Chief Advancement & Partnerships Officer

FIVE18 Family Services; Lynchburg (VA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

FIVE18 Family Services seeks a Chief Advancement Officer to lead community engagement, donor stewardship, and brand strategy. The role reports to the CEO and steers the Community Focus Team across Donor Engagement, Marketing, and Community Collaboration. Occasional travel and church/community partnerships are expected.

The CAO will manage budgets, cultivate major donors, and advance strategic initiatives aligned with our faith-driven mission, ensuring measurable impact and sustainability.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Non-Profit Management, Marketing, Communications, or related field.
• 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising, with at least 5 years in an executive or directorial capacity.
• Proven track record: major gifts, campaigns around $1M+, budget management, and strategic marketing initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a key strategic advisor to the CEO and Board on community relations, fund development, and public messaging.
• Oversee design and execution of a multi-channel development program for donor support.
• Lead capital campaigns, annual giving drives, fundraising events, and planned giving initiatives.
• Ensure donor stewardship, transparent reporting, and strong donor relationships across portfolios.
• Guide brand positioning, messaging, and communications across channels and media.
• Build partnerships with churches, civic groups, and corporate sponsors to expand impact.
• Provide inspirational leadership and develop RPMs for sub-teams within the Community Focus Team.

Skills

Public speaking

Leadership

Donor relations

Strategic thinking

Interpersonal communication

Fundraising

Relationship building

Team leadership

Budget management

Project management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration / Non-Profit Management / Marketing / Communications / Development or related field

Master’s degree or CFRE certification preferred

Tools

Donor management software/CRM (e.g., Virtuous)

Marketing analytics tools

Google Suite

AI tools

Paylocity

Job description

FIVE18 Family Services seeks a Chief Advancement Officer to lead community engagement, donor stewardship, and brand strategy. The role reports to the CEO and steers the Community Focus Team across Donor Engagement, Marketing, and Community Collaboration. Occasional travel and church/community partnerships are expected.

The CAO will manage budgets, cultivate major donors, and advance strategic initiatives aligned with our faith-driven mission, ensuring measurable impact and sustainability.