Chief Development Officer

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustices that trap people in poverty and provided legal services that help our clients meet basic needs for housing, income and economic security, family and immigration stability, education, and health care. LSNYC is the largest civil legal services provider in the country; our staff of more than 600 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs helps hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers annually. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equity for all low-income New Yorkers.

LSNYC employees have numerous opportunities for growth and professional development, including access to our internal Justice Learning Center, which provides opportunities to earn free CLEs and gain experience as a trainer. 

About Legal Services NYC

Legal Services NYC (LSNYC) fights poverty and seeks racial, social, and economic justice for low-income New Yorkers. As the largest civil legal services provider in the country, our staff of 700 people in neighborhood-based offices and outreach sites across all five boroughs provides high-quality, free legal assistance to more than 100,000 New Yorkers annually. For over 50 years, we have challenged systemic injustice and helped New Yorkers meet basic needs related to housing, income, immigration, family, education, and health. We partner with scores of community-based and client-run organizations, elected officials, public agencies, pro bono lawyers, and the courts to maximize our effectiveness. Our work fights discrimination and helps to achieve equal opportunity for all low-income New Yorkers.

Position Overview

Legal Services NYC is seeking a dynamic, experienced, and mission-driven Chief Development Officer (CDO) to lead and grow its philanthropic revenue in support of one of the nation’s most impactful civil legal services organizations. This is a pivotal time for LSNYC as we work to expand our impact, deepen donor engagement, and navigate a challenging public funding landscape. A strategic and entrepreneurial leader, the CDO will play a key role in advancing LSNYC’s mission and long-term sustainability. This senior leadership position is responsible for creating, implementing, and overseeing all aspects of LSNYC’s development strategy, with a strong focus on cultivating and stewarding relationships with major donors, private foundations, and corporate partners.

The Chief Development Officer will report to the Executive Director and work closely with the Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team, and other senior management to increase private revenue and advance LSNYC’s mission. The CDO will also work closely with LSNYC’s Project Directors to support borough-specific development strategies, ensuring that local priorities and opportunities are reflected in citywide fundraising efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy & Execution
  Develop and execute an ambitious, comprehensive fundraising strategy to increase and diversify private revenue streams, with a focus on major gifts, private foundations, and corporate support. Assist with the preparation of annual revenue budgets.
• Major Gifts & Donor Relations
  Serve as LSNYC’s chief frontline fundraiser, while also supporting the Executive Director and other senior managers in cultivation and outreach. Cultivate, solicit, and steward major individual donors and prospects. Expand LSNYC’s planned giving and major donor pipelines and establish new relationships with high-capacity supporters. Collaborate with the Communications Team to develop messaging and marketing strategies to raise LSNYC’s public profile and increase fundraising opportunities.
• Foundation & Institutional Giving
  Oversee and grow relationships with private foundations and institutional funders. Manage the development of compelling grant proposals and reports in close partnership with program and finance teams.
• Special Events
  Lead the planning and execution of LSNYC’s flagship fundraising events, including the annual Jazz for Justice Benefit, ensuring financial success and meaningful donor engagement. Manage year-end giving campaigns and other cultivation events throughout the year.
• Board & Leadership Engagement
  Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to leverage their networks and deepen relationships with potential funders and