Vice President of Advancement

Malden Catholic; Malden (MA); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Malden Catholic seeks a Vice President of Advancement to lead a comprehensive fundraising and community engagement program. Reporting to the President and serving on the Leadership Team, this role will align enrollment, communications, and philanthropy with our strategic priorities.

You will build a high-performing external-facing team, set measurable goals, manage donor relationships, and guide major gifts, annual giving, and campaigns.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree a plus.
• 10+ years in development, advancement, or fundraising in a Catholic/independent school or higher education.
• Proven success in major gifts, annual giving, and donor cultivation.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Experience working with senior leadership, boards, and donors.
• Experience with advancement databases/CRMs and standard office technology.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a multi-year advancement plan aligned with the school's mission.
• Establish fundraising goals, strategies, timelines, and performance measures.
• Lead and oversee donor relations and stewardship programs.
• Oversee events, communications, and donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate with Head of School, Board, and volunteers to advance institutional priorities.
• Manage advancement budget and reporting to leadership.

Skills

Major gift fundraising

Annual giving

Donor cultivation

Relationship management

Interpersonal skills

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree a plus

Tools

CRM systems

Office software

Job description

Join Malden Catholic at an Exciting Moment of Growth and Opportunity

Malden Catholic is entering an exciting new chapter in its history. Following the successful completion of a $45 million campaign and the opening of our new middle school, we have created a strong foundation for the future. These accomplishments reflect the commitment of our families, alumni, donors, faculty, staff, and broader community—and demonstrate the confidence our supporters have in the future of Malden Catholic.

Now, we are looking ahead.

Malden Catholic is embarking on the development and execution of a 3–5 year strategic plan that will establish our next generation of institutional goals and priorities. We are seeking an exceptional Vice President of Advancement to help turn that vision into action and build upon the momentum we have created.

Why Malden Catholic, Why Now?

Because the foundation has been built—and the next chapter is yours to help shape.

This is an extraordinary time to join Malden Catholic. The successful completion of a $45 million campaign has strengthened our capacity to invest in the school's future, while the opening of our new middle school has expanded the educational journey we can offer students and families. We are now positioned to build on these accomplishments and think boldly about what comes next.

The Vice President of Advancement will play a central role in that next chapter. Working closely with the President and serving as a key member of the Leadership Team, this leader will help define and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy that connects enrollment, communications, advancement, and community engagement to the school's strategic priorities.

This is an opportunity to shape the future rather than simply manage the present. The role will lead talented external-facing teams, establish measurable goals and outcomes, strengthen relationships with prospective families, alumni, donors, business and community partners, and help tell the story of Malden Catholic's mission, achievements, and impact.

We are looking for a strategic and collaborative leader who can see the connections among mission, enrollment, reputation, philanthropy, and community—and who is excited by the opportunity to bring those elements together around a shared vision.

If you are energized by transformational opportunities, inspired by Catholic education, and ready to help lead an institution into its next era of growth and impact, this may be the moment—and Malden Catholic may be the place—for you.

The successful candidate will be a relationship builder, strategic thinker, compelling communicator, and energetic fundraiser who can connect people to the mission and future of Malden Catholic. The ideal candidate will bring warmth and authenticity to donor relationships while demonstrating the strategic discipline necessary to build a sophisticated advancement program.

This role will have the opportunity to make a significant institutional impact by expanding philanthropic support, engaging generations of alumni and families, and helping ensure that Malden Catholic remains positioned for continued excellence and growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year advancement plan aligned with Malden Catholic’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Establish annual fundraising goals, strategies, timelines, and performance measures.
• Partner closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, senior leadership, and volunteers to advance institutional priorities.
• Build a culture of philanthropy throughout the Malden Catholic community.
• Maintain accurate advancement records, prospect information, and donor activity through the school’s database.
• Lead advancement efforts, planned giving, special initiatives, and other fundraising efforts.
• Manage and oversee a portfolio of donors and relationships strategically through identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Prepare compelling proposals, gift presentations, solicitation materials, and donor communications.
• Identify and cultivate prospective foundation, corporate, and institutional partners.
• Coordinate fundraising events and donor engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships and generate philanthropic support.

Alumni & Community Engagement

• Strengthen relationships with Malden Catholic alumni and develop meaningful opportunities for lifelong engagement.
• Create and implement strategies to increase alumni participation in giving, mentoring, networking, events, and volunteer activities.
• Partner with alumni leadership and volunteers to build a vibrant and connected alumni network.
• Develop communications that effectively share the school’s impact, accomplishments, needs, and opportunities for involvement.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Establish a thoughtful and consistent donor stewardship program that demonstrates the impact of philanthropic support.
• Ensure timely acknowledgments, personalized communications, recognition, and reporting to donors.
• Work with school leadership to provide donors with meaningful updates and opportunities to see their generosity in action.
• Cultivate long-term relationships that encourage increased engagement and philanthropic investment.

Events & Communications

• Oversee advancement-related events, including alumni gatherings, donor receptions, fundraising events, and community-building programs.
• Collaborate with the school’s communications and marketing efforts to tell compelling stories about Malden Catholic students, faculty, alumni, and the school’s mission.
• Develop advancement communications, appeals, newsletters, reports, and other donor-facing materials.

Operations & Administration

• Develop and manage the advancement budget.
• Track fundraising results, donor engagement, and key advancement metrics; provide regular reports to school leadership and the Board.
• Ensure appropriate gift processing, acknowledgments, documentation, and compliance with school policies and applicable regulations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant professional certification is a plus.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in development, advancement, fundraising in a Catholic or independent secondary school, or higher education.
• Demonstrated success in major-gift fundraising, annual giving, donor cultivation, and relationship management.
• Strong interpersonal, written, verbal, organizational, and presentation skills.
• Experience working with senior leadership, boards, and donors.
• Ability to develop and execute both strategic plans and detailed fundraising initiatives.
• Experience with advancement databases/CRMs and strong proficiency with standard office and communication technology.
• High level of professionalism, discretion, integrity, and follow-through.
• Willingness and ability to attend occasional evening and weekend events as required.
• Familiarity with alumni relations and school-based advancement programs.
• Experience managing or participating in a comprehensive campaign.
• Understanding of Catholic education and an appreciation for Malden Catholic’s mission and Xaverian tradition.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire philanthropic support by communicating an organization’s mission and impact.