Chief Advancement Officer

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    "description": "<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 18pt; font-weight: bold\">Chief Advancement Officer</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"><em>Seattle, WA</em></span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Rainier Scholars is a comprehensive academic enrichment program that supports students of color over a 12-year journey – from 5th grade to college graduation. We seek to serve those who are most under-represented on college campuses and have the greatest number of barriers to achieving a college education: 85% qualify as low-income, 90% would be the first in their family to earn a college degree. Our program offers rigorous academics, leadership development and personalized support for scholars, providing access to educational pathways and myriad opportunities previously unimagined.</span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">With a budget size of $10 million, a staff team of 50+ full-time employees and 675+ scholars and families whom we currently serve in Seattle and Tacoma, Rainier Scholars has established a positive brand for our unwavering commitment to education, proven success rate, and sustainable impact. We grow new generations of diverse college graduates, career professionals, and community leaders.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">THE ROLE</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team and astrategic partner to the CEO and Board of Directors. Building on Rainier Scholars’ strong foundation of community engagement and fundraising success, the CAO provides vision,leadership, and execution for a comprehensive advancement strategy that generates $10 million in philanthropic revenue annually.</span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">The CAO oversees all philanthropic revenue streams and external engagement efforts,including individual giving, major gifts, foundations, corporations, events, and campaigns, and leads the Marketing &amp; Communications function to ensure a cohesive, compelling, and values-aligned organizational voice. This role is both highly strategic and hands-on, responsible for setting long-term advancement vision and priorities while personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding high-impact donor and partner relationships.</span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">As Rainier Scholars prepares for continued growth, including potential multi-year and transformational investments, the CAO will strengthen advancement systems, expand team capacity, and foster a culture of philanthropy that centers scholars, families, alumni, and community. The CAO ensures that advancement strategies are deeply aligned with organizational priorities, equity commitments, and long-term sustainability.</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">KEY RESPONSIBILITIES</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">Fundraising &amp; Revenue Generation (40%)</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Lead and oversee a comprehensive fundraising program, including individual giving, major gifts, foundation and corporate partnerships, special events, and future campaign initiatives.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Set, lead and achieve ambitious annual fundraising goals approximately $10M, while laying the groundwork for expanded revenue and long-term financial resilience.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Personally manage and cultivate a portfolio of current and prospective major and principal gift donors, securing sic and seven figure investments.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Partner with the CEO on high-level donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship, including transformational and capacity-building gifts.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Build and sustain a healthy donor pipeline, balancing near-term revenue goals with long- term donor development and diversification.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Provide strategic oversight of Rainier Scholars’ signature fundraising event (the annual Luncheon), ensuring strong financial performance, authentic storytelling and meaningful donor engagement.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Ensure high-quality grant strategy, writing, reporting, and funder relationship management, with a focus on long-term partnership and renewal.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">Executive Leadership &amp; Strategy (20%)</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organizational vision, strategy, and long-term sustainability.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Partner closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to advance fundraising priorities and mobilize board members as active ambassadors, relationship-builders, and fundraisers.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Provide strategic leadership to the Board Advancement Committee and related advancement sub- committees.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Develop and execute integrated short- and long-term advancement and external relations strategies aligned with Rainier Scholars’ mission, values, and growth goals.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Lead the evolution of Rainier Scholars’ advancement strategy through periods of growth, change and increasing organizational complexity.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Partner cross-functionally with Program, Finance, and People &amp; Culture leaders to ensure advancement strategies are aligned with program priorities, financial planning, and organizational capacity.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"> </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">Donor Engagement, Stewardship &amp; Communications (20%)</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Ensure donors experience meaningful, values-centered engagement that reflects the impact of their partnership with Rainier Scholars.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Lead and collaborate closely with the Marketing &amp; Communications team to align priorities with organizational messaging, brand strategy, and visibility goals.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Provide strategic direction and partnership on integrated marketing and communications efforts that support both Programs and Advancement.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Ensure the development of compelling, scholar-centered storytelling that clearly articulates</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Rainier Scholars’ mission, impact, and long-term vision to diverse audiences.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Partner with Marketing &amp; Communications on the creation of key advancement assets, including the annual report, campaign materials, digital content, and donor communications.