Senior Advancement Officer

Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha; Omaha (NE); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha is seeking a Senior Advancement Officer to cultivate donor relationships and develop strategic funding opportunities that drive philanthropic support across K–12 programs. The role involves managing a portfolio of 75–125 major gifts, collaborating with the CEO on solicitations, and leading capital campaign efforts.

Ideal candidates will bring extensive fundraising experience, strong communication skills, and a commitment to faith-based leadership.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or related credential preferred.
• Professional fundraising experience with campaigns, major gifts, and planned giving is desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships, inspire commitment, and achieve results through personal engagement and solicitation.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in technology use, including Google Workspace, fundraising databases, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Alignment with the mission and values of Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring timely recognition and ongoing engagement.
• Build and manage a portfolio of approximately 75–125 major and leadership gift prospects through regular face-to-face visits and personalized engagement.
• Collaborate with the CEO to identify, cultivate, solicit, and close leadership and major gifts.
• Connect donors with investment opportunities across endowments, planned and legacy giving, restricted projects, and capital gifts.
• Provide leadership for major-gift and donor cultivation components of capital campaigns, including prospect identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, and follow-up.
• Conduct one-on-one donor meetings to cultivate, solicit, and secure major and leadership gifts.
• Identify and pitch local corporate sponsors, community businesses, and regional partners for capital commitments and facility naming rights.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO in major donor and campaign strategy, including meetings, briefs, and high-level asks.
• Research and steward strategic community and corporate partnerships; pursue high-yield foundation and family trust grants.
• Maintain strong relationships with Concordia’s Association Congregations; generate regular advancement reports and briefings for leadership.

Skills

Relationship-building

Donor relations

Fundraising experience

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

CFRE credential preferred

Tools

Google Workspace

Fundraising databases

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha offers a premier, Christ-centered education for students in grades K–12, combining strong academics with extensive extracurricular opportunities. Concordia focuses on preparing students for success in their future careers while encouraging them to be active witnesses of the Gospel in their communities. Applicants will join a mission-driven educational environment that values collaboration, excellence, and faith-based leadership.

Position Summary

The Senior Advancement Officer advances the mission and ministry of Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha by cultivating high-level donor relationships and developing strategic funding opportunities that drive significant philanthropic support. This position requires a strategic, confident, and highly relational fundraiser who can build and manage a portfolio of prospects, secure major and leadership gifts, develop endowed and planned giving opportunities, pursue high-yield grants, and cultivate corporate, community, and congregational partnerships.

Position Responsibilities

Development

• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring timely recognition and ongoing engagement.
• Build and manage a qualified portfolio of approximately 75–125 major and leadership gift prospects through regular face-to-face visits and personalized engagement.
• Collaborate with the CEO to identify, cultivate, solicit, and close leadership and major gifts.
• Connect donors with meaningful investment opportunities across a range of giving priorities, including endowments, planned and legacy giving, restricted projects, and capital gifts.

Capital Campaigns

• Provide leadership for the major-gift and donor cultivation components of capital campaign initiatives, including prospect identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, and follow-up.
• Conduct one-on-one donor meetings to cultivate, solicit, and secure major and leadership gifts.
• Identify and pitch local corporate sponsors, community businesses, and regional partners for capital commitments and facility naming rights.
• Serve as a strategic partner to the CEO in major donor and campaign strategy, including identifying and coordinating meetings, preparing campaign and donor briefs, preparing the CEO for major donor visits, and executing high-level asks together.

Grants & Partnerships

• Research, establish and steward strategic community and corporate partnerships.
• Pursue high-yield foundation and/or family trust grant opportunities that support annual and capital projects.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Concordia’s Association Congregations.

Data & Systems

• Collaborate with the Advancement Support Specialist and Director of Advancement to ensure accurate donor database management, recordkeeping, reporting, and analytics.
• Generate regular advancement reports and briefings for the Director of Advancement to inform Foundation Board, School Board, and Leadership Team of goal progressions.
• Partner with the Director of Advancement to ensure consistent messaging in appeals, newsletters, and online platforms.
• Collaborate with faculty, coaches, and ministry leaders to identify funding priorities and communicate impact stories.
• Represent the Advancement team at school and community events.

Professional Expectations and Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; CFRE or related credential preferred.
• Professional fundraising experience desired, preferably with experience in campaigns, major gifts, and planned giving introductions.
• Demonstrated ability to build meaningful relationships, inspire commitment, and achieve results through personal engagement and solicitation or comparable relationship-driven work.
• Strong written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Proficiency in technology use, including Google Workspace, fundraising databases, and Microsoft Office Suite.
• Alignment with the mission and values of Concordia Lutheran Schools of Omaha.
• Excellent interpersonal and relational-building skills
• Strong and proven verbal and written communication skills