Cottage Health – CDO, Systemwide

WittKieffer is honored to partner with Cottage Health as it seeks a strategic, experienced, and mission-driven advancement leader to serve as Chief Development Officer, Systemwide. This is a significant enterprise leadership opportunity within a highly regarded, independent not-for-profit health system.

Reporting to the head of advancement, the Chief Development Officer, Systemwide will serve as a key partner to executive leadership, physicians, and board members in advancing philanthropy as a strategic asset in support of clinical excellence, innovation, and long-term sustainability. Cottage Health is building on a strong philanthropic foundation while evolving beyond a historically relationship-driven and decentralized model toward a more aligned, systemwide approach.

Located in Santa Barbara, Cottage Health is widely recognized for high-quality patient care, strong clinical programs, and deep community trust, supported by a loyal donor base and a long-standing tradition of philanthropy. A central priority for this role is to expand Cottage Health's capacity to secure transformational gifts. In close partnership with the Vice President of Advancement and President of the Cottage Health Foundation, the Chief Development Officer will help lead efforts to identify, cultivate, and close significant philanthropic investments. This includes working with donors, families, and their professional advisors to structure complex and blended gifts involving real estate, appreciated assets, and other non-cash vehicles.

The Chief Development Officer, Systemwide, will operate at both the strategic and relationship-driven levels, providing leadership for principal, planned giving, and foundation giving while personally engaging with donors capable of transformational investment. Success in this role will require an authentic, relationship-based approach with donors who are often understated and values-driven. This leader will build trust with these individuals and families, translating strong relationships into lasting philanthropic partnerships.
Based in Santa Barbara County, California, this role requires a visible, engaged presence within Cottage Health and the surrounding community.

A bachelor's degree in a related field, such as Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, Communications, Public Administration, or Health Administration, is required. A master's degree or JD is preferred. The successful candidate will have significant senior-level experience (typically 20+ years), including 10+ years in direct fundraising and 7+ years in leadership roles. Equivalent combinations of experience will be considered.

We invite you to review a complete leadership profile here.

All applications, nominations, and inquiries are invited. Applications should include, as separate documents, a CV/resume and a letter of interest. Please submit all applications, nominations, and inquiries to the WittKieffer consultants, Ashley Buderus, Mercedes Vance, and Eleanor Vogelsang, through the WittKieffer Candidate Portal by clicking here.

The base salary for this position is $257,040 - $385,560. In addition, the CDO will be eligible for a discretionary annual incentive bonus, retirement, and additional benefits, including generous housing benefits. The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be determined based on various factors, including but not limited to: scope of role, level of experience, education, accomplishments, and internal equity. The base compensation range listed is a good-faith determination of potential base compensation at the time of this job advertisement and may be modified in the future.

To learn more about the unique aspects of working for Cottage Health, visit https://www.cottagehealth.org/careers/about-us/life-where-you-love-it/.

Cottage Health values diversity and is committed to equal opportunity for all persons regardless of age, color, disability, ethnicity, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status protected by law.





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