Chief Advancement Officer

Position Description

Title: Chief Advancement Officer

Performance Profile Source: Executive Leadership

Department: Development Staff

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer

Position Status: EXEMPT

Established in 1952, the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach which also serves Saddleback Valley is a purpose-driven non-profit and a chartered member of the Boys & Girls Club of America, a nationwide organization composed of autonomous, community-based 501(C)3 organizations that work at the local level to help young people of all backgrounds develop the qualities they need to become responsible adults and leaders.

Role and Responsibilities

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is responsible for driving the overall success of fundraising for the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach with an annual revenue of 4 million which is comprised of both earned and fundraising revenue. As a member of the executive team, the CAO collaborates with the CEO, executive team, volunteers, and the Board of Directors to lead the execution of resource development strategies, including major gifts, small fundraising events, grants, annual campaigns, and sponsorships. The key responsibility of this role is to cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, with an emphasis on fostering their long-term engagement and continued support. The CAO leads fundraising efforts to elevate the organization’s visibility and impact, responsible for data base management, supervising development staff and grant writing consultant, and coordinating volunteers to drive development and communication initiatives forward focused on increasing individual giving. This leader must demonstrate strategic vision, collaboration, emotional intelligence, and the ability to manage complex initiatives effectively. The CAO must be a self-motivated professional with a commitment to the Club’s mission, a track record of advancing relationships, and broad knowledge of development principles.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities:

Fundraising:

• Design and implement a comprehensive development plan and fundraising program which includes benchmarks and evaluation procedures focusing on the optimal combination of individual, foundation, and corporate giving, including annual/mid-level/major/planned gifts, workplace giving, corporate philanthropy, annual campaigns, and small gathering events. Ensure strategies and tactics remain competitive and produce planned results.
• Accountable for the achievement of budgeted revenue target with a portfolio of priority relationships, account management, fundraising activities, and small gathering events.
• Oversee and continue to refine the evaluation and reporting system for fundraising so that leadership and the CEO have timely information and key metrics to measure progress.
• Actively seek out and develop new opportunities for investment, revenue generation, and strategic partnerships.
• Identify, develop and maintain long-term relationships between Boys & Girls Club and major donors, foundations and corporate contributors, and other key stakeholders.
• Identify, cultivate and solicit personally, and prepare CEO or Board members to solicit a significant number of major gifts to meet or exceed targets.
• Accurately forecast expected revenue and expenses from all fundraising activities.
• Work with the CEO to effectively and efficiently utilize the CEO’s time in meeting with donors.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Board members to manage and encourage Board member Individual Development Plans and to leverage board and committee networks and experience.

Leadership:

• Lead the Development department to act as a cohesive team focused on achieving common and individual goals to meet the needs of the organization.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy and collaboration among the various departments of the organization.
• Provide leadership in the development of inter-team communication and cohesiveness, sustaining culture and supporting staff during organizational growth.
• Identify and communicate to leadership all potential opportunities and/or relationships that will increase the Club’s ability to raise funds and reach new stakeholders.
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team. Identify challenges and recommend solutions to senior leadership; balance competing priorities and work collaboratively with colleagues.
• Advise the CEO and staff of current resources, trends, obstacles, and developments in revenue

generation and donor relations.

• Assist with assessment of annual budgetary needs for areas of responsibility.
• Adhere to all Boys & Girls Clubs of America performance standards and internal controls, policies and procedures.

Staff Management:

• Attract, develop, coach, and retain high-performance team members, supervise Development team empowering them to elevate their level of responsibility, span of control, and performance.
• Set Development staff goals, monitor work, and evaluate results to ensure that the Development department meets organizational objectives and operating requirements and that the department’s functioning and performance is in line with the needs and mission of the organization.
• Work with fundraising staff and volunteers to develop systems to ensure consistent, high-quality project management.

Job Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher is required.
• CFRE preferred.
• 10+ years of diversified fundraising experience in a nonprofit environment, including capital campaigns, major gifts, annual gifts, direct mail and corporate philanthropy. Working knowledge of planned gifts.
• 5+ years of marketing/development diversified partnership experience.
• Proven track record and knowledgebase in identifying, cultivating/stewarding, soliciting, and closing major gifts and corporate sponsorships. Proven ability to close six figure gifts is preferred.
• 5+ years of leading revenue-generating teams with direct supervision of staff.
• Experience developing and executing a relationship based fundraising program with an emphasis on gifts over $5K to include, but not limited to an understanding of DAF, CRT and CLT.
• Proven career track record that shows stability with an organization and a demonstrated ability to develop, nurture and build relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to set and achieve or exceed goals.
• Proven team leadership and ability to work collaboratively to ensure strong departmental and organizational structure.
• Team player who can give and take advice and support in order to ensure the fulfillment of the Club’s mission.
• Adherence to deadlines, strong organizational and time management skills with attention to detail.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills to clearly communicate with all employees, interns, volunteers, donors, the Board of Directors, CEO and leadership team in a clear, business-like and respectful manner, which focuses on generating a positive, enthusiastic and cooperative work environment.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable to situational changes.
• A strong understanding of the urgency of the need to enhance and maintain Development systems and structures.
• Experience working with CRM databases.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to speak, read, and write in English.
• Requires a passion for and commitment to the work of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach.
• Requires reliable transportation, the ability to lift 25 pounds in and out of a vehicle, sit and work at a computer or stand for periods of time.

Organization Information

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach, also serving Saddleback Valley, has been meeting the needs of the children and families of our community for nearly 75 years. The Club offers daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas (Character and Leadership Development; Education and Career Development; Health and Life Skills; The Arts; and Sports, Fitness and Recreation). All the programs are designed to drive positive outcomes for youth and reinforce necessary life skills. The Club provides a positive place for children and teens during their out-of-school time and remains at the forefront of youth development with special concern for those from disadvantaged economic, social, and family circumstances.

The mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach is to empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as healthy, caring and responsible adults.

The Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the Club has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.