Application Guide

How to Apply for Chief Development Officer - Child Care Aware of America

at The Stott Group

🏢 About The Stott Group

Child Care Aware of America is the only national organization dedicated to supporting every part of the child care system, working with a network of CCR&R organizations to make high-quality, affordable child care a reality for all. Joining CCAoA means being part of a mission-driven team that directly impacts families and communities, with a bold 10-year strategic framework to transform the child care landscape.

About This Role

As the Chief Development Officer, you will architect and lead CCAoA's entire development function, building it from the ground up to diversify and grow funding. This is a pivotal role where you'll translate a strategic vision into compelling cases for support, driving a shift toward unrestricted, multi-year funding that ensures the organization's long-term sustainability and impact.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve virtual meetings with the CEO and board to align on fundraising goals, followed by strategy sessions with your development team to refine major gift approaches. You might spend time crafting a case for support for a potential foundation, then connect with a corporate partner to explore a multi-year sponsorship, all while staying attuned to the latest child care policy news to inform your pitches.

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who The Stott Group Is Looking For

  • Proven track record in senior development roles, with deep experience in foundation giving, major gifts from high-net-worth individuals, and corporate partnerships.
  • Strategic thinker who can design and implement a comprehensive development program, including building a high-performing team and systems from scratch.
  • Excellent communication and storytelling skills to craft compelling cases for support and engage diverse stakeholders, including the CEO, board, and funders.
  • Experience in the nonprofit sector, ideally with knowledge of child care, early childhood education, or related social policy issues.

📝 Tips for Applying to The Stott Group

1

Tailor your resume and cover letter to highlight specific examples of how you've built development programs from the ground up, especially in national organizations.

2

Demonstrate your understanding of CCAoA's mission and the child care landscape in your application, referencing the 10-year strategic framework if possible.

3

Quantify your fundraising achievements (e.g., 'grew major gifts by X%' or 'secured $Y million in foundation grants') to show impact.

4

Highlight any experience with government grants, even if not your primary focus, as CCAoA plans to coordinate state and federal grants in time.

5

In your cover letter, express enthusiasm for remote work and your ability to lead a team virtually, as this is a remote position.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

["Your passion for CCAoA's mission and your understanding of the systemic challenges in child care, showing you're invested in the cause.", 'Your strategic vision for diversifying revenue streams and increasing unrestricted funding, with concrete examples from your past roles.', 'Your experience building development teams and infrastructure, emphasizing your ability to start from scratch and scale.', 'Your ability to partner effectively with a CEO and board, and your experience in high-level relationship management.']

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → Read CCAoA's 10-year strategic framework (if available) to understand their goals and language, and reference it in your application.
  • → Research recent news and campaigns from CCAoA to understand their current priorities and funding landscape.
  • → Look into their current funding sources (foundations, corporate sponsors, etc.) to identify potential gaps or opportunities.
  • → Familiarize yourself with the child care policy environment in the U.S., including federal and state initiatives, to speak knowledgeably in interviews.
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💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 How would you approach developing a comprehensive fundraising strategy for CCAoA, and what would your first 90 days look like?
2 Describe a time you successfully pivoted an organization toward unrestricted or multi-year funding. What challenges did you face?
3 How do you balance the need for major gifts with foundation and corporate partnerships? Can you share an example of a creative partnership you secured?
4 Given the remote nature of this role, how would you build and maintain a high-performing development team virtually?
5 What experience do you have with government grants, and how would you integrate that into the development function as CCAoA expands in this area?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Don't submit a generic cover letter that doesn't mention CCAoA's mission or the specifics of this CDO role.
  • Avoid focusing solely on past fundraising numbers without connecting them to how you would build a sustainable development program for a national organization.
  • Don't underestimate the importance of the remote aspect—emphasize your experience and comfort with virtual leadership and communication.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to The Stott Group!

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