Chief Development Officer
About GitLab Foundation
The GitLab Foundation exists to help more people afford a better life. We focus on increasing lifetime earnings for individuals by identifying, funding, and scaling the most effective pathways to economic mobility. Our North Star is to maximize lifetime earnings gains for every dollar deployed, with an ambitious goal of generating more than $100 in lifetime earnings gains for every $1 invested. We are evolving beyond a traditional grantmaking foundation into a platform for high-impact philanthropy. In addition to deploying our own capital, we work with donors, foundations, and partners to direct more resources toward solutions that create measurable improvements in people’s lives. Our work spans four complementary areas: high-impact grantmaking, collaborative capital vehicles that mobilize funding at scale, advisory services that help donors and foundations maximize their impact, and knowledge and intelligence products that enable better philanthropic decision-making.
At the core of our approach is a commitment to rigor, transparency, and measurable results. We combine impact modeling, data, research, technology, and practical implementation experience to identify opportunities that can deliver outsized social returns— and help others do the same.
The Team
The GitLab Foundation is a high-performing, fully remote team that moves quickly, values curiosity, and is deeply results-oriented. Grounded in our CREDIT values, we bring together diverse experience across philanthropy, nonprofits, the private sector, impact investing, and research – combining that range with collaboration, empathy, and strategic clarity to drive meaningful, measurable impact. Our culture is built on respect, humility, and open debate, with a strong bias for action.
We hold ourselves to high standards, operate with transparency and ownership, and take initiative without waiting for perfect clarity. Priorities evolve, ambiguity is the norm, and we embrace it -iterating and improving as we go.
The Role
The Chiet Development Ofticer (CDO) Is an executive eader responsible tor buildina and leadina GitLad
Foundation’s fundraising function during a pivotal period ot organizational growth. Reporting to the President & CEO and working closely with the Board of Directors and leadership team, the CDO will develop and execute the Foundation’s strategy tor raising unrestricted philanthropic capital trom institutional tunders, high-net-
worth individuals, family offices, and donor-advised funds.
As the Foundation evolves beyond a traditional grantmaking organization into a platform for high-impact philanthropy, the CDO will establish the relationships, systems, and operating discipline needed to create a scalable tundraising tunction. his is a strategic, hands-on leadership role for an entrepreneurial fundraising executive who will personally cultivate transformational donor relationships, oversee a high-quality fundraising pipeline, lead donor strategy and communications, establish forecasting and fundraising infrastructure, and create the processes needed to support long-term growth. Initially an individual contributor, the CDO will nave the opportunity to build and lead a fundraising team as the function matures.
How We Raise Money: The GitLab Foundation raises philanthropic capital to deploy through high-impact grantmaking and collaborative funding vehicles that improve economic mobility. The CDO will lead tundraising with individual donors, tamily offices, donor-advised funds, and other private philanthropic partners while partnering closely with colleagues leading collaborative funds, grantmaking, and strategic partnerships to ensure coordinated donor engagement and consistent messaging. The Foundation’s leadership team has already secured more than $31 million trom institutional tunders, providing a strong toundation tor the CDO to expand and diversity philanthropic revenue.
Partnership with the Board: Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the CDO will work closely with a highly engaged Board of Directors to develop and execute the Foundation’s fundraising strategy. Board members play an active role in fundraising by opening doors, making introductions, participating in donor meetings, and supporting cultivation and solicitation efforts. The CDO will equip the Board with the strategy, materials, insights, and follow-through needed to convert those relationships into long-term philanthropic partnerships while ensuring a coordinated and exceptional donor experience.
The Foundation has established an ambitious goal of sustaining at least $25 million annually in philanthropic support. As a member of the executive leadership team, the CDO will play a central role in achieving that goal by mobilizing new philanthropic capital, expanding the Foundation’s network of supporters, and building a high-performing fundraising function.
The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with exceptional execution. They are equally comfortable advising executives and board members, cultivating transformational donor relationships, and building organizational capability from the ground up. Success will be measured by their ability to secure significant enanies me Foundaton achieve is long term mission and growth ambitions.
