Our client, a large impactful faith-based Houston non-profit, is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer to lead and work with a committed and skilled team of professionals focused on achieving the organization's mission through fundraising, marketing, and communications. This position requires both a strategic vision and a detail-oriented background in the management of people and programs. Our client enjoys long-term working relationships with foundations and individuals who are committed to the organization's mission and align with their core values and faith commitments, including many leading philanthropists in the great city of Houston. Maintaining personal major donor relationships is a fundamental part of the Chief Advancement Officer position, which requires an attentive, responsive, pro-active and forward-thinking demeanor with donors.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Leadership:
Be a value driven leader. Live out the organization's Core Values of excellence, integrity, and life change with your team.
Be an active member of the Executive Management Team. Bring the perspective of advancement essentials and clarity of communication to every meeting. Hold the executive team accountable to the limits of our fundraising and wishes of our donors.
Lead your team well: develop overall annual team action plans, performance reviews, and budget with staff.
Build cross-functional relationships with the development, marketing, and communications teams.
Evaluate the performance of department operations and programs regularly to facilitate discussions with the CEO regarding results, obstacles, and proposed solutions.
Development:
Supervise the program and develop strategies to meet annual goals for individual major donors, corporations, planned giving, foundations and grants.
Build a fundraising strategy based on donor segments. Craft tailored segment strategies to drive awareness, choice, generosity, engagement, and giving.
Maintain and manage relationships with a core set of tier 1 donors. Identify opportunities to develop new donor relationships.
Participate in planning and coordination of fundraising with stakeholder groups.
Along with other members of the executive team as available, provide tours for major donors and planned giving donors/prospects and public speaking where required.
Manage prospect advancement and moves-management for Major Donors.
Marketing and Communications:
Oversee the development and execution of a comprehensive marketing and communications plan to increase visibility and donor engagement.
Build compelling communication strategies and tools that increase the visibility
Ensure consistent and compelling messaging across all communication channels, including digital and social media.
Serve as a spokesperson for the organization, representing its mission and values to external audiences.
Foster partnerships with community organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to advance the mission.
Represent the organization at community events, conferences, and meetings.
REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's degree required from an accredited university or college with ten years of non-profit fundraising experience.
A history of securing multiple major gifts of $250K+.
Experience leading an advancement team of professionals in a non-profit setting.
Knowledge of marketing and communications leadership and operations.
Excellent and compelling written and verbal communication skills.