Director of Advancement

Location: Mercer County, NJ (hybrid)

Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer (CAdvO)

Compensation: Competitive compensation, bonus structure, public school benefits and pension

Position Overview

The Director of Advancement is a senior fundraising and relationship-building leader responsible for driving disciplined systems, high-value donor engagement, and measurable revenue growth. This role partners closely with the Chief Advancement Officer to focus the advancement function on the activities that matter most—strong relationships, clean systems, and meaningful philanthropic outcomes.

This is a hands-on role for a systems-oriented fundraiser who closes five-six–figure gifts, builds pipelines for larger opportunities, and ensures that donor engagement is intentional, documented, and consistently advancing toward investment.

Core Responsibilities

Systems & Advancement Operations

This role ensures fundraising is efficient, focused, and outcomes-driven.

• Build and maintain strong research, data management, and donor tracking systems that simplify fundraising and support smart decision-making.
• Establish clear expectations, standardized procedures, and regular touchpoints that build donor trust and consistency.
• Drive weekly tactical meetings and donor relations meetings with clarity and follow-through.
• Maintain detailed donor records, documenting interests, curiosities, and engagement history to inform future asks.
• Track donors through the full stewardship cycle and ensure consistent senior-level engagement.
• Partner with the Advancement Associate to onboard and adopt a new CRM, supporting training, rollout, and long-term adoption.
• Supervise and develop the Senior Advancement Associate.
• Collaborate with the CAdvO to eliminate low-value activities and focus time and resources on the highest-impact donor and corporate engagements.

Relationship Building & Strategic Presence

This role acts as a visible and informed ambassador in the philanthropic ecosystem.

• Prioritize strategic invitations and curated engagement over event planning.
• Stay current on local, regional, and statewide funding news and philanthropic trends.
• Identify and track strategic fundraising targets based on Mercer County and New Jersey funding landscapes.
• Serve as the “eyes and ears” of the advancement team by actively embedding in Princeton and Mercer County philanthropic and business communities.
• Participate in relevant events, networks, and memberships with clear strategic intent.
• Present pre-work and research to justify participation in external activations and partnerships.
• Identify where local businesses and foundations are investing and create pathways to build relationships in those spaces.
• Generate creative cultivation strategies to introduce and engage new prospects.

Fundraising & Revenue Generation

This role is directly accountable for meaningful revenue outcomes.

• Personally close $500,000 annually in five-figure gifts from individuals and institutions.
• Design and manage annual fundraising campaigns generating $150,000 in three- and four-figure gifts.
• Initiate and steward conversations with institutions aligned to six- and seven-figure opportunities, partnering with the CAdvO to close large gifts.
• Develop and manage high-impact employee engagement opportunities for corporate partners and move them into annual renewal cycles with increased asks.
• Produce ongoing research on giving trends, institutional priorities, and high-net-worth prospects.
• Strategically leverage donors, board members, and community partners to open doors to new institutional and individual opportunities.

What You’ll Own

• Designing and running clean systems for donor research, engagement, stewardship, and follow-through
• Closing $500,000 annually in five-figure gifts while building pathways to six- and seven-figure opportunities
• Leading annual campaigns that grow a strong base of three- and four-figure donors
• Embedding yourself in the Princeton and Mercer County philanthropic and business communities as a trusted, visible presence
• Developing and leading a small advancement team with clarity and purpose

Who Thrives Here

This role is ideal for someone who:

• Has already closed meaningful gifts and wants greater depth of mission and scope
• Enjoys building systems, not just working within them
• Is energized by turning relationships into long-term partnerships
• Thinks strategically about where time, money, and attention should be spent
• Is comfortable being externally facing while still deeply operational
• Wants their work to directly shape an organization’s future trajectory

The Opportunity

You will help define how this organization funds its future.

The systems you build, the relationships you steward, and the culture you set within advancement will determine what is possible in the years ahead. This is a rare opportunity to step into a senior role at a moment when your decisions will matter — and where success is visible, measurable, and deeply meaningful.

If you are a seasoned advancement professional ready to build, lead, and grow, we would love to hear from you.

Qualifications & Skills

• 7 years experience in fundraising with increasing responsibilities throughout 
• Proven success closing five-six-figure gifts and building pipelines toward larger opportunities.
• Strong systems mindset with experience using and adopting CRMs and moves-management tools.
• Exceptional organizational, follow-through, and prioritization skills.
• Comfort operating in external relationship-driven environments.
• Ability to manage staff while remaining an active fundraiser.
• Strong research, preparation, and strategic thinking skills.
• Collaborative, disciplined, and outcomes-oriented working style.
• An ownership mindset, focused on mission success and growth. 
• Must be willing to spend hours outside of work networking in Mercer County

APPLY HERE: https://job-boards.greenhouse.io/foundationacademies/jobs/8465284002