Chief Advancement Officer; CAO

Position

Chief Advancement Officer (CAO)

North Lawndale College Prep

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Development Associate(s), Communications/Marketing staff (as applicable)

The Chief Advancement Officer is a senior-level leadership position responsible for designing, leading, and executing a comprehensive, multi-year advancement strategy for NLCP. This role is the organization s chief fundraiser, charged with securing the financial resources necessary to achieve NLCP s mission and strategic goals. The Director provides vision and leadership for all fundraising, donor relations, communications, and marketing efforts, serving as a key external face of the organization and holding ultimate responsibility for protecting the NLCP brand and brand management.

• Leadership & Strategy
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, data-driven advancement plan ($1.2 million annual fundraising goal) that incorporates all fundraising streams: major gifts, annual giving, institutional (corporate and foundation) giving, planned giving, and special events.
• Work directly with the CEO and Board of Directors to set annual fundraising goals and develop board-level strategies for donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Serve as a key member of the Leadership Team, providing strategic input on NLCP s overall direction, budgeting, and external representation.
• Prepare and present regular reports on fundraising progress, metrics, and trends to the CEO and Board.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization, engaging staff, board members, and volunteers in advancement efforts.

• Brand Protection & External Representation
• Oversee the organization s communications and marketing efforts to ensure consistent, mission-aligned messaging across all platforms.
• Protect the NLCP brand and reputation in all external communications and activities.
• Serve as a primary external representative for NLCP, strategically engaging with key stakeholders, community partners, and media (in coordination with the CEO).

• Fundraising & Donor Relations
• Manage a personal portfolio of top-tier major gift prospects (individuals, corporations, and foundations) to cultivate, solicit, and steward six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Identify, qualify, and cultivate new donor relationships, acting as a primary external ambassador for NLCP.
• Oversee the grant writing and reporting process for foundation and government sources, ensuring timely and compelling submissions.
• Design and oversee a robust donor stewardship and recognition program to ensure donors feel valued and informed of their impact.

• Management & Operations
• Lead, mentor, and manage the Advancement team, including the Development Officer(s), setting clear goals and performance metrics.
• Oversee the maintenance and optimization of the donor database (CRM) to ensure data integrity, accurate gift processing, and effective prospect research.
• Manage the Advancement department budget.
• Ensure all fundraising activities comply with ethical standards and legal requirements.

• Master s in related field required, CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) certification preferred.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of senior leadership experience in nonprofit fundraising and development, with a proven track record of securing major and transformational gifts.
• Demonstrated experience managing and mentoring a development team.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including media/public relations savvy, public speaking, and proposal writing.
• Experience working effectively with a CEO and a volunteer Board of Directors.
• Proficiency with donor database software (e.g., Raiser s Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang).

• Regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and interact with students and staff.
• Occasional lifting of up to 25 pounds.
• The noise level in the work environment can be moderate to loud, especially in collaborative classroom settings.

• Must be authorized to work in the U.S.
• Compliance with all board policies, ISBE requirements, and relevant educational laws