Chief Advancement Officer, AbleLight

Position Title: Chief Advancement Officer

Reports to: President and CEO

Position: Full-Time, Onsite, Exempt

Location: Remote. Candidates are preferred to be based in Denver, Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, Missouri, or California.

Salary: $240,000 - $250,000 based on experience

About AbleLight

Founded in 1904 in Watertown, Wisconsin by concerned Lutherans, AbleLight opened their doors to five people with developmental disabilities. The school focused on Lutheran education while providing people with a loving and supportive home. Almost 120 years later, the mission lives on nationally because of the over 7 million Americans with a developmental disability, and the number of children being diagnosed each year that is continuing to grow. The work we AbleLight does to support people with developmental disabilities live their best lives is critical now more than ever.

AbleLight envisions a world where all people with developmental disabilities are loved, secure and flourishing in their communities. The mission is clear, through Christian love, AbleLight whole-heartedly supports and advocates for all people with developmental disabilities to ensure they have security, dignity, and hope.

The organization delivers their mission by addressing social issues that support individuals overcoming significant obstacles and barriers in life. Many of these challenges threaten the core need to feel secure in life itself. The gaps AbleLight helps to fill include physical and social isolation, employment insecurities, housing insecurities, along with health and wellness needs. The organization does this by providing programs in residential services, employment services, day programs, representative Payee services, and advocacy across the states of CA, OR, WA, CO, IL, IN, WI, MI, MO, KS, and MN.

1400 colleagues at AbleLight are called to serve and make the mission come to life every day, and they are guided by and live out our three values: Mission First, One AbleLight, and Christian Love.

The Opportunity

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) at AbleLight leads efforts to ensure the organization's culture, systems, and procedures support fund development and marketing. They collaborate with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Operations to accelerate fund development and marketing strategies, aiming to maximize philanthropic engagement and revenue across the organization’s geographic markets. The CAO is responsible for soliciting major gifts and coordinating transformative funding opportunities to advance the mission of enabling individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their full potential. 

Working in close collaboration with executive leadership, the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will develop and advance strategies aimed at optimizing charitable engagement and revenue generation while overseeing marketing initiatives and brand management. They will actively nurture substantial donations and facilitate impactful funding opportunities to further the organization's mission across various operational areas.

Impact Areas   

Advancement Strategy and Team Management (25%):

• Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction to the advancement team.
• Foster a "Culture of Philanthropy" across the organization.
• Lead the design and execution of comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with organizational priorities.
• Spearhead the implementation of a Major Giving and a Planned Giving program crucial for long-term sustainability.
• Establish goals and metrics for diverse fundraising channels, including Planned Giving, Major Giving, Grants, and Foundation partnerships, and integrate strategies across all fundraising efforts to ensure comprehensive and sustainable financial support.

Fundraising Leadership and Execution (25%):

• Accomplish major gifts and planned giving initiatives to secure financial support from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
• Leading by example, manage a portfolio of 75 to 100 major gift donors, with goals to increase the gift threshold from $5,000 to $10,000 .
• Establish revenue targets between $5 million and $7 million, representing 5% of program revenue, utilizing a combination of direct gifts, annual giving, and legacy gifts.
• Plan and execute compelling fundraising campaigns and events to engage donors effectively.
• Track fundraising metrics to fine-tune performance and maximize results.
• Guide the advancement team in developing and implementing strategies, particularly for annual giving, to ensure sustained engagement and meaningful contributions from major gift donors and prospects.
• Motivate and collaborate closely with the advancement team to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• Hire, train, and manage advancement team members to foster a high-performing and collaborative culture.

Communication, Marketing, and Branding (25%):

• Provide leadership to the External Marketing and Communications team.
• Collaborate with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT) to set marketing and communications objectives aligned with strategic priorities.
• Provide leadership over development marketing and communication materials to effectively convey the organization's mission and impact.
• Provide leadership over utilization of various channels, including print, digital, and social media, to engage stakeholders and raise awareness.
• Represent the organization externally through effective communication and networking.
• Maintain brand consistency across all marketing channels to uphold a unified brand identity.
• Work closely with External Marketing and Communications Team to provide assistance in employee recruitment and internal employee brand needs.
• Communicate the organization's reputation as an employer of choice, effectively showcasing its mission, culture, and opportunities for professional growth.
• Support initiatives aimed at attracting top talent to join the organization, utilizing targeted messaging, storytelling, and digital marketing channels to reach prospective candidates.

Stakeholder Engagement (25%):

• Foster and nurture relationships with donors, board members, volunteers, and stakeholders.
• Maintain a deep understanding of AbleLight's programs and operations through regular stakeholder engagement.
• Serve as an ambassador for the organization at external events and conferences to forge partnerships and advance the mission.
• Work closely with program staff to synchronize fundraising endeavors with programmatic goals.
• Develop robust connections with key stakeholders and promptly address intricate issues.
• Demonstrate experience and success in faith-based fundraising and partnership development.

Requirements

Knowledge, Skills, and Expertise

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, business administration, or related field preferred, with a preference for candidates holding a master’s degree.
• A minimum of ten (10) years of experience in nonprofit fundraising is required, showcasing senior-level engagement in advancement, solicitation of major gifts, and strategy formulation.
• Track record of successfully securing direct major gifts and grants. 
• Experience developing and executing comprehensive marketing strategies to enhance brand visibility, engagement, and revenue generation.
• Demonstrated expertise developing cohesive strategies and driving results across multiple areas of fundraising and outreach.
• Strong leadership and management skills, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to engage stakeholders, including donors, board members, volunteers, and staff.
• Ability to lead a team of five (5) or more direct reports, including coaching and managing team performance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of best practices in fundraising, donor and public relations, and communications, with the capacity for independent and critical thought.
• Strategic thinker developing creative fundraising strategies aligned with the organization's mission.
• Experience with database systems such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM.
• Strong fiscal knowledge and data analysis abilities.
• Experience with faith-based fundraising preferred.
• Ability to travel to markets as required (approximately 35% to 45%), including monthly in-person team and CEO meetings.

AbleLight has retained the services of Charity Search Group to coordinate the search for this position. To apply, please complete this online application. If you have questions or need accommodations, please contact Orlisha Fox, ([email protected]) or visit www.charitysearchgroup.com. 

AbleLight is an equal-opportunity employer committed to having a workforce that reflects diversity at all levels of the organization. We recognize the importance of not viewing individuals based on a single identity, and we thrive on being equitable in our recruitment process and in our efforts to be inclusive of all employees.