The Center for AI Safety (CAIS) is a leading research and field-building organization on a mission to reduce societal-scale risks from AI. Alongside our sister organization, the CAIS Action Fund, we tackle the toughest AI issues with a mix of technical, societal and policy solutions. Our work includes publishing a global statement on AI Risksigned by Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio and CEOs from the major AI labs and running a large compute cluster for global academic researchers working on AI safety research. The Chief Development Officer (CDO) plays a critical role in advancing CAIS’s mission by leading strategic fundraising efforts and building meaningful relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders. This role involves designing and executing innovative fundraising strategies, securing grants, crafting compelling proposals, and organizing high-impact events. In collaboration with program teams, the CDO aligns fundraising initiatives with program goals to maximize CAIS’s impact. Additionally, the CDO serves as a primary representative, fostering partnerships, exploring strategic alliances, and providing executive leadership with critical insights that support the organization’s growth and sustainability.
In this role you will:
Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies to achieve organizational goals.
Lead donor cultivation efforts, including identifying, soliciting, and stewarding donor relationships.
Write and manage grant proposals to secure funding from foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
Organize fundraising events and campaigns to strengthen donor engagement.
Collaborate with the Director of Communications to support marketing and communications initiatives.
Work closely with program teams to ensure that development activities align with programmatic goals.
Cultivate and strengthen relationships with existing and prospective partners.
Identify opportunities for new programmatic collaborations and strategic alliances.
Collaborate with the executive team to drive new ideas, programs, and partnerships.
Represent CAIS at conferences, events, and meetings to expand networks and promote the mission.
Establish and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including community leaders, policymakers, and donors.
Support the executive team with strategic planning and leadership initiatives.
Provide regular reports and updates on development activities to the executive team and board.
We're looking for someone who is great at:
Fundraising and Grant Writing. You bring at least 5 years of experience in development or fundraising within the nonprofit sector and have a proven record of success in securing gifts, grants, and partnerships.
Communication and Networking: You have exceptional communication, interpersonal, and networking abilities, essential for building relationships with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
Strategic Thinking and Problem-Solving: You’re a creative, strategic thinker who can develop programmatic goals and apply a proactive approach to problem-solving.
Leadership and Collaboration: You demonstrate excellent leadership and teamwork skills, excelling in collaboration with program and executive teams to drive impactful initiatives.
Attention to Detail and High Standards: You’re conscientious, detail-oriented, and able to maintain a high standard of quality, even when juggling multiple priorities.
You might thrive in this for this role if you:
Are passionate about CAIS’s mission and are motivated by work that focuses on AI safety and societal impact.
Have a strong track record and bring proven success in securing gifts, grants, and partnerships in a nonprofit setting.
Knowledgeable about policy advocacy and its role in advancing nonprofit objectives.
Are able to work independently while contributing to a team-oriented environment.
Thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments and adjust strategies as new information arises.
Manage all project details with a strong sense of ownership, balancing short-term tasks with long-term goals, and you’re comfortable working independently while welcoming feedback.
The Center of AI Safety is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. The Center for AI Safety values candidates of all backgrounds. If you find yourself excited by the position but you don't check every box in the description, we encourage you to apply anyway!
