Senior Vice President of Advancement

RFK Community Alliance

Lancaster (MA)

On-site

USD 155,000 - 170,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Holiday Pay

Educational Assistance

Retirement Plan with employer match

Tuition Reimbursement

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

RFK Community Alliance in Lancaster, MA is seeking a Senior Vice President of Advancement to lead major gifts, grants, annual giving and communications. This role works closely with the President & CEO, the Board of Trustees, and program leadership to advance fundraising priorities and expand donor engagement across Massachusetts and beyond.

The role manages a portfolio of 50–60 top donors and prospects, builds a sustainable donor pipeline, and leads a cross-functional Advancement team.

Qualifications

Extensive experience leading major gifts fundraising with a track record of six-figure gifts.
Five+ years in senior leadership roles guiding fundraising strategy.
Proven ability to work with a President & CEO and a Board of Trustees.
Demonstrated staff leadership and team development.
Strong ability to build authentic relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Experience aligning marketing, communications, grants, annual giving, and events to donor relations.
Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with executive presence.
CFRE credential preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy to significantly increase philanthropic support.
Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects.
Create a sustainable major gift pipeline through donor engagement and moves management.
Collaborate with executive and program leadership to identify funding opportunities.
Lead the Organizational Advancement team including major gifts, grants, annual giving, marketing, events and community engagement.
Establish measurable goals and performance metrics for fundraising objectives.
Support Trustees in cultivating major donors and strengthening board engagement.

Skills

Major gifts fundraising

Donor relationships

Leadership

Portfolio management

Strategic planning

Education

CFRE credential

Job description

About The Position

The Senior Vice President of Advancement is a key member of RFKCA's Executive Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the President & CEO. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the SVP works closely with the executive team and the Board of Trustees to advance the organization's philanthropic goals and strengthen relationships with donors, community leaders, and strategic partners.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts Strategy and Philanthropy

Partner closely with the President & CEO to develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy that significantly increases philanthropic support.
Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, leading the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of transformational gifts.
Build and strengthen a sustainable pipeline of major gift prospects through strategic relationship development, thoughtful donor engagement and effective moves management.
Develop fundraising strategies that increase giving from individuals while strengthening support from foundations, corporations and community partners.
Manage a portfolio of 50 - 60 principal and major donors/prospects and create cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for key gifts.
Work collaboratively with executive and program leadership to identify compelling funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.

Organizational Advancement Leadership

Lead the Organizational Advancement team, including major gifts, grants, annual giving, marketing and communications, special events and community engagement.
Ensure all advancement functions work together to support donor acquisition, cultivation, stewardship and long-term relationship building.
Establish measurable goals and performance metrics across the department, ensuring annual fundraising and engagement objectives are achieved.
Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on continuous improvement and donor-centered fundraising.

Executive and Board Partnership

Serve as strategic advisor to the President & CEO on philanthropy, donor strategy and external engagement.
Partner with the Board of Trustees and Board Development Committee to strengthen Trustee engagement in fundraising and donor relationship-building.
Support Trustees in cultivating and soliciting major donors while helping identify future Board members from the organization’s philanthropic network.
Serve as an ambassador for RFKCA, building relationships that enhance the organization’s visibility and reputation throughout the region.

Key Qualifications

Extensive experience leading major gifts fundraising with a demonstrated record of cultivating, soliciting and stewarding transformational gifts, including at least five years of senior leadership experience.
Proven success securing six-figure gifts and building sustainable major gift pipelines.
Experience partnering closely with a President & CEO and Board of Trustees to achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.
Proven staff management experience.
Demonstrated ability to develop authentic relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, corporations and community leaders.
Experience leading and mentoring advancement professionals while building collaborative, high-performing teams.
Keen understanding of how marketing, communications, grants, annual giving, events and community engagement can be strategically leveraged to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising.
Exceptional communication, relationship-building and interpersonal skills, with the executive presence to represent the organization externally.
Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and advancing RFKCA's mission and values.
CFRE credential preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with an annualized starting salary range between $155K to $170K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. RFKCA also offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes health, dental and vision insurance, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 403b plan with employer match and generous paid time off. This is an in-person leadership role based in Lancaster, MA, with substantial time spent in the field cultivating and stewarding relationships with major donors, prospects and community partners in support of the organization’s philanthropic goals.

Commitment to Equity and Belonging

RFKCA is an equal opportunity employer and views diversity, inclusion, belonging and cultural competence as vital guiding principles in its work. RFKCA welcomes and encourages applications from visible minority group members, Indigenous persons, members of the LGBTQ community, persons with disabilities and others who may contribute to the diversity of the organization and reflect the diversity of the communities served.

About RFK Community Alliance

With a mission to promote meaningful and sustained well-being, RFK Community Alliance (RFKCA) provides high-quality care and support to people and families facing complicated challenges. As a multi-service agency, RFKCA offers a wide range of programs serving educational, developmental, behavioral health and mental health needs across the lifespan - from infants to seniors.

RFKCA embraces the core values of Collaboration, Compassion, Excellence, Learning, Inclusivity, Integrity and Hope. Through programs including adoption, adult services, behavioral health, community services, education, youth justice transformation and residential care, RFKCA serves individuals and families throughout Massachusetts and the nation.

RFKCA grew out of two organizations – the Doctor Franklin Perkins School, founded in 1896, to educate and care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities and RFK Children’s Action Corps, founded in 1969, to carry on the legacy and life of the late Senator Robert F Kennedy helping children facing challenges without privilege or a voice. RFKCA is a non-partisan, mission-focused human services organization focused on the care and services for people facing significant challenges. Highlights of RFKCA's work includes:

A Full Continuum of Care – Comprehensive and individualized services within the eight service domains: Adoption, Adult Services, Behavioral Health, Community Services, Early Education and Care, Education, Youth Justice Transformation and Youth Residential Care.
A Unified Approach – An evidence-informed Theory of Change that clarifies our focus and aligns our work across programs. Our commitment is to help our service recipients and staff to be Connected, Capable and Healthy.
Commitment to Excellence – A commitment to continuous learning and growth, deepening our impact, driving innovation and excellence in the services we provide.
A Legacy of Opportunity – As one of only two organizations entrusted by RFK's family to bear his name, we are proud to honor his legacy by advancing his vision and creating meaningful opportunities for every person in our care.
Creating Change Beyond Our Services – RFKCA advocates for systems-wide change and investments in the human services sector both within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and nationally.

RFKCA has approximately 530 staff members and an annual budget of close to $50M. Its main office is in Lancaster, Massachusetts with programs serving individuals in Eastern, Central and Western Massachusetts as well as across the United States.

Why You'll Love Us

In addition to being a part of a supportive team, we offer amazing employee benefits, including: