Chief Advancement Officer (CAO)

Food Finders Food Bank — Lafayette, IN
Full-time | Executive Leadership Team

The Opportunity

Are you a visionary leader with a passion for community impact? Do you thrive in mission-driven environments where strategic fundraising unlocks real, measurable change? Food Finders Food Bank is seeking an inspiring Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to join our executive team and amplify our efforts to nourish neighbors, empower communities, and support our next phase of growth.

As Chief Advancement Officer, you will spearhead Food Finders’ fundraising and marketing strategies in close collaboration with the President/CEO and Board of Directors. Your leadership will drive the creation of an ambitious, innovative development plan that secures sustainable funding, deepens community engagement, and strengthens partnerships across the region. You will ensure the program aligns with the organization’s operational capacity and evolves to meet the changing needs of the community. This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of hunger relief across a diverse service area, shape meaningful donor experiences, and elevate Food Finders’ impact like never before.

As CAO, you will mentor our dynamic Development team of development operations, grant writing, events, and marketing/communications. You will oversee the revenue channels of major gifts, principal gifts, and institutional partnerships (foundations and government).

What You’ll Do

Provide Strategic Leadership & Vision
As Chief Advancement Officer, you will design and lead a comprehensive development strategy that advances Food Finders Food Bank’s mission and long-term vision. You will translate organization priorities into clear, measurable fundraising and engagement goals, ensuring development, marketing, and communications efforts are cohesive, data-informed, and positioned for sustainable growth. Your leadership will set the pace for innovation, collaboration, and accountability across all external-facing efforts.

Lead Fundraising & Donor Relationships
You will oversee all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, annual campaigns, grants, planned giving, and signature events. A key part of your role will be cultivating and stewarding authentic, long-term relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community leaders. Through thoughtful engagement strategies and impactful storytelling, you will deepen donor loyalty, enhance recognition efforts, and inspire long-term investment in Food Finders’ mission.

Champion Marketing, Communications & Community Engagement
You will guide strategic marketing and external relations efforts that elevate and strengthen Food Finders Food Bank’s visibility across the 16 counties served by the food bank. Serving as a public ambassador for the organization, you will represent Food Finders at community events, media opportunities, and key stakeholder engagements to strengthen awareness and trust. You will also lead the planning and execution of outreach events that build community connections while advancing fundraising goals.

Inspire & Develop a High-Performing Team
You will mentor, support, and inspire our development team fostering a culture of collaboration, growth, and shared purpose. By providing clear direction, strong processes, and an aspirational vision, you will empower your team to perform at their best. You will encourage innovation, professional development, and open communication while ensuring alignment with Food Finders’ values and organizational goals.

What You Bring

• A deep commitment to Food Finders’ mission and the urgency of addressing food insecurity.
• You have a proven ability to build and steward meaningful relationships with donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community stakeholders.
• A track record of success in nonprofit fundraising, securing major gifts, institutional giving, comprehensive campaigns and experience managing annual fundraising goals of $8 million or more.
• Proven experience leading and motivating high-performing teams and working with executive leadership and board members.
• Strong strategic thinking, compelling communication, motivation, and relationship building skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business, Communications, or related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising leadership, with demonstrated success in major gift cultivation and development strategy.
• At least 10 years of leadership experience, including team supervision and working with boards and external partners.
• Proficiency with fundraising tools, systems and metrics-driven development planning.
• An equivalent combination of education and relevant experience will be considered.

Why Food Finders?
At Food Finders Food Bank, your work directly fuels hope for families, children, and seniors across North Central Indiana. This is more than a fundraising role — it’s an opportunity to unite a community around dignity, nourishment, and lasting change. You’ll join a passionate, mission-driven team committed to solving hunger today while building a future where no neighbor is left behind.

About Food Finders Food Bank

Since 1981, Food Finders Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, has worked to provide full-service programs that meet the nutritional needs of tens of thousands of families facing hunger across North Central Indiana with the goal to solve the immediate needs of its neighbors by distributing food while simultaneously teaching skills and making connections that increase self-sufficiency. Food Finders distributes more than 12 million pounds of food annually across the 16 counties it serves.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $90,000.00 - $100,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Experience:

• Progressive Fundraising Leadership: 8 years (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $90,000 - $100,000