The Chalmers Center for Economic Development (“the Chalmers Center”) equips the church to address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty, living out Jesus' Kingdom today. Since 1999 the Chalmers Center has been helping God's people rethink poverty and respond with practical, biblical principles so that all are restored to flourishing. The organization has trained thousands of churches and organizations, has current year revenue budget of $4.2 million, and a team of 19 full and 4 part-time staff, most located in Chattanooga, TN.
The organization now seeks a Chief Development Officer as it embarks on a strategic growth phase including an upcoming capital campaign. Reporting to the CEO and collaborating with the Resource Development Committee, the CDO will oversee donor engagement, strategic partnerships, and fundraising operations to ensure long-term financial sustainability and organizational growth. The CDO will also serve on the senior leadership team.
OVERVIEW
Organization
Over the past two decades, the Chalmers Center has expanded its impact and influence throughout North America and the Majority World through products including Faith & Finances, Work Life, RESTORE, Innovate, and Helping without Hurting in Benevolence Ministry. Each year, Chalmers trains thousands of people in principles of biblical poverty alleviation. Together with online, on-demand courses, the Chalmers Center provides learners with practical, biblical, and effective ways to care for their community. In addition, Chalmers influences thousands of organizations through books, speaking engagements, and workshops.
The 2025 fiscal year budget is $4.2 million, with the majority of revenue coming from donor contributions. Approximately 10% of revenue comes from sales of curriculum and training materials. As part of the growth strategy, the organization is engaging in a significant, multi-year capital campaign to support capacity development, expand the organization’s influence and the scaling of its products. For their most recent annual report, go to chalmers.org/finance.
Opportunity
The Chalmers Center is entering a five-year strategic growth phase aimed at expanding its reach, influence, and impact. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will be central to this effort, leading the organization’s revenue strategy and overseeing all aspects of fund development. Reporting to the CEO, the CDO will set strategic direction, deploy innovative funding models, and strengthen relational fundraising—especially mid- and major-gift development.
The role includes cultivating relationships with grant-making foundations and working closely with the executive leadership team to ensure that fundraising efforts align with Chalmers’ mission and values. The CDO will collaborate cross-functionally with leaders in marketing, partnerships, product development, and strategic initiatives to identify and pursue new funding opportunities.
The CDO will lead and grow Chalmers’ generosity team, currently composed of two staffmembers focused on major gifts and foundation grants, with two additional major gift officers being added. A key priority will be building a development team capable of growing annual revenue from $4.2M to $6–8M and leading a major capital campaign launching in 2026.
As a member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will help shape Chalmers’ strategic direction and ensure that funders see a clear connection between their investment and the ministry’s impact. Success in this role will require strong process leadership, cross-team collaboration, and a deep commitment to cultivating mission-aligned partnerships.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION
Since 1999, the Chalmers Center has equipped God’s people to rethink poverty and respond with practical, biblical principles that restore people and communities to flourishing. Its mission is to help the church address the broken relationships at the root of material poverty—living out the values of Jesus’ Kingdom today. Rather than focusing solely on symptoms, Chalmers empowers churches and ministries to tackle poverty’s root causes through relational, gospel-centered approaches.
Chalmers currently employs 19 full-time and 4 part-time staff, with 15 based at its headquarters in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Given the organization’s emphasis on engaging domestic funding partners, this position may be remote, with regular travel to Chattanooga for team meetings, and occasional domestic and international travel as needed.
The successful candidate will join a highly relational and collaborative culture. Team members describe Chalmers as friendly, supportive, and committed to shared values. The organization fosters connection through shared experiences—team meals, informal walks, and conversations that span theology, strategy, and personal growth. Diverse perspectives are welcomed, and the culture emphasizes openness, mutual care, and ongoing learning.
Chalmers serves thousands of churches and nonprofits around the world and works alongside global ministry partners to expand its reach across Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Strategic partners include Compassion International, Tearfund, HOPE International, Convoy of Hope, Five Talents, CityGate Network, STCH Ministries, Life.Church, and Prison Fellowship.
The Chalmers Center is governed by a board of directors responsible for guiding long-term strategic direction, mission integrity, and financial sustainability. Through its committees, the board plays a key role in fundraising strategy, financial oversight, risk management, and stakeholder accountability.
GOD'S STORY OF CHANGE
One of the key areas of alignment for the role will be the candidate’s understanding and ability to persuasively communicate Chalmers’ theory of change, which is rooted in God’s story and the concept of transformational development.
Core to the Chalmers Center’s organizational practice is an approach to poverty alleviation that is rooted in God’s story of change. Chalmers recognizes that poverty is more than a lack of material goods, and the solution is not simply to attempt to baptize the American Dream. Jesus isn’t just saving souls so that we can go to heaven when we die, but is reconciling all things to himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross (Col. 1:20). Chalmers believes the gospel should permeate all aspects of our work as we walk alongside people living in material poverty and experience mutual transformation.
