Positions Available
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services
Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts
Chief Advancement Officer
Martha’s Vineyard Community Services (MVCS), a non-profit social services agency that provides a comprehensive array of support for citizens of all ages and backgrounds on the island, seeks a chief advancement officer to lead development and communications efforts at this highly regarded and critically important institution. The position becomes available at a pivotal time in MVCS’s history, following its official designation as a Community Behavioral Health Center by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and as it heads toward completion of its multi-year Space to THRIVE Capital Campaign, which was launched to rebuild its campus for the future. Having opened its Early Childhood Center in fall 2021, MVCS turns its attention to achieving its current $17.5 million goal—with 75% already raised—and launching, in fall 2026, a new, state-of-the-art community service center that enhances care for every individual who turns to MVCS for support.
The chief advancement officer (CAO) reports to the chief executive officer, serves on the organization’s leadership team, and supervises two staff members engaged in development and communications efforts. The CAO will provide innovative leadership and strategic vision to MVCS’s development and communications efforts; serve as an effective spokesperson for the organization’s programs and services; and undertake efforts to create an ambitious and sustainable development program.
The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated ability to articulate a case of support to a wide array of audiences to further an organization’s mission and goals; a track record of success developing productive relationships with potential and existing financial supporters; and the ability to inspire leaders and staff members and engage them in efforts to dramatically increase private philanthropic support and transform engagement efforts.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
New York, New York
Chief Development Officer
The Legal Defense Fund (LDF) seeks a seasoned and entrepreneurial advancement professional to serve as chief development officer (CDO) and oversee efforts to secure private philanthropic support for the organization. Funds secured by the development operation will enable LDF to address some of the greatest challenges facing society. The position becomes available at a pivotal time in the organization’s—and the nation’s—history as Janai Nelson, President and Director-Counsel, leads LDF efforts to secure voting rights, address economic inequity, reduce incarceration rates, and ensure high-quality education for Black Americans.
This is a critical role within the organization; reflecting this, the CDO will report to the President and Director-Counsel and serve as a key member of the senior management team. The CDO will work closely with senior staff and the Board of Directors to gain an in-depth understanding of LDF’s current and future substantive work and needs. Based on this information, the CDO will conceptualize, organize and implement a comprehensive and strategic fundraising program, aimed at increasing and diversifying income sources.
The ideal candidate for this opportunity will be passionate about LDF’s mission and work. The CDO will be a dedicated and creative fundraising leader with an established track record of increasing philanthropic revenue (with an emphasis on major giving), ideally for an advocacy or human rights organization. The CDO will have the demonstrated ability to engage constituents in a manner that generates excitement, shared purpose, meaningful action, and long-term relationships. As a key advocate of LDF, the CDO will possess the stature, interpersonal skills, and communication acumen to compellingly share LDF’s goals and programs to diverse audiences.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
California
Director of Major Gifts-West Coast
The Legal Defense Fund seeks an entrepreneurial and driven advancement professional to serve as director of major gifts, west coast, on the individual giving team and manage the donor giving journey through the gift cycle from identification through gift closure. Funds secured by the director will enable LDF to address some of the greatest challenges facing society. The position becomes available at a pivotal time in the organization’s—and the nation’s—history as Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel, leads LDF efforts to secure voting rights, address economic equity, reduce incarceration rates, and ensure high-quality education for Black Americans.
The director will manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects capable of making gifts of $100K+ and inspire them to new levels of philanthropic support; collaborate with and leverage the skills of colleagues across development to engage potential donors; and utilize data and research to identify prospects, develop cultivation plans, and formulate effective solicitation strategies.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of success securing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts; the ability to raise the visibility of an organization and convey to a wide audience the impact it has on the lives of the people it represents; and exemplary interpersonal and community-building skills as well as a high degree of comfort and cultural sensitivity engaging and inspiring prospects and donors.
NAACP Legal Defense Fund
New York, New York/Washington, DC
Associate Director, Major Gifts
The Legal Defense Fund seeks an entrepreneurial and driven advancement professional to serve as an associate director, major gifts, on the individual giving team and manage the donor giving journey through the gift cycle from identification through gift closure. Funds secured by the associate director will enable LDF to address some of the greatest challenges facing society. The position becomes available at a pivotal time in the organization’s—and the nation’s—history as Janai Nelson, president and director-counsel, leads LDF efforts to secure voting rights, address economic equity, reduce incarceration rates, and ensure high-quality education for Black Americans.
The associate director will manage a portfolio of 100-150 prospects capable of making gifts of $100K+ and inspire them to new levels of philanthropic support; collaborate with and leverage the skills of colleagues across development to engage potential donors; and utilize data and research to identify prospects, develop cultivation plans, and formulate effective solicitation strategies.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of success securing five- and six-figure philanthropic gifts; the ability to raise the visibility of an organization and convey to a wide audience the impact it has on the lives of the people it represents; and exemplary interpersonal and community-building skills as well as a high degree of comfort and cultural sensitivity engaging and inspiring prospects and donors.