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations to develop and executive comprehensive donor stewardship strategies, including events, impact reports, personalized outreach, and scholar-centered engagement opportunities.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Represent Rainier Scholars externally as a compelling ambassador and advocate for students of color and education equity.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\"> Team Leadership &amp; Culture of Philanthropy (15%)</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Lead, coach, and support a highly skilled and diverse advancement team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Directly supervise four Director-level roles—Director of Donor Relations, Director of Corporate Relations, Director of Foundations, and Director of Marketing &amp; Communications, providing strategic direction, clear priorities, performance management, and professional development support.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Build and continuously strengthen systems, processes, and metrics that improve fundraising performance, donor experience, and team effectiveness.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Cultivate a culture of philanthropy across the organization, engaging staff, board members, alumni, and volunteers as partners in advancement.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Champion values-aligned fundraising practices that reflect Rainier Scholars’ commitment to racial equity, educational justice, and community partnership.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">Systems, Operations &amp; Data (5%)</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Manage advancement budgets and ensure responsible stewardship of resources.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations on advancement operations, including CRM strategy, donor data integrity, reporting, forecasting and analytics.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Leverage technology and data to improve efficiency, donor segmentation, forecasting, and decision-making.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">DESIRED ATTRIBUTES</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Rainier Scholars is most interested in candidates who:</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Are deeply passionate about access, opportunity, and educational pathways for students of color.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Demonstrate a strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and lifelong learning.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Bring exceptional judgment, integrity, and relational, trust-based leadership.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Are inspiring storytellers and fearless advocates for scholars, families, and community.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Thrive as both strategic thinkers and hands-on leaders in complex mission driven environments.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Are strategic, adaptive thinkers who bring creativity and rigor to complex fundraising challenges, and are willing to test, learn, and evolve approaches to advance impact.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Are comfortable navigating ambiguity, making informed decisions with imperfect information, and learning alongside others.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">SKILLS &amp; COMPETENCIES</span></p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Minimum of 10-15 years of progressively responsible nonprofit fundraising and leadership experience.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Proven track record of setting and achieving ambitious fundraising goals across multiple revenue streams, including $8M–$10M+ annual portfolios.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Experience working with high impact philanthropists and successfully raising six and seven figure gifts.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Deep familiarity with the Greater Seattle and Tacoma philanthropic landscape and regional funding partners.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Demonstrated success leading and developing high-performing teams.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Strong experience partnering with boards and senior leaders on fundraising strategy and execution.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree and/or CFRE certification preferred.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Experience leveraging CRM systems and data-driven fundraising practices to inform strategy and results.</span></li>\n<li><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Commitment to educational equity and ability to build trust with people from diverse backgrounds.</span></li>\n</ul>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">WORK ENVIRONMENT</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Rainier Scholars is a workplace committed to wellness and sustainability. This is a flexible, hybrid full-time role based out of our Seattle office, with 2-3 days/week working in-person. This role may require some work in the evenings and weekends. The person in this role will also be expected to have occasional travel to Tacoma for in-person meetings with donors, funders, and community partners. Schedules are subject to change as needs arise.</span></p>\n<p><br></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">COMPENSATION &amp; BENEFITS</span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">Compensation for this role is $155,000 – $190,000 annually. This is a full-time, exempt position. Non-monetary benefits include employer-paid medical, vision and dental insurance, Healthcare and Dependent Care FSA, life insurance, long-term disability insurance, pet insurance, EAP, FMLA Gap Coverage, 403(b) with employer match, and generous paid-time off package.<br><br></span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt; font-weight: bold\">HOW TO APPLY </span></p>\n<p><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\">This position is managed by Merge Executive Search. If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Leckband at <a href=\"mailto:[email protected]\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">[email protected]. </a><br><br></span></p>\n<p><em><span style=\"font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14pt\"><span>Our work is rooted in ensuring that people from marginalized communities have the opportunity to thrive in education and careers that they are passionate about.  Rainier Scholars is an equal opportunity employer committed to promoting an equitable and inclusive environment for our scholars, families, and staff. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and strongly encourage people of color, first generation college graduates, and people from working class backgrounds to apply.</span></span></em><br></p>",
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