Chief Advancement Officer

This is a hybrid position based in Los Angeles County. Candidates must live in LA County, be available to work on-site in the office at least once a week and regularly attend external donor meetings throughout LA County.

Friends LA seeks a Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) who is a build-and-scale leader to ignite the next phase of the organization’s advancement strategy, including reimagining team structure and fundraising systems to scale impact. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CAO is responsible for leading all revenue-generating and external engagement strategies, including individual giving and major gifts, institutional giving and grants, government and public funding (in partnership with the Executive Director), corporate support, events, strategic communications, and board engagement.

The CAO will oversee a team of three, evaluate and intentionally build systems and team capacity, and drive high-level execution of the organization’s fundraising and communication strategies.

This is an ideal role for a seasoned advancement leader who thrives in a growth environment, brings both strategic vision and roll‑up‑your‑sleeves execution, and is excited to help an engaged CEO scale a high‑impact organization in a complex market like Los Angeles. The CAO will be a high-achieving, strategic, collaborative, and mission-driven thought leader with a proven track record of successful fundraising and building a culture of philanthropy.

• Advancement Strategy & Fundraising Revenue Growth:
  Design and lead a comprehensive, multi-year advancement strategy to grow annual revenue from approximately $8M to $12M, aligned with Friends LA’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and integrate all revenue streams, including major and principal gifts, foundation and institutional giving, government and public funding (in partnership with executive leadership), corporate partnerships and sponsor ships, events, and campaigns.
• Serve as the organizational lead for institutional giving strategy, including building and managing strong relationships with program officers and institutional partners and overseeing grants management/compliance.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects.
• Collaborate with program staff to develop compelling cases for support and donor engagement experiences that authentically convey Friends LA’s impact while honoring the sensitivities of working with a protected population.
• Expand donor engagement across multiple sites through curated events, site visits, small-group cultivation opportunities, and a signature fundraising event.
• Identify new funding prospects and opportunities aligned with Friends LA’s growth goals.
• Partner closely with the Executive Director and finance team to proactively align advancement strategy with financial planning, cash flow, and long-term sustainability.
• Utilize the donor database (Little Green Light) to track donor interactions and progress toward fundraising and communication goals.
• Represent Friends LA in the Los Angeles philanthropic community, attending networking and industry-relevant events to build relationships and awareness among potential donors.
• Contribute to creating a world-class culture of philanthropy for Friends LA.

• Intentionally lead, manage, and develop a high-performing and growing advancement team, fostering professional growth and accountability to carry the organization into its next growth phase.
• Strengthen systems, processes, and project management across advancement, leveraging CRM and data tools effectively for goal setting, forecasting, and pipeline management.

• Serve as the lead advancement strategist and thought partner to the Executive Director, with a specific focus on expanding beyond board networks to build a diversified and sustainable funding strategy.
• Partner closely with the Board of Directors and Development Committee, preparing them for donor engagement, solicitation, and stewardship. Serve as the primary point of contact for the Development…