Chief Advancement & Executive Director of the College Foundation

The Chief Advancement Officer and Executive Director of the College Foundation serves as the senior advancement executive for the College and provides leadership for all philanthropic and foundation-related activities. This role plans, organizes, and manages a comprehensive development program, including major and planned gifts, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, donor stewardship, and advancement operations. Approximately 75% of the role is dedicated to college advancement functions, with up to 25% devoted to leadership and management of the College Foundation. The Foundation is a legally separate 501(c)(3) organization established to support institutional priorities and student success; the Executive Director oversees the Foundation's assets and provides reporting as required of 501(c)(3) organizations in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Chief Advancement Officer works closely with the President, the Foundation Board of Directors, senior leadership, and external stakeholders to advance the College's mission, strengthen community partnerships, and ensure ethical, effective, and compliant fundraising practices. The Chief Advancement Officer will supervise the Senior Director of Operations and Donor Services and Associate Director of Stewardship, Donor Engagement and Operations.

Key Responsibilities:

Advancement and Fundraising Leadership

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, corporate, and foundation donors in support of College priorities
• Develop and execute an annual strategic and operational advancement plan with measurable revenue goals
• Serve as the principal philanthropic contact for internal and external constituents, including senior leadership, donors, and community partners
• Liaise with academic and administrative departments to develop funding opportunities and donor impact reports
• Manage a personal portfolio of major and planned gift prospects while providing strategic oversight of the College's overall donor pipeline

Foundation Leadership and Governance

• Serve as Executive Director of the College Foundation, providing leadership and administrative oversight for a legally separate 501(c)(3) organization established to support the mission and priorities of the College
• Act as the primary staff liaison to the Foundation Board of Directors, supporting the Board in fulfilling its fiduciary responsibilities while respecting its independent governance authority
• Ensure close alignment between College priorities and Foundation fundraising activities, in coordination with and under the direction of the President of the College
• Oversee Foundation financial and operational functions, including budgeting, audits, tax filings, investments, and compliance with applicable state and federal requirements
• Accept and administer gifts on behalf of the Foundation in accordance with donor intent, Foundation policies, and College priorities

Management and Operations

• Direct all aspects of the Advancement Office, including supervision of the Senior Director of Operations and Donor Services and Associate Director of Stewardship, Donor Engagement and Operations
• Establish and maintain effective advancement infrastructure, systems, and reporting processes
• Use advancement data and performance metrics to assess progress, inform strategy, and improve fundraising effectiveness
• Prepare regular reports on fundraising performance and Foundation initiatives for College leadership and the Foundation Board

College-Wide Competencies and Expectations

• Ability to advance philanthropic strategies that support student success and access, consistent with the community college mission
• Strong collaborative and relationship-building skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High standards of integrity, ethical judgment, and accountability

Supervision

• Supervision Received: President of the College
• Supervision Exercised:
• Senior Director, Operations and Donor Services
• Associate Director, Stewardship, Donor Engagement and Operations

Requirements:

Education

• Bachelor's degree required from an accredited institution
• Master's degree preferred.

Foundation & Governance

• Demonstrated experience working with or supporting a nonprofit governing board, with an understanding of fiduciary responsibilities, ethical fundraising practices, and donor intent
• Working knowledge of nonprofit operations and compliance relevant to a 501(c)(3) organization, including gift acceptance, financial oversight, and regulatory requirements

Executive Leadership & Management

• Proven ability to lead and manage professional staff, set strategic direction, and establish effective systems, processes, and performance metrics
• Demonstrated capacity to serve as a senior institutional leader reporting to a president or chief executive, exercising sound judgment, discretion, and accountability
• Demonstrated senior level leadership in comprehensive advancement or development programs, including major gifts, planned giving, annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, and donor stewardship

Communication & Professional Standards

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to represent the institution and its foundation with clarity, credibility, and confidence
• Demonstrated commitment to integrity, ethical judgment, and accountability in advancement and nonprofit leadership

Preferred Requirements:

• Experience in community college or access focused higher education environments, with a demonstrated commitment to student success and mission aligned philanthropy
• Experience partnering closely with a president, chancellor, or cabinet level leadership on institutional strategy and external engagement
• Demonstrated ability to use advancement data, reporting, and performance metrics to inform strategy and improve fundraising effectiveness

Additional Information:

Salary: $160,000 - $190,000 annually, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

Closing Date: open until filled, with review to begin August 21,2026.

• Applicants who do not meet the qualifications as noted above are encouraged to put in writing precisely how their background and experience has prepared them with the equivalent combination of education, training and experience required for the responsibilities of this position.

• Please note that as a condition of employment, the final candidate will undergo Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) and Sex Offender Registry Information (SORI) background screenings in accordance with state regulations. The results of these screenings may impact the hiring decision.

Application Instructions:

To be considered for this position please upload the following documents to your account:

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Please be sure to address the Required Qualifications in your documents.