Brookview House
Dorchester, Massachusetts
Director of Advancement
Solmonese Search Partners is partnering with Lori Smith Britton on a search for a director of advancement (DOA) at Brookview House. Founded in 1990, Brookview is a Black and Latinx women-led organization that works for justice, equity and systemic change for low-income mothers and children in Boston. Through a two-generation, culturally responsive approach, Brookview provides housing and support programs that improve educational achievement, health and wellbeing, and economic independence. The organization seeks an energetic, experienced, and collaborative team player to serve as director of advancement (DOA) and oversee the organization’s development and outreach efforts. A significant amount of the organization’s budget is provided by the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health and the state’s Health and Livable Communities agency. Private philanthropic support enables Brookview to meet both current needs and fund and expand program offerings. The next DOA will be able to leverage Brookview’s success securing generous philanthropic support from public and private funders to provide greater sustainability to the organization and realize its goal to help homeless and at-risk families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.
The director of advancement plans, manages and implements activities that increase, diversify and sustain financial support for Brookview and its affiliates from individuals, corporations, foundations and public funders; identifies and oversees resources to write grant applications, case statements, major gift and sponsorship proposals, technical reports, communication materials, and other documents to support ongoing fundraising activities; and works closely within a team of highly committed professionals who oversee programming and develop new initiatives.
The ideal candidate will be skilled advancement professional with the demonstrated ability to articulate a case of support to a wide array of audiences to further an organization’s mission and goals; a track record of success developing productive relationships with institutional leaders and financial supporters; and share the dedication and commitment of organizational leaders and staff members to Brookview’s mission and engage them in efforts to increase philanthropic support and transform engagement efforts.
Interested candidates should send cover letters and resumes to Lori Smith Britton at: lori@crcfundraising.com.
Boston University
Boston, Massachusetts
Assistant Director, Foundation Relations
Boston University (BU), one of the nation’s leading research universities, seeks a creative thinker and accomplished writer, with a degree and background in science, public health, or medicine, to serve as an assistant director (AD) of foundation relations in support of schools and programs on the Medical Campus. The AD will join BU at a pivotal time in its history, following the successful completion of the University’s first comprehensive campaign, which raised $1.8 billion in private philanthropic support, and as Melissa L. Gilliam, a dynamic and highly accomplished leader in medicine and academia, begins her presidency. Funds generated by the Foundation Relations team enable BU to expand the possibilities in medical research; prepare students to become leaders in an increasingly global, complex, and changing world; and recruit and support faculty members and researchers who are thought leaders in their fields.
The assistant director will formulate strategies to engage existing donors, identify new foundation partners, and increase overall support from this critical philanthropic source; form and strengthen relationships with an array of foundation representatives and within the University community to secure funding; and contribute to overall efforts to foster a robust and sustainable foundation relations program.
The ideal candidate will have the ability to reach out to and engage a broad array of foundations to promote the mission of an institution; intellectual curiosity and a strong working knowledge of medicine to understand complex research initiatives undertaken at the University; and the stellar verbal and writing skills required to communicate complex subjects to an array of audiences.
The Lawrenceville School
Lawrenceville, New Jersey
Director of Principal and Major Gifts
The Lawrenceville School seeks an experienced leader and highly productive individual giving officer to oversee the school’s principal and major gift fundraising efforts. The position becomes available following the recent appointment of Greta Morgan as Lawrenceville’s chief advancement officer (CAO) and the successful completion of an historic comprehensive campaign that raised more private philanthropic support than any other independent school. It also coincides with the launch of a strategic plan focused on creating a stronger, more inclusive community, and enhancing the well-being of all members of the school.
The director, in partnership with the CAO and the director of development, will meaningfully engage principal gift prospects, educate them on the highest priority fundraising initiatives, and secure financial commitments that are impactful and transformational. The director also will assume oversight of major and planned giving development officers. Together they will inspire new levels of philanthropic support from existing donors and undertake efforts to identify and engage new prospects to support the school. This individual also will establish clearly defined and measurable performance metrics for team members while providing them with the guidance, direction, and support they need to be successful in their jobs.
The ideal candidate will have the experience and a demonstrated ability to lead a large individual giving team to higher performance levels through coaching, training, data analysis, and metrics; the ability to effectively engage major and principal gift prospects and secure philanthropic support for an organization; and have a track record of success implementing change and building programs that have transformed development efforts at an institution.
Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Solmonese Search Partners has been engaged to conduct a search for an assistant/associate director, individual giving (title will be dependent upon experience). This position become available at a pivotal time in Swarthmore’s history, as it launches an ambitious $100M campaign to construct a new athletic center and seeks to implement Swarthmore Forward, a strategic plan that emphasizes holistic development of the student, integrating advising and academic excellence with opportunities for personal growth, recreation, civic engagement, and joy. Funds generated from the development team will enable Swarthmore to realize its mission to foster innovative research and creative production; create opportunities for education and growth among faculty, students, and alumni; and build a diverse, equitable and inclusive community that enriches experiences and broadens perspectives.
Assistant/Associate Director, Individual Giving
The assistant/associate director will manage up to 150 prospects capable of making gifts of $100K+ and inspire them to new levels of philanthropic support; collaborate with colleagues across advancement and the College to engage potential donors; and utilize data and research to identify prospects, develop meaningful cultivation plans, and formulate effective solicitation strategies.
The ideal candidate will have a track record of success securing philanthropic gifts in support of a non-profit organization; the ability to collaborate with colleagues to advance the mission of an institution; and exemplary interpersonal, community-building, and communications skills as well as a high degree of comfort and cultural sensitivity engaging and inspiring prospects and donors.