably based in HRW's New York office, with other HRW offices a possibility, and requires a flexible schedule to accommodate colleagues across multiple time zones. The role involves both domestic and international travel, approximately 25-40% of the time.

Pay and benefits

The estimated compensation for this position if based in the United States is $350,000 - 400,000. Compensation ranges in other locations vary according to the local market. Additionally, HRW offers comprehensive Total Rewards package. Relocation assistance and immigration support are available if required, and people of all nationalities are encouraged to apply.

How to Apply or Nominate Candidates: Human Rights Watch has retained DSG Fundraising & Advancement of DSG | Global to assist in this confidential search process. Inquiries, nominations, and applications (current resumes and cover letters) may be submitted via the following link (rather than Greenhouse) or directed to one or more members of the search team.

• Gerard F. Cattie, Jr. (he/him)
• Global Managing Partner and Practice Founder
• DSG Fundraising & Advancement
• Beth Reeves (she/her)
• Vice President and Senior Search Associate
• DSG Fundraising & Advancement
• Manuel A. Gongon, Jr. (he/him)
• DSG Fundraising & Advancement
• Tammy Schillin (she/her)
• Director, Search Process and Strategy
• DSG Fundraising & Advancement

Human Rights Watch is strong because it is diverse. We actively seek a diverse applicant pool and encourage candidates of all backgrounds to apply. We welcome all kinds of diversity. Our employees include people who are parents and nonparents, the self-taught and university educated, and from a wide span of socio-economic backgrounds and perspectives on the world.

Human Rights Watch is an international human rights monitoring and advocacy organization known for its in-depth investigations, its incisive and timely reporting, its innovative and high-profile advocacy campaigns, and its success in changing the human rights-related policies and practices of influential governments and international institutions.