Interim Chief Advancement Officer- this is a temporary position for 6 months, full-time (40 hours), exempt, located at our Vicente campus in San Francisco.
Mission: We provide the people, place, and path for exceptional youth mental healthcare.
Vision: We aim to redefine what youth mental healthcare can be by delivering transformative support that doesn't just treat symptoms but changes lives.
About Edgewood:
Each person who works at Edgewood Center for Children and Families shares a passion for making a difference in the lives of the children and families who we serve in the San Francisco Bay Area. Employees find themselves surrounded by a diverse and extraordinary group of dedicated professionals, in welcoming environments characterized by whole-person care, open communication, creative support and a commitment to growth, healing and improving each day. Edgewood’s successes come from our employees and the positive results they help create for children and families. When you join Edgewood, you join a culture of purpose and belonging, where your growth is a priority, your identity is embraced, and the work you do matters.
Position Summary
Edgewood seeks a seasoned, entrepreneurial Advancement leader to serve as Interim Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) for a six-month engagement. This leader will step in with immediate impact, providing senior executive-level guidance across the full spectrum of Advancement — fundraising, brand development, communications, marketing, strategy, and innovation — during a critical period of organizational momentum. Reporting directly to the CEO and working in close partnership with the Board of Directors, Executive and Senior Leadership Teams, the Temporary Interim CAO will provide continuity and forward momentum across all Advancement activities. As a member of the Executive Team, this leader will contribute to and help implement Edgewood's strategic plans in partnership with the CEO. This leader will guide the internal Advancement team responsible for Edgewood’s annual fund and a major gifts campaign while simultaneously overseeing brand communications, marketing strategy, digital innovation, and community engagement to strengthen Edgewood's visibility, reputation, and long-term sustainability. The Interim CAO will bring continuity, coherence, urgency, and strategic clarity to all Advancement area operations during this interim period.
Scope of Leadership
The Interim CAO will serve as Edgewood's senior strategic voice for:
Ensuring Fundraising Continuity:
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Annual fund and campaign team guidance and major gifts strategy
Coordinating existing communications and marketing plans including the current workplans for A Place to Begin (APTB):
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Brand strategy, communications, and reputation management
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Specific program targeted marketing
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Integrated marketing across digital, social, earned media, and events channels
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Events leadership
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Digital transformation and innovation (including AI tools, technology systems, and HIPAA-compliant protocols related to leads and marketing)
Key Roles and Responsibilities
Leadership & Team Management (25%)
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Provide senior executive leadership to the CEO, Edgewood Board, and its Leadership, Advancement, Major Gifts Committees across all fundraising and marketing activities.
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Guide and manage the internal advancement team, including the Director of Advancement and staff responsible for annual fund, major gifts, events, CRM/donor database, and grant writing.
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Set clear priorities, accountability structures, and performance standards for the Advancement team aligned with Edgewood's strategic plan.
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Attract, retain, and mentor top talent; support hiring and onboarding as needed throughout the Department.
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Represent Edgewood in the greater Bay Area community, pursuing both Advancement goals and the broader mission of Edgewood in partnership with the CEO.
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Routinely visit Edgewood's locations and attend events to engage with staff and deepen understanding of programs, services, and impact for children and families.
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Actively partner with colleagues at the Executive and Senior Leadership level, pushing for high standards, effective execution, and strong cross-departmental communication.
Fundraising & Revenue Development (30%)
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Provide strategic oversight and coaching to the Advancement team as they execute the annual fund campaign — setting goals, messaging, and engagement strategies to maximize donor participation and revenue.
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Lead strategy and work collaboratively with Major Gifts Officer leading efforts on the $10 million major gifts campaign — with $6.8 million remaining to be raised — including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors.
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Oversee all aspects of the Advancement program: individual, corporate, and foundation giving; estate and planned gifts; special events; grants; and ongoing donor stewardship.
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Oversee Edgewood's annual Advancement budget; explore opportunities to grow revenue across all fundraising channels in collaboration with the CEO, Executive Team, and Advancement Committee.
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Ensure a strong working relationship between the Advancement and Finance Departments, with full monthly reconciliation and close management of cash flow.
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Oversee production of an un-reconciled Gift Detail Report weekly; with reconciliation with Finance occurring monthly.
