What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director of Advancement position at Jack & Jill Children's Center, Inc?
About Jack & Jill Center
Since 1942, Jack & Jill Center, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has served more than 30,000 children and families through comprehensive early education and family strengthening programs. We are wholeheartedly committed to our mission of strengthening children and families through innovative education, supportive programming, and community engagement.
Each day, we strive to ensure that every child and family reaches their full potential. We live out our core values by treating others with respect and the highest degree of integrity, and by practicing effective communication to foster clarity and understanding in every interaction. We embrace innovation by encouraging creative solutions and continuous improvement. Through teamwork, we cultivate a dedicated and unified staff passionately working toward one common mission.
At Jack & Jill Center, we take great pride in serving not only children, but also their parents, guardians, and members of our broader community. As we enter our next chapter, we remain committed to adapting to the evolving needs of those we serve—and to continuing to make a meaningful, lasting impact on their lives.
Position Summary
The Director of Advancement is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors capable of making significant philanthropic investments in Jack & Jill Center’s mission. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position manages a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, develops meaningful relationships that inspire long-term engagement, and secures philanthropic support to advance organizational priorities.
Primary Position Responsibilities
The Director of Advancement serves as a key ambassador for the organization, partnering closely with the CEO, Board of Directors, and Advancement team to implement strategies that increase donor retention, expand major gift revenue, and strengthen the organization’s culture of philanthropy. This position requires exceptional relationship-building skills, strategic thinking, and a demonstrated ability to secure major gifts through personalized donor engagement.
Key responsibilities include:
Major Gift Fundraising & Portfolio Management
• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors through all stages of the donor cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop and implement individualized donor engagement strategies designed to deepen relationships and increase philanthropic investment.
• Conduct donor visits, virtual meetings, tours, and other engagement opportunities to advance donor relationships.
• Prepare and present compelling funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and donor interests.
• Meet or exceed annual major gift fundraising goals and activity metrics.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and pipeline activity within the donor database.
Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
• Develop meaningful and personalized stewardship plans to recognize and retain major donors.
• Coordinate donor communications, acknowledgments, impact reports, and recognition activities.
• Create opportunities for donors to engage directly with the organization’s mission, leadership, and programs.
• Monitor donor satisfaction and engagement to strengthen long-term philanthropic partnerships.
• Collaborate with Advancement staff to ensure consistent and exceptional donor experiences.
Strategic Partnership & Leadership Support
• Partner closely with the CEO to develop and execute major gift fundraising strategies.
• Prepare donor briefing materials, meeting agendas, and follow-up plans for CEO and Board engagement activities.
• Support Board members in their donor cultivation and fundraising efforts.
• Identify opportunities to leverage organizational relationships and networks to expand the donor pipeline.
• Assist in developing campaign strategies, leadership giving initiatives, and special fundraising priorities.
Prospect Research & Pipeline Development
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through research, referrals, community engagement, and relationship mapping.
• Analyze donor data and giving trends to inform cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of prospective donors capable of supporting organizational growth.
• Collaborate with leadership to establish donor portfolio goals and performance metrics.
• Monitor progress and provide regular reporting on fundraising activity and outcomes.
Community Engagement & Representation
• Serve as a visible ambassador for Jack & Jill Center within the community.
• Attend events, networking functions, and community meetings to increase organizational visibility and donor engagement.
• Represent the organization professionally and effectively in interactions with donors, volunteers, community leaders, and stakeholders.
• Promote the mission, vision, and impact of Jack & Jill Center through relationship-centered engagement.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Other duties, responsibilities, activities, and hours worked may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice.
EEO STATEMENT
Jack & Jill Center is an equal opportunity employer. All employment activities will be conducted in a manner to assure equal opportunity for all and will be based solely on the individual merit and fitness of applicants, candidates and/or employees without regard to race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, sexual orientation/preference, marital status, pregnancy, disability, veteran’s status, or any other characteristic protected by law. In addition to federal law requirements, Jack and Jill complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, and transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.