Chief Revenue Officer

First Books • Full-time • Washington, District of Columbia, United States • $246.75k / year • 2m ago

Chief Revenue Officer (This is not a 100% remote position)

Organization Overview:

First Book is a national nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to advancing educational equity for children in need. Since 1992, First Book has distributed more than 225 million books and educational resources to educators serving children from low‑income communities. Through powerful partnerships, innovative models, and a commitment to removing systemic barriers, First Book is transforming the landscape of educational opportunity.

Position Summary:

The Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) will lead First Book’s comprehensive revenue ecosystem, overseeing fundraising, grants, corporate partnerships, earned income initiatives, and strategic donor engagement. This executive will drive sustainable organizational growth by aligning all revenue‑generating activities with First Book’s mission and long‑term strategic priorities. Reporting directly to the Executive Director/CEO, the CRO serves as a key member of the senior leadership team and plays a critical role in shaping enterprise strategy, financial resilience, and national impact.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Revenue Strategy & Leadership:

Develop and execute an integrated, enterprise‑wide revenue strategy that meets and exceeds annual and multi‑year revenue goals.
Align all revenue channels—philanthropy, grants, corporate partnerships, and earned income—with mission‑driven priorities and organizational growth plans.

Development & Fundraising:

Lead and expand major gifts, annual giving, corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and government funding portfolios.
Strengthen donor pipeline development, stewardship, and retention strategies to deepen long‑term engagement.

Earned Income & Strategic Partnerships:

Identify, evaluate, and scale earned income opportunities that advance First Book’s mission and financial sustainability.
Cultivate strategic collaborations with corporations, associations, and community partners to broaden reach and impact.

Team Leadership & Talent Development:

Build, mentor, and manage a high‑performing revenue and development team.
Establish clear performance expectations, KPIs, accountability systems, and professional development pathways.

Strategic Marketing Leadership:

Oversee marketing strategies that directly support revenue generation, including fundraising campaigns, partnership visibility, and program growth.
Ensure consistent branding, messaging, and storytelling across all channels to strengthen donor acquisition, retention, and trust.

Metrics, Reporting & Forecasting:

Monitor revenue dashboards and performance indicators to track progress and identify opportunities.
Provide regular, data‑driven updates to the Executive Team and Board on revenue trends, risks, and strategic recommendations.

Compliance & Risk Management:

Ensure all fundraising, grant, and income‑generating activities adhere to legal, ethical, and nonprofit best practices.
Maintain strong internal controls and compliance with regulatory requirements.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in business, Nonprofit Management, Finance, Marketing, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of senior‑level experience in revenue generation, development, or fundraising, ideally within the nonprofit or education sectors.
Proven success in designing and implementing multichannel revenue strategies that drive measurable growth.
Deep understanding of nonprofit fundraising, government and foundation grantmaking, and innovative revenue models.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, and performance analytics.
Exceptional relationship‑building, communication, and negotiation skills.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience leading organizations with complex programs and diverse revenue streams.
Proficiency with CRM systems, donor management platforms, and data‑driven fundraising tools.
Background in education, literacy, or philanthropic initiatives.

CORE COMPETENCIES & LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES:

Strategic and analytical thinking.
Persuasive communication and negotiation.
Emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural competency.
Adaptability and resilience in a fast‑paced, evolving environment.
Collaborative leadership with the ability to influence cross‑functional teams and external partners.

BENEFITS:

All full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:

Eligibility for medical and dental insurance coverage, in accordance with plan terms.
Life Insurance and Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) coverage, subject to plan provisions.
Paid vacation leave is accrued in accordance with organizational policy.
Paid sick leave is provided in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.
Up to twelve (12) paid holidays annually, subject to organizational schedule and business needs.
Eligibility to participate in the organization’s 401(k) retirement plan, including employer matching contributions, in accordance with plan documents.
Eligibility for an employer-provided parking stipend, subject to program guidelines and business needs.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS | EEO & ADA STATEMENTS:

Application Instructions:

Candidates are invited to submit a resume and a cover letter detailing their interest.
Only applications submitted through First Book’s approved application platforms will be considered.
Applications submitted through external or unapproved sites will not be reviewed.
First Book does not accept unsolicited recruiter submissions and does not pay recruitment fees for resumes submitted through 3rd-party vendors, absent a formal, signed agreement by an authorized First Book employee.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

First Book is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, marital status, personal appearance, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation, political affiliation, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, District of Columbia, or local law.

ADA & Reasonable Accommodations:

First Book is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and for sincerely held religious beliefs, in accordance with applicable law.
Applicants requiring accommodations during the application or interview process should contact Tasha McNeill at tmcneill@firstbook.org.
- This email address is designated solely for accommodation-related requests. Inquiries unrelated to accommodation requests will not receive a response.

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