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Develop and present reports for the Board's Advancement Committee and Campaign Cabinet, ensuring the Committee and Cabinet are adequately informed on campaign progress and revenue performance.
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Track, analyze, and report on KPIs for all advancement, communications, and marketing programs; use insights to optimize future campaigns and spending.
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Work collaboratively with program and service leadership to help establish measurement frameworks for organizational performance
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Oversee all capacity-building campaigns or initiatives as assigned.
Brand Communications & Marketing Leadership (25%)
Unify Edgewood's messaging, branding, marketing, and public engagement across all platforms and stakeholder audiences — from individual, institutional, and corporate donors to the public at large — expanding visibility and reputation locally and nationally.
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Work collaboratively with the COO, IT, and senior leadership to guide the responsible use of AI tools and develop best practices and protocols related to privacy, security, and HIPAA compliance.
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Protect and enhance Edgewood's brand identity, ensuring a cohesive voice, aesthetic, and messaging framework across all communication channels and materials.
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Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for all campaigns and initiatives, measuring brand visibility, donor and supporter engagement, and donor retention.
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Conduct ongoing market research and audience analysis to inform targeting, messaging, and channel strategy.
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Manage advertising, marketing, public relations, and video production agencies and vendors engaged by Edgewood.
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Develop relationships with Bay Area and national media representatives; conduct proactive media outreach to generate ongoing coverage. Draft press statements, news releases, and public service announcements as needed.
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Prepare and manage crisis communications in partnership with the CEO and outside expertise.
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Champion diversity, equity, and inclusion through outreach, visibility campaigns, and inclusive stakeholder engagement practices.
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Deepen community engagement with key external audiences, expanding Edgewood's reach and reputation across the Bay Area and beyond.
Core Competencies
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Executive Leadership Skills: negotiation, problem-solving, decision-making, delegation, and the ability to lead under pressure while meeting multiple and often competing deadlines
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Fundraising Leadership: team development, donor management systems, annual and major gifts campaign development, grant writing, events, and stewardship.
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Brand Strategy & Creative Direction: stakeholder engagement, positioning, messaging, visual identity, and brand experience design across digital and traditional environments.
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Communications & Marketing: integrated multi-channel planning, content strategy, digital marketing (including SEO, email, social media, paid media), and KPI-driven optimization.
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Technology Leadership: acumen for decision-making about technology platforms related to communications, marketing, fundraising, and client experience — including AI tools.
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Impact Evaluation: KPI development, data analysis, back-end management effectiveness, and impact capture and reporting.
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Strong Oral and Written Communication Skills: including compelling storytelling for donor audiences, executive storytelling, and public presentation.
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Emotional Intelligence and Collaboration Skills: Demonstrated ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with a CEO, Executive Team, Senior Leadership Team, Board of Directors, staff, donors, community groups, and partner agencies.
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Healing Centered Engagement- Contributes positively to creating a healing-centered, welcoming, anti-racist, LGBTQ+ affirming team and organization. Demonstrates cultural competency, humility, and sensitivity treating youth, families, and colleagues with dignity and respect.
Applied Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
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Bachelor's degree required; master’s degree preferred in Business, Marketing, Communications, or a related field.
Experience
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10+ years of senior leadership experience in advancement, brand communications, marketing, or a related field — ideally spanning nonprofit, healthcare, or community-based organizations.
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Proven success leading multi-million-dollar fundraising campaigns, including major gifts campaigns and annual fund programs.
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Demonstrated expertise building and managing high-performing marketing and communications organizations.
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Experience as a strategic advisor or interim executive, with the ability to quickly assess an organization's needs and deliver results within a defined engagement period.
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Direct experience with donor database software (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, or equivalent CRM platforms) and digital marketing tools.
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Experience in or with healthcare, mental health, youth services, or other mission-driven organizations is strongly preferred.
The salary range for this position is: $200,000 to $220,000.00 for six months. This is a Benefits eligible position.
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
Equal Opportunity
Edgewood is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. People of color, women, persons with disabilities, and persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or intersex are encouraged to apply. Edgewood maintains a policy of non-discrimination with respect to employees and applicants for employment. No aspect of employment will be influenced in any matter by race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, marital status, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, physical disability (including HIV or AIDS), medical condition, perceived physical disability, veteran status or any other basis prohibited by statute.