We believe that the local church plays a central role in restoring people to flourishing. All who are involved in the work of poverty alleviation, both those living in material poverty and those who are not, need the ministry of the local church. In Chalmers’ work in the U.S. and around the world, they desire to see all stakeholders involved in the life of the local church where they can hear the gospel preached, participate in the community of God’s people, and receive the sacraments.
The Chalmers Center’s Ministry Design Principles weave together biblical principles, holistic ministry best practices, and a commitment to long-term relational ministry. Chalmers aims for these relationships to be mutually transformative as the organization and staffwalk alongside neighbors, partners, staffand other stakeholders. Chalmers believes all have gifts to contribute to the work of poverty alleviation.
OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES
Opportunities
This is a compelling opportunity to join a mission-driven organization at a critical moment in its journey and contribute meaningfully to its long-term impact. With new leadership in place under a recently appointed CEO (more information here), Chalmers is assembling a dynamic leadership team to guide the organization through a pivotal season of growth.
Alongside developing its annual giving, the ministry is preparing to launch its first major fundraising campaign and seeks a candidate who can build on the relational foundation laid by the previous CDO—whose approach centered on cultivating deep, trust-based relationships with Chalmers’ generosity partners.
In this next chapter, the Chalmers Center is eager to welcome a CDO who shares its values and brings both the strategic vision and practical skills to strengthen and expand the organization’s funding base. This includes developing year-round giving structures and confidently leading major campaigns in the $5–10 million range.
The ideal candidate will be deeply aligned with Chalmers’ holistic approach to poverty alleviation, which emphasizes transformation in the four key relationships—with God, self, others, and creation. They will be energized by the opportunity to raise funds for a ministry grounded in thought leadership and influence. Strong relational instincts, a demonstrated ability to nurture major donor relationships, and a spirit of innovation will be essential. As Chalmers enters a period of expansion, the successful candidate will bring an appropriate appetite for risk and a readiness to explore new approaches rooted in their mission and values.
The organization sees the following opportunities:
Scaling and Growth: Drive fundraising efforts to expand Chalmers’ impact, including leading an upcoming capital campaign to support strategic growth.
Donor Engagement: Partner with the CEO to deepen donor relationships and secure funding aligned with programmatic and capacity-building priorities.
Strategic Insight: Monitor and translate fundraising trends into actionable insights that inform organizational strategy and positioning.
Leadership: Provide inspiring, effective leadership that empowers staff, strengthens team performance, and fosters a collaborative, mission-driven culture.
Challenges
The successful candidate will play a key role, alongside the leadership team, in guiding Chalmers into its next phase of growth and impact—navigating both internal priorities and external challenges, including shifts in U.S. giving patterns influenced by the current political and economic environment.
This role will build on a strong foundation of grant support and loyal major donors, while leading the transition to a more sustainable, diversified revenue model. Over the next five years, the goal is to significantly increase annual revenue—from just under $4 million to between $6-8 million.
Currently, major gifts of $25,000+ account for roughly 60% of Chalmers’ revenue, with a donor “sweet spot” between $10,000 and $50,000, and a number of six-figure contributions. The CDO will be responsible for introducing new strategies to strengthen and expand this base, including developing annual giving programs, creating new donor segments and giving tiers, growing non-contribution revenue, securing multi-year pledges, and executing large-scale campaigns.
ABOUT THE CHATTANOOGA, TN AREA
While Chalmers prefers that the Chief Development Officer be based in Chattanooga, they are open to remote arrangements given the travel required for this role. Their office is centrally located in Chattanooga, offering convenient access to nearby neighborhoods, restaurants, and cafés—with many staffenjoying short commutes and a walkable environment.
Staff who have relocated to Chattanooga often describe it as a “wonderful town” with a welcoming atmosphere and strong sense of community. Several have chosen to make it their long-term home, drawn by the city’s charm, natural beauty, and quality of life. Chattanooga was recently recognized as the “Friendliest City in the U.S.” and is known for its spirit of growth and innovation.
As with many metropolitan areas, neighborhoods vary in character and cost. Proximity to the Georgia border offers a wide range of housing options, with some three-bedroom homes priced around $250k, while others in more desirable areas may range up to $550k.
ABOUT THE ROLE
The Chief Development Officer (CDO) will play a key role in advancing the Chalmers Center’s mission by leading both traditional and innovative revenue strategies, including the development of non-contribution income streams. Reporting to the CEO and collaborating with the Resource Development Committee, the CDO will oversee donor engagement, strategic partnerships, and fundraising operations to ensure long-term financial sustainability and organizational growth.
This role calls for a leader who is deeply aligned with Chalmers’ commitment to holistic Christian development and who is passionate about relational, Christ-centered approaches to poverty alleviation.
The ideal candidate may currently be serving as a senior development leader—perhaps as a deputy under a CDO at a larger organization—and is now ready to step into a top leadership role. Or they may have recently led a period of transformational growth at a thriving Christian nonprofit and are seeking their next mission-driven challenge. In either case, they will come from a fundraising culture rooted in relationships rather than transactional fundraising approaches.
They are seeking a transformational leader—someone who can build both systems and relationships, who has a strong head for strategy and numbers, and who takes deep, genuine interest in the lives of their generosity partners. This individual will be both a strategic architect and a pastoral presence—anchored in mission and energized by impact.
