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Chief Advancement Officer

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Want to join our Family?

We are Foundation Academies: Trenton, New Jersey’s largest and highest-ranking K-12 free public charter school. Our mission is to ensure that all of our students secure the academic knowledge and skills to prepare them for the nation’s finest colleges and to instill in them the core values of caring, respect, responsibility, and honesty. We serve more than 1,000 of the city’s K-12 population across three schools on two campuses. We admit students by lottery, irrespective of gender, race, household income, or academic ability.

Our team of experienced and mission-driven urban educators values growth mindsets, lifelong learners, and individuals who believe that every child deserves an excellent education. We hold ourselves, our students, and our city to high standards because that’s what our families deserve.

The Opportunity:

As a key leader reporting directly to the CEO of Foundation Academy, the Chief Advancement Officer plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of the school through strategic leadership, bold vision, and tireless dedication to philanthropy. The Chief Advancement Officer is tasked with driving and expanding Foundation Academy's fundraising initiatives, building partnerships, and mobilizing resources to amplify the Academy's mission of equipping, excelling, empowering, and leading.

In this high-impact role, you will cultivate a dynamic philanthropic culture, manage a portfolio of 125+ donors, multimillion campaigns and lead the organization to exceed ambitious revenue goals. You’ll be a forward-thinking leader who thrives on creating meaningful relationships and developing innovative strategies to support both immediate needs and long-term sustainability.

Your passion for social justice, commitment to community building, and ability to inspire those around you will guide Foundation Academy’s advancement efforts, positioning us as a leading institution committed to excellence and equity in education.

Schedule
Monday to Friday, 7:30 AM - 4:15 PM
(Hybrid: 3 days in the office, 2 days remote)

Salary
$155,000-$190,000

What is in it for you?

  • Merit-based pay increases annually
  • Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision benefit plans
  • Tax-deferred 403 b retirement account with 25% matching up to a certain amount
  • Independent, conflict-free financial wellness advising through Spring Financial
  • Optional short or long-term disability benefits through Aflac
  • Smartphone and fully paid wireless plan through T-Mobile
  • Windows-based work laptop computer
  • Regular team-building activities and outings
  • 10 sick days and 3 personal days that roll over annually
  • Generous vacation time: 20 vacation days per year with 5 rolling over annually
  • Employee contribution to the NJ PERS
  • A rewarding career that positively impacts the lives of our amazing students

What will you be doing?

Strategic Leadership & Vision

  • Inspire and Drive Change: Articulate and champion the school’s mission and vision, aligning stakeholders around a shared philosophy of fundraising that reflects our values and community-centered ethos.
  • Strategic Planning: Lead comprehensive planning processes to assess the financial needs of the school, developing both short-term strategies and long-range fundraising initiatives. Design innovative, sustainable pathways to increase unrestricted revenue streams.
  • Campaign Leadership: Responsible for supervising all fundraising efforts, including annual fund, donor events, and major gift outreach. Oversee all development communications, working in partnership with designated communication partners, as well as manage the oversight of all grants.

Relationship Building & Donor Engagement

  • Cultivate Partnerships: Establish and deepen relationships with a broad spectrum of supporters—individual donors, corporate partners, and foundations—to amplify the Academy’s impact. Manage a portfolio of leadership donors, facilitating a robust giving pipeline through personal engagement and tailored solicitation.
  • Engage Stakeholders: Partner with the CEO and Board of Trustees to strengthen the involvement of key stakeholders, guiding them in cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.
  • Communicate with Purpose: Craft compelling narratives and deliver persuasive communications that reflect the school’s brand, values, and goals. Ensure messaging is consistent across all platforms, creating a strong connection with donors and the community.

Operational Excellence & Team Development

  • Lead with Integrity: Manage the Advancement Office with the highest levels of transparency, accountability, and ethical standards. Oversee daily operations, departmental budgets, income forecasts, and compliance with all fundraising policies.
  • Mentorship & Collaboration: Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing advancement team. Create a collaborative environment that fosters professional growth, creativity, and a shared commitment to advancing the school’s goals.
  • Innovate & Adapt: Leverage technology to enhance fundraising efforts through digital giving platforms, social media engagement, and online campaigns. Stay ahead of industry trends to drive continuous improvement.

Community Engagement & Presence

  • Be a Community Leader: Serve as a visible leader and champion for Foundation Academy by attending key school and community events. Build meaningful relationships with faculty, staff, students, and families to nurture a culture of philanthropy across the campus.
  • Board Engagement: Support and guide the Board of Trustees in their development responsibilities. Work with leadership to educate and inspire board members in donor cultivation and professional fundraising techniques.

What do we require from you?

  • Visionary Leadership: Proven ability to inspire, strategize, and lead within a mission-driven organization, with a minimum of 5-8 years of progressive experience in development or a related field.
  • Fundraising Expertise: Demonstrated success in securing major gifts and developing comprehensive fundraising strategies from diverse revenue streams, including individual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, and events.
  • Campaign Management: Experience leading capital campaigns and orchestrating high-impact fundraising initiatives.
  • Exceptional Communication Skills: Persuasive, credible, and polished communicator with the ability to engage diverse audiences both verbally and in writing.
  • Relationship Builder: Adept at cultivating relationships and building partnerships that advance the organization’s goals.
  • Strategic & Analytical Thinker: Ability to think creatively and strategically while managing budgets, staff, and operational workflows to meet fundraising goals.
  • Technology Savvy: Proficiency in donor management systems (Salesforce or similar), Microsoft Office, and digital fundraising tools.
  • Team Leadership: Experience in recruiting, developing, and leading high-performing teams to reach ambitious goals.
  • Strong Network: A strong professional network presence, including an active LinkedIn profile or equivalent, is required.
  • Commitment to Equity: Passion for social justice, diversity, and the values of Foundation Academies, with the ability to engage effectively across diverse constituencies.

Semifinalist candidates will be required to provide unofficial transcripts, evidence of certification/eligibility, and 3 professional references.
Hired candidates are responsible for the following: official transcripts, criminal clearance (fingerprinting), and medical clearance (TB/Mantoux testing).

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Foundation Academies is an equal opportunity employer and makes employment decisions on the basis of merit. We want to have the best available persons in every job. Foundation Academies prohibits unlawful discrimination based on race, color, creed, gender, gender identity, religion, marital status, registered domestic partner status, age, national origin or ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, sex, genetic information, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws. All such discrimination is unlawful and prohibited by Foundation Academies. It is also our policy to comply with all applicable state and federal laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisions.

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