Senior Director of Advancement

Lowell Community Health Center, Inc.; Lowell (MA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Lowell Community Health Center, Inc. seeks a Senior Director of Advancement to lead the organization’s fundraising strategy and performance.

You will partner with the Chief Public Policy Officer, CEO, and Board to grow philanthropic revenue and expand foundation and corporate partnerships. In a player‑coach role, you will oversee the advancement function while maintaining direct responsibility for major gifts, donor engagement, and partnerships.

Qualifications

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven leadership of fundraising teams and campaigns.
• Strong track record in major gifts and donor relations.
• Experience using data and metrics to drive fundraising decisions.
• Ability to build durable partnerships with foundations, corporations, and community leaders.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with Lowell CHC's priorities.
• Lead major gifts, donor engagement, and foundation/corporate partnerships.
• Oversee advancement operations, analytics, and reporting to measure fundraising effectiveness.
• Manage and mentor the advancement staff and consultants.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Relationship-building

Donor engagement

Analytical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred

Job description

Brief Description

Reports To: Chief Public Policy Officer

Direct Reports: Advancement Staff

Position Summary: The Senior Director of Advancement is the senior fundraising leader for Lowell Community Health Center and is responsible for the strategy, growth, and performance of the organization’s comprehensive advancement program. Serving as a strategic partner to the Chief Public Policy Officer, CEO, and Board of Directors, the Senior Director will lead efforts to grow philanthropic revenue, strengthen donor engagement, expand foundation and corporate partnerships, and build the systems and culture necessary to sustain long-term fundraising success. The Senior Director serves as a player-coach, overseeing the advancement function, while maintaining direct responsibility for major donor engagement, foundation and corporate partnerships, and securing significant philanthropic investments. The successful candidate will serve as a visible ambassador for Lowell CHC, building relationships and partnerships that advance both philanthropic investment and community engagement.

The ideal candidate possesses exceptional interpersonal and relationship‑building skills, with the ability to listen thoughtfully, build trust, navigate complex relationships with diplomacy and discretion, and inspire confidence among donors, board members, community leaders, staff, and partners. They are a collaborative leader who brings sound judgment, authenticity, empathy, and the ability to engage diverse stakeholders in support of Lowell CHC’s mission.

The position requires regular engagement with donors, community leaders, board members, and external stakeholders, including attendance at evening and weekend events.

Key Responsibilities

Advancement Strategy and Leadership

• Develop and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with Lowell CHC's strategic priorities.
• Establish and achieve annual and multi‑year philanthropic revenue goals.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership and the Board on fundraising opportunities, donor engagement, and philanthropic growth.
• Build and promote a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects, donors, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward significant philanthropic investments.
• Oversee foundation relations and institutional giving strategies, including grant development, funder stewardship, and the cultivation of new funding opportunities in partnership with programmatic and executive leadership.
• Develop compelling cases for support and donor engagement strategies that strengthen long‑term relationships and investment.

Team & Program Management

• Provide strategic leadership, direction, and mentorship to the advancement team, including supervision of advancement staff, consultants, and related functions assigned.
• Foster a mission‑driven, results‑oriented, collaborative, and donor‑centered culture.
• Establish measurable goals and professional development opportunities for team members.
• Partner with executive and departmental leaders to foster a culture of philanthropy and shared responsibility for donor engagement across the organization.

Advancement Operations and Analytics

• Provide strategic oversight of advancement operations, including donor records, gift processing, stewardship, reporting, analytics, compliance, and financial reconciliation, utilizing data and performance metrics to inform decision‑making and measure fundraising effectiveness.

Board & Community Engagement

• Partner with CEO, Board members and senior leadership to increase fundraising engagement and effectiveness.
• Represent Lowell CHC with community leaders, donors, civic organizations, corporations, and philanthropic partners.
• Strengthen Lowell CHC's visibility and reputation as a leading community health organization and charitable investment opportunity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, including leading comprehensive fundraising programs and major gift development.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success in building and managing relationships with foundations, corporate partners, and institutional funders.
• Demonstrated success building productive partnerships across internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership, board members, community leaders, funders, and volunteers.
• Strong track record of building relationships with donors, boards, foundations, corporations, and community stakeholders.
• Experience utilizing fundraising data, metrics, and analytics to drive results.
• Excellent communication, leadership, strategic planning, and organizational skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, relationship‑building, and leadership skills, with the ability to listen effectively, build trust, exercise sound judgment, navigate complex stakeholder relationships, and collaborate successfully with donors, board members, executives, community leaders, and staff.
• Commitment to community health and Lowell CHC's mission.

Preferred Experience

• Experience in community health, healthcare, human services, social services, education, public sector, or nonprofit organizations.
• Experience growing and diversifying philanthropic revenue.
• Experience preparing organizations for capital, endowment, or comprehensive fundraising campaigns.

Work Environment & Expectations

Lowell CHC values an on‑site, collaborative work environment. This position is expected to maintain a regular in‑person presence to support relationship‑building, staff leadership, and organizational engagement.

This position requires attendance at fundraising, donor, board, and community engagement events, including evenings and weekends.

Periodic local and regional travel may be required to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and organizational visibility.