This ideal candidate will exhibit the following characteristics:
Leadership
Relational
Analytical
Team Developer
Creative/Innovative.
These phrases describe the ideal candidate:
An energetic, entrepreneurial leader who brings exceptional relational skills, a deep understanding of the numbers, and a passion for Chalmers' mission.
Someone who is energized and entrepreneurial, and comfortable knowing when to make the ask.
A big-picture thinker who understands the whole organization and identifies the best funding model to resource it.
Confident to recommended strategies to the CEO and board
Winsome and authentic, able to persuade staffand major donors to come alongside the organization
Speaks convincingly and passionately about the contribution Chalmers makes to God’s mission.
The role reports via a dotted line to the board Chair of the Resources Committee and directly to the President & CEO, Coy Buckley. Coy’s leadership approach combines elements of empowerment and guidance, fostering a supportive environment where leaders and staffare encouraged to take initiative, leverage their strengths, and manage their responsibilities independently. During periods of change or uncertainty, Coy adopts a more hands-on coaching style, offering strategic guidance in goal setting, delegation, and planning to ensure clarity and alignment across the organization.
POSITION DESCRIPTION & REQUIREMENTS
TITLE: Chief Development Officer
REPORTS TO: President and CEO and dotted line to Chair of the Resources Committee
DIRECT REPORTS: VP of Generosity, Director of Grants and Communication, Generosity Specialist. (In time and in alignment with growing revenues, this is expected to grow to include more major gift officers.)
LOCATION: Preferred in Chattanooga, TN. May be remote
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Chief Development Officer will play a pivotal role in advancing the Chalmers Center’s mission. The candidate will lead and execute comprehensive, traditional and innovative revenue generation strategies, including non-contribution revenue.
The role will oversee donor relations, strategic partnerships, and resource development to ensure financial sustainability and organizational growth. This individual must deeply align with Chalmers’ commitment to holistic Christian development and be passionate about relational, Christ-centered and transformative approaches to poverty alleviation.
REQUIRED COMMITMENTS
Committed to the Vision, Mission, and Values of the Chalmers Center
Demonstrate an unwavering commitment to Chalmers’ Statement of Faith
Plays an active role in the life of a local church community
Seeks to apply the gospel to all areas of life, including interpersonal relationships
Uses a humble listening approach with both internal and external constituencies
Depends on the Holy Spirit and seek God’s guidance when making decisions
Thrives in a team that practices excellence, humility, hope, and unity.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Fundraising Leadership: Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes major gifts, annual giving, grants, planned giving, and high levels of donor engagement.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship: Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, foundations, churches, and strategic partners, ensuring they are engaged and informed about Chalmers' work.
Team Leadership & Development: Lead and mentor the Generosity team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, professional growth, and innovation.
Collaborative Partnership Building: Work closely with the CEO, the Resource Development Committee and senior leadership to align revenue generation efforts with the organization’s vision and strategic priorities.
Messaging & Communications: Collaborate with the communications team to craft powerful cases for support, thoughtful and compelling donor messaging, grant proposals and campaigns that effectively convey the impact of Chalmers’ work.
Data-Driven Decision Making: Utilize donor data and analytics to inform fundraising strategies and measure effectiveness.
Budget & Financial Management: Oversee the development budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and alignment with organizational goals.
QUALIFICATIONS
Faith Alignment: A mature Christian committed to Chalmers’ theological vision and approach to poverty alleviation.
Experience: At least 10 years of leadership experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit management, with a proven track record of securing major gifts in the range of $250,000-$1,000,000 while growing donor engagement.
Relational Expertise: Exceptional ability to cultivate and maintain relationships with donors, churches, foundations, and strategic implementation partners.
Strategic & Visionary: Ability to develop and execute long-term fundraising strategies aligned with organizational growth, including a demonstrated ability to develop fundraising strategies that optimize organizational risk appetite alongside fundraising efforts.
Leadership & Team Building: Experience leading and developing high-performing teams.
Exceptional Communication Skills: Ability to articulate a compelling vision and inspire others to invest in Chalmers’ mission.
Financial Acumen: Proficiency in development-related budgeting, revenue forecasting, and financial reporting.
Commitment to Holistic, Relational Ministry: Understanding of and dedication to poverty alleviation through Chalmers’ holistic and relational framework.
Education: A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
SALARY & BENEFITS
Salary: Competitive salary geared to industry standards.
Benefits:
Medical: individual or family coverage options
Free dental and vision
HSA & life insurance options
401(k) with a 3% match
Free employee assistance program and workers’ compensation
PTO on top of a significant holiday schedule (~20+ holidays offper year)
Paid leaves: Sick, parental, bereavement, medical
Vacation: Three to four weeks’ PTO on top of a significant holiday schedule (20+ holidays off per year)
Relocation: If relocating, up to $10,000.
Travel: Up to 50% domestically with some international travel.
The statements contained herein reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job, the level of knowledge and skill typically required and the scope of responsibility but should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements.