Summary of Job:
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is the senior advancement leader for Central Catholic High School and serves as a member of the President's Leadership Team.
Reporting directly to the President, the CAO provides strategic leadership for all advancement efforts and leads a team of seven advancement professionals supporting the school's philanthropic, alumni engagement, and advancement initiatives.
Working closely with the President, Board of Directors, and Development Committee, the CAO develops and executes a comprehensive advancement strategy, manages a portfolio of leadership donors and prospects, and serves as a visible ambassador for the school within the Central Catholic community and beyond.
This position requires a significant external presence and a commitment to building meaningful relationships that inspire philanthropic investment in Central Catholic's mission.
About Central Catholic High School
Founded in 1935, Central Catholic High School is a Catholic, college-preparatory school in the Marist tradition, serving approximately 1,200 students from more than 60 communities in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Guided by its Strategic Plan, Building Toward 100 Years of Excellence, Central Catholic is committed to expanding opportunities for students and strengthening a culture of philanthropy that advances its mission. Philanthropy is essential to ensuring that a Central Catholic education remains accessible to students from a wide range of socioeconomic backgrounds while enriching the student experience. As the school looks toward its centennial celebration in 2035, the Chief Advancement Officer will play a leading role in helping shape the school's next chapter of philanthropic growth and engagement.
Mission & Catholic Identity
The Chief Advancement Officer embraces and promotes the Catholic and Marist mission of Central Catholic High School. Grounded in the values of Saint Marcellin Champagnat, the CAO fosters a culture of generosity, stewardship, and lifelong engagement while serving as an ambassador for the school among alumni, parents, benefactors, foundations, corporations, and community partners.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with the school's mission, Strategic Plan, and long-term priorities.
- Establish annual fundraising goals, performance metrics, and departmental priorities.
- Advise the President and Board of Directors on advancement strategy, philanthropic trends, and revenue opportunities.
- Monitor emerging trends, technologies, and best practices in philanthropy and advancement and identify innovative approaches that strengthen fundraising, donor engagement, and constituent relationships.
- Foster a culture of innovation and philanthropy throughout the Central Catholic community.
Philanthropy & Major Gifts
- Personally manage a portfolio of leadership, major, and principal gift prospects.
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors.
- Partner closely with the President to engage the school's highest capacity donors and prospects.
- Expand annual, major, planned, scholarship, and endowment giving through strategic donor engagement.
- Ensure meaningful stewardship and recognition of benefactors.
Campaigns & Constituent Engagement
- Lead planning and execution of comprehensive fundraising campaigns and strategic giving initiatives.
- Strengthen engagement among alumni, parents, benefactors, and friends of Central Catholic.
- Expand planned giving and legacy society participation.
- Partner with the Director of Strategic Communications to communicate the impact of philanthropy and advance the school's mission.
- Cultivate partnerships with corporations, foundations, and community organizations.
Advancement Operations
- Oversee advancement systems, donor records, gift processing, reporting, and stewardship.
- Utilize data and analytics to evaluate fundraising performance and donor engagement.
- Prepare reports for the President, Development Committee, and Board of Directors.
- Develop and manage the Advancement and Alumni Office budget while ensuring compliance with legal and ethical standards.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Recruit, develop, supervise, and evaluate Advancement and Alumni Office staff.
- Establish clear expectations, priorities, and measures of success across the department.
- Promote a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Leadership & Team Development
- Recruit, develop, supervise, and evaluate Advancement and Alumni Office staff.
- Establish clear expectations, priorities, and measures of success across the department.
- Promote a culture of accountability, excellence, and continuous improvement.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor's degree required; master's degree preferred.
- Seven or more years of progressively responsible advancement or fundraising leadership experience, including supervisory responsibilities and experience cultivating and securing major gifts.
- Demonstrated success securing leadership and major gifts.
- Experience leading comprehensive fundraising strategies and working with boards, volunteers, and senior leadership.
- Exceptional communication, relationship-building, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
- Experience utilizing donor database systems and advancement technology.
- Commitment to the mission and values of Catholic education.
Preferred
- Advancement leadership experience in Catholic education, independent schools, higher education, or faith-based nonprofit organizations.
- Experience leading comprehensive or capital campaigns.
- Knowledge of Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT or comparable CRM platforms.
- Experience managing advancement staff and departmental budgets.
- Familiarity with planned giving and endowment development.
Core Competencies
- Strategic Leadership
- Relationship Management
- Major Gift Fundraising
- Executive Presence
- Collaboration
- Results Orientation
- Financial Acumen
- Data-Informed Decision Making
- Communication
- Integrity and Confidentiality
- Mission Alignment
Working Conditions
This position requires occasional evening and weekend commitments for donor cultivation, fundraising activities, alumni programs, and school events. Local and regional travel is expected.
The successful candidate will maintain a significant external presence through donor engagement, community partnerships, philanthropic leadership activities, and the regular cultivation of alumni, benefactors, and prospective donors.
Compensation: Salary & Benefits
Central Catholic High School offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience.
The anticipated salary range for this position is $130,000 - $145,000, with a comprehensive benefits package.
Benefits include:
- HMO Health Insurance Plan with a Health Reimbursement Account (HRA)
- Dental insurance through Delta Dental
- A cafeteria plan with Flexible Spending Account (FSA) & Dependent Care Account (DCA)
- 403(b) Retirement Plan through Fidelity Investments with employer contribution
- Life Insurance coverage for two times salary (Employer pays 100% of the premium)
- Voluntary supplemental Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability coverage
- Central Catholic tuition benefit offered for children of full-time employees
How to Apply
Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.
For immediate consideration, interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials to [email protected].
- A cover letter expressing their interest in this position
- A current resume
- College transcript(s)
- A list of three to five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each.
Equal Opportunity Employer
In its employment practices, Central Catholic High School will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, unfavorable military discharge, marital status, mental or physical handicap unrelated to the ability to perform duties of the position. This policy shall be interpreted in a manner which is consistent with the religious mission of Central Catholic High School and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $130,000.00 - $145,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
Application Question(s):
- Please be prepared to provide contact information for two to three professional references.
Education:
Work Location: In person
