Chief Advancement Officer

Friends of the Children - San Franicsco; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium coverage

PTO

401(k) match

Life & disability insurance

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition assistance

Commuting stipend

Job summary

Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area seeks its first Chief Advancement Officer to lead fundraising and communications, reporting to the Executive Director. The CAO will oversee a growing development and communications team, cultivate major and principal gifts, foundations, corporations, events, and government funding, and help double the number of children served.

The ideal candidate has bachelor's degree and at least 10 years in fundraising with senior leadership experience; CFRE preferred.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible fundraising experience.
• CFRE (preferred).

Responsibilities

• Lead a comprehensive fundraising and communications strategy.
• Oversee major gifts, annual giving, foundations, corporations, events, and government funding.
• Cultivate and steward high‑capacity donors and expand the donor pipeline.

Job description

Chief Advancement Officer
Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area
San Francisco, CA (hybrid)

The Moran Company [https://morancompany.com/] is pleased to partner with Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area to recruit the organization's first Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).

Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area [https://friendssfbayarea.org/] (Friends‑SF) is part of a national network dedicated to impacting generational change by empowering children facing the greatest obstacles through long‑term relationships with professional mentors, called Friends. The organization intentionally selects children who are navigating significant challenges and provides each child with a salaried, professional mentor from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years, no matter what. Friends work closely with youth and their families to build the academic, social‑emotional, and life skills that help young people thrive, while also supporting their caregivers through a two‑generational approach. Celebrating its 10th year in San Francisco, Friends of the Children’s impact is evident – a longitudinal study by the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon confirmed that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits over $7 in saved social costs.

With a permanent home in San Francisco's Bayview neighborhood, a collaborative leadership team, and committed philanthropic supporters, Friends‑SF is positioned for its next stage of growth. Its new five‑year strategic plan calls for doubling the number of children served and building the foundation for greater reach across the Bay Area. With a current annual operating budget of $3.6 million, Friends‑SF's growth plan calls for raising $24 million over the next five years to support expanded programs, capital needs, and long‑term sustainability, including increasing annual revenue to approximately $6.5 million by 2031.

Friends‑SF seeks an accomplished and strategic Chief Advancement Officer to lead the fundraising and communications strategy supporting its next phase of growth. Reporting to the Executive Director, the CAO will serve as the organization's senior advancement leader, major and principal gifts strategist, and key member of the executive leadership team. This newly created role will lead a growing development and communications team and execute a comprehensive strategy to raise $24 million over the next five years. The CAO will oversee fundraising across individual, major, and principal gifts, foundations, corporations, events, and government funding while strengthening systems and building a strong culture of philanthropy. Working closely with the Executive Director, Board, Advisory Circle, and staff, the CAO will expand philanthropic investment and help Friends‑SF double the number of children served. The ideal candidate is a seasoned advancement leader with strategic vision, hands‑on fundraising experience, executive presence, and the ability to build trusted relationships throughout the Bay Area community.

The Chief Advancement Officer will design and implement a comprehensive, multi‑year fundraising and communications strategy aligned with Friends‑SF's goal of raising $24 million over five years. The role will oversee a diversified revenue portfolio that includes major gifts, annual giving, foundations, corporate partnerships, events, government funding, and a $2 million capital campaign. The CAO will personally cultivate and steward high‑capacity donors, expand the donor pipeline, and lead strategies for six‑and seven‑figure gifts and the organization's annual $1M+ gala. The position will serve as a key thought partner to the Executive Director and work closely with the Board, Advisory Circle, and Development Committee to strengthen fundraising engagement and accountability. The CAO will also build a strong culture of philanthropy across the organization and support Board leaders in expanding networks and identifying prospective members. In addition, the role will lead and develop the fundraising and communications team, oversee contracted grant writing, and strengthen advancement infrastructure and systems, including BloomerangCRM. The CAO will provide strategic leadership for communications, marketing, storytelling, and impact messaging to support fundraising and organizational goals. The position will also increase Friends‑SF's visibility and partnerships throughout the region while serving as a visible ambassador for the organization.

The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree and at least 10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including significant senior leadership responsibility, with an advanced degree or CFRE preferred. They will bring demonstrated success leading multi‑year fundraising strategies, securing major and principal gifts, expanding donor pipelines, managing campaigns, and driving sustained revenue growth for a complex nonprofit organization. The candidate should be a proactive, strategic, and collaborative leader with strong executive presence, analytical skills, communication abilities, and experience leading and developing high‑performing advancement teams. A deep commitment to Friends‑SF's mission, cultural humility, ethical fundraising, relationship building, and familiarity with the Bay Area philanthropic landscape are also highly valued.

The annual salary range for this position is $175,000 – $190,000. This is a hybrid position based in San Francisco, California, with an expectation to work in the office at least three days per week and regularly attend donor meetings throughout the Bay Area.

• 100% coverage of employee and dependent premiums for base medical, dental, and vision plans for director‑level staff.
• Paid time off includes 15 vacation days, 10 sick days, 17 holidays, and six mental health days.
• The package also includes a 401(k) with an immediately vested employer match of up to 3%, company‑paid life and disability insurance, and a free Employee Assistance Program.
• Eligible employees may also receive up to $1,000 annually in tuition assistance and a monthly commuting stipend.

The search for Friends of the Children‑SF Bay Area's Chief Advancement Officer is being conducted by The Moran Company.