Chief Advancement Officer

St. Mary's Ryken; Leonardtown (MD); On-site; USD 104,000 - 127,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, MD seeks a Chief Advancement Officer to lead fundraising, campaigns, alumni relations, and community partnerships. This role reports to the President and will shape a comprehensive strategy to engage donors and volunteers in support of the school’s mission.

The CAO will oversee major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor stewardship and partnerships, guiding a high-performing team and ensuring sustainable financial growth for future generations.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership in fundraising and capital campaigns.
• Experience with major gifts, donor cultivation and advancement planning.
• Strong interpersonal skills and strategic vision.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive capital campaign and secure commitments.
• Grow annual giving, major gifts, endowed scholarships and planned giving.
• Build relationships with alumni, parents, foundations, corporations and friends.
• Align advancement priorities with the school’s strategic plan and needs.
• Strengthen stewardship and communications to tell impact stories.
• Utilize data dashboards and measurable outcomes to guide decisions.
• Lead and grow the Advancement team in a collaborative environment.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Major gifts

Donor cultivation

Strategic planning

Relationship building

Data-driven decision making

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Veracross

Hatch

Donor Search

Job description

St. Mary's Ryken High School is Hiring: Chief Advancement Officer

Location: Leonardtown, Maryland | Start Date: Open until filled | Status: Full-Time | In-Person | Salary: $115,000+ commensurate with experience

St. Mary’s Ryken invites an accomplished, relationship-driven advancement professional to join our leadership team as Chief Advancement Officer.This is an opportunity to make a lasting impact on Catholic education by strengthening the philanthropic support, community partnerships, and alumni relationships that will sustain our mission for generations to come.

An Opportunity to Make a Lasting Difference

Rooted in the Catholic faith and the tradition of the Xaverian Brothers, St. Mary’s Ryken forms young men and women who are prepared for academic success, lives of service, and leadership grounded in faith and character.

As SMR looks toward its next chapter of growth and institutional advancement, we seek a Chief Advancement Officer who can facilitate translating the school’s mission into meaningful philanthropic investment and lasting community engagement.

Reporting directly to the President, the CAO will provide strategic leadership for all advancement initiatives, including a comprehensive capital campaign, major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, alumni relations, donor stewardship, and corporate and community partnerships.

The successful candidate will be both a strategic thinker and an active relationship builder—someone who understands that successful advancement begins with listening, earns trust through authentic engagement, and inspires generosity by connecting donors to a mission that matters.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive capital campaign. Partner with the President and Board of Directors to develop and execute campaign strategy, cultivate major donors, engage volunteer leaders, and secure philanthropic commitments for SMR’s future.


• Grow philanthropic support. Strengthen annual giving, major gifts, endowed scholarships, planned giving, and other fundraising initiatives that advance the school’s mission and financial sustainability.


• Build meaningful relationships. Deepen engagement with alumni, current and former parents, grandparents, foundations, corporations, and friends of the school.


• Partner with school leadership. Align advancement priorities with the school’s strategic plan, institutional needs, and long‑term vision.


• Strengthen stewardship and communications. Tell the story of SMR’s impact and ensure donors understand how their generosity changes students’ lives.


• Data-driven outcomes.Experience with fundraising CRM’s (Veracross, Hatch, Donor Search) and using data dashboards and measurable outcomes.


• Lead and grow the Advancement team. Willingness to perform both high-level strategic work and day-to-day operational responsibilities in a collaborative, resource-conscious environment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate brings demonstrated senior leadership in fundraising success, exceptional interpersonal skills, strategic vision, and a commitment to building lasting relationships. The candidate will have experience with major gifts, donor cultivation, advancement planning, and fundraising operations, with capital campaign experience strongly preferred.

A bachelor’s degree is required, with an advanced degree preferred.Five years’ experience in a CAO leadership role in the areas of educational advancement or a comparable mission-driven organization are preferred.

Why St. Mary’s Ryken?

This position offers the opportunity to help shape the future of a school community with a strong tradition, dedicated alumni, committed families, and a mission that extends well beyond the classroom.

The Chief Advancement Officer will work directly with the President and Board of Directors, engage a broad network of philanthropic partners, and help secure the resources needed to enhance student opportunities, strengthen academic programs, support faculty, provide scholarships, and invest in the campus.

For a professional who finds purpose in building relationships, inspiring generosity, and advancing an enduring mission, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference.