Chief Advancement Officer

The Schaaf Group; New York (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

The Schaaf Group is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer to lead fundraising strategy for a mission-driven nonprofit in New York. You will oversee major gifts, annual giving, foundations, and partnerships, expanding unrestricted revenue and strengthening donor engagement.

You will build and mentor a high-performing Advancement team, partnering with the CEO and Board to shape long-term growth and durable funding for vulnerable populations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; 10+ years leading nonprofit fundraising or advancement.
• Track record of securing and stewarding five- to seven-figure gifts.
• Proven ability to increase philanthropic revenue and diversify funding sources.
• Experience leading comprehensive advancement programs, building teams, managing external partners.
• Credibility to partner with CEO, board, and senior external stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute an integrated advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities.
• Lead major gifts, annual giving, foundations, and corporate partnerships; steward donors.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and institutions.
• Expand unrestricted revenue and diversify the funding portfolio to reduce concentration risk.
• Build and mentor a high-performing Advancement team; align consultants around targets.

Skills

Philanthropy leadership

Major gifts

Donor stewardship

Strategic planning

Board relations

Team leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

The Schaaf Group is honored to present for immediate consideration, this Confidential Executive Opportunity

Build the philanthropic engine behind a mission that restores stability, dignity, and self-sufficiency for people facing life's hardest circumstances.

The Opportunity

A respected human-services nonprofit is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer to lead the next stage of philanthropic growth and long-term sustainability. The organization serves individuals and families experiencing hunger, homelessness, health challenges, substance-use disorders, and housing instability through an integrated continuum of compassionate care.

The Executive Mandate

The CAO will serve as the organization's senior philanthropy executive, trusted advisor to the CEO, and primary advancement partner to the Board of Directors. The mandate is clear: strengthen the fundraising platform, expand unrestricted revenue, build a culture of philanthropy, and position the organization for durable growth.

Leadership Priorities

• Create and continuously refine an integrated advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities and long-term financial goals.
• Lead major gifts, annual and planned giving, foundation and corporate partnerships, donor stewardship, capital and special campaigns, and signature events.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors, foundations, corporations, and other strategic partners.
• Expand unrestricted philanthropic revenue and reduce concentration risk by developing a broader, more resilient funding portfolio.
• Build, mentor, and hold accountable a high-performing Advancement team while aligning consultants and external partners around measurable goals.
• Strengthen the systems, analytics, technology, prospect development, and reporting required for a modern advancement operation.

Board and External Partnership

• Partner closely with the CEO and Board to set fundraising priorities, evaluate performance, and advance organizational growth.
• Serve as primary staff liaison to the Board Development Committee and help Board members engage confidently and effectively in philanthropy.
• Represent the organization with donors, foundations, corporations, elected officials, faith communities, and community leaders.
• Provide executive oversight of advancement communications, marketing, and donor-engagement initiatives that strengthen visibility and trust.

What Success Looks Like

The successful CAO will establish a clear advancement roadmap, align the team and Board around shared fundraising priorities, improve the quality and use of donor data, and expand the organization's pipeline of major and institutional support. Progress will be measured through philanthropic revenue growth, funding diversification, donor retention and engagement, campaign performance, and the strength of the systems that support future growth.

Required Experience

• Bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of progressively responsible leadership in nonprofit fundraising or advancement; a master's degree is preferred.
• Demonstrated success securing and stewarding five to seven figure gifts.
• A track record of increasing philanthropic revenue and diversifying funding sources.
• Experience leading comprehensive advancement programs, developing teams, and managing external partners.
• Credibility and judgment to partner effectively with a CEO, Board of Directors, executive peers, and senior external stakeholders.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, strategic leadership, and performance-management skills.

Preferred Background

• Leadership experience in human services, healthcare, or another complex mission-driven nonprofit.
• Experience with capital campaigns, planned giving programs, government funding, or public-private partnerships.
• Familiarity with integrated service-delivery models and the needs of vulnerable or underserved populations.

The Leadership Profile

This role calls for a visible, relationship-centered executive who earns trust quickly and follows through. The right leader will be equally comfortable setting strategy, asking for a transformational gift, coaching a team member, advising the Board, and using performance data to make a hard decision. Humility, sound judgment, resilience, and genuine respect for the people served are essential.

Why Consider This Opportunity

The CAO will inherit a mission with urgent relevance and the breadth to engage donors across basic needs, healthcare, recovery, education, workforce development, legal assistance, and supportive housing. The opportunity is to build on that foundation, elevate philanthropy as an organization-wide discipline, and secure the resources that allow more people to move toward lasting self-sufficiency.