Chief Advancement Officer

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts

Job Description

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (“GSEMA”) is seeking qualified candidates for the full-time position of Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).  

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Advancement Officer is a key member of the council’s executive team and provides leadership, professional expertise, and support in developing goals and strategies to meet the council’s goals and objectives for financial health and sustained engagement of donors and funders. The CAO is expected to prepare and execute a sustainable multi-year advancement plan that will raise $1.5 to $2 million annually with clearly defined metrics, timelines and operational plans. The incumbent manages all strategies for identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of prospective, current, and future donors and funders in collaboration with the Chief Executive Officer, the Fund Development Committee of the Board and council staff. This position oversees and manages a team of professionals responsible for fundraising and generating philanthropic support.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Design and implement a multi-year, comprehensive advancement plan with overarching, measurable goals for the department that evaluate return on investment and specific goals for each aspect of the program, including major and individual donors, corporate, foundation, events, and grant support.
  • Provide accurate financial reporting to the Board and council leaders; serve as the liaison to the Fund Development Committee of the Board and to the Board Nominating and Development Committee; assist with new board member identification, recruitment, and orientation.
  • Establish a presence in the community to increase the council’s visibility, represent the council externally as needed, and engage a broader base of potential, current, and past donors.
  • Build a sustained volunteer model to advance fund development and philanthropy, effectively engaging volunteers in priority initiatives, donor engagement and solicitation
  • Cultivate and steward relationships with a portfolio of individual donors, board members, corporations, foundations and other funders; identify and develop new funding sources. 
  • Influence high standards of public relations and strategic communication, including quality and consistency of oral and written deliverables, brand management, and targeted stakeholder messaging.

Council Citizen:

  • Commit to our mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
  • Work with individuals of diverse backgrounds and ages, and accept the Girl Scout commitment to work with all without regard to age, race, ethnicity/culture, country of origin, religion, language, socio economic status, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, ability or political affiliation.
  • Possess a collaborative approach and outlook; demonstrated ability to establish trust and professional relationships with staff across all levels of the organization; ability to work with divergent opinions; promote collaboration and exchange of ideas.
  • Stay current on GSEMA and Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) policies, procedures and strategic goals and initiatives.

Skills and Qualifications:

  • Ten years of documented experience in direct fundraising and financial management.
  • Five to seven years of management and supervisory experience. 
  • Understanding and appreciation for GSEMA’s mission and the capability to project that mission to prospective donors.
  • Extensive experience building internal and external relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders, including a Board of Directors.
  • Experience in the development of budgets and ability to manage financial resources effectively.
  • Exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills; persuasive, credible and polished communicator-both written and verbal. 
  • Strong public relations skills and ability to develop community collaborations. Demonstrated ability in planning and executing strategic communications to complement advancement initiatives.
  • Capacity to, independently and as part of a team, plan, organize and prioritize work, while managing multiple deadlines in a fast-paced environment. 
  • Ability to effectively identify, analyze and solve practical problems and successfully manage a variety of variables and personalities; ability to adapt in a changing environment. 
  • Ability to work collaboratively with other functional areas to further the council’s goals.
  • Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings and weekends, and be willing to travel throughout the council.
  • Must have the passion and drive to be part of an organization devoted to the development and support of girls.
 
Work Environment:  Mobilized / hybrid work arrangement with work from home, at designated GSEMA service centers, in communities served, and at designated GSEMA properties as needed. 

Physical Demands:  

  • Ability to lift and manipulate up to 15 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.  
  • May involve prolonged periods of sitting or working on a computer.

Travel Requirements: Must have access to reliable transportation to travel to GSEMA offices/service centers and across the council footprint as needed. As this position requires approximately 50% travel within the council footprint and may require occasional travel outside the council footprint, possession of a valid driver’s license and access to motor vehicle is preferred.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.

Commitment to Health and Safety: COVID-19 Vaccine Requirement

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, the physical and emotional safety of our Girl Scouts, our families, our volunteers, and our staff is our highest priority. We are taking a responsible approach to creating environments that allow us to embody the Girl Scout Promise and Law, require us to be considerate and caring, courageous, and strong, responsible for what we say and do, respectful of ourselves and others, respectful of authority and act as a sister to every Girl Scout.  As part of GSEMA’s commitment to health and safety, all employees are required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 per GSEMA’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. GSEMA will consider exemption requests from individuals with medical conditions or sincerely held religious beliefs that prevent them from getting the vaccine.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts offers a competitive benefits package including generous paid time off, health and dental insurance, training opportunities, and much more.


About Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts

For over 100 years, Girl Scouts has empowered girls to lead, break barriers, and create positive change. Girl Scouts’ powerful all-girl space fosters collaboration over competition, and inspires girls to go beyond dreaming to actual doing. We offer amazing opportunities for forward-thinking, talented individuals who share our vision of helping girls and young women change the world for the better. Join our team of dedicated professionals and make a difference in girls' lives! To learn more about our Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, visit www.gsema.org.

Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is an equal opportunity employer

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, we strive to create transformative learning experiences and leadership opportunities for all girls. The threads of diversity and inclusion are woven tightly into our mission of supporting and nurturing girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.

We hold firm in our belief that a culture of diversity and inclusion promotes unity, creates personal and professional growth opportunities for our employees, and supports safety and transformation for our volunteers and girls of all backgrounds.

Diversity and inclusion is more than an initiative; it is a set of shared values that defines the fabric of our mission.