CHIEF ADVANCEMENT OFFICER

Job Title: Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) Department: Development

Reports to: Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Effective Date: 5/04/26

Schedule: Monday through Friday daytime hours with some evenings and occasional weekends. The role is an in-office position; the YWCA’s offices are at 1 Salem Square, Worcester, MA.

About the Organization:

For over 140 years, the YWCA Central Massachusetts has been a steadfast advocate and positive force for women, girls, families, and communities. As one of the oldest and most impactful organizations, we are dedicated to breaking barriers, fostering equality, and creating a brighter future for all. By leveraging the power, passion, and commitment of our members, supporters, and volunteers, we work tirelessly to create meaningful and lasting change across Central Massachusetts and beyond.

At the core of our mission is our unwavering commitment to eliminating racism and empowering women. We provide safe, inclusive spaces where women and girls can find support, resources, and opportunities to thrive. Through innovative programs, leadership development, and advocacy for women’s and civil rights, we strive to build a community where everyone can live with dignity, opportunity and hope for a just and equitable tomorrow.

For more information, please see: Home - YWCA Central Massachusetts %

About the Role:

The CAO is responsible for leading fundraising and external relations to sustain and grow the YWCA’s annual budget. The CAO will lead the development team to secure new revenues, retain and maximize current funders, and diversify funding sources. The CAO will set and implement the annual and multi-year fundraising strategy. The CAO will cultivate, solicit, and steward the organization’s top funders and prospects to secure transformative investments in the YWCA’s mission and growth goals.

As a member of the Leadership Team, the CAO will contribute to setting and achieving the organization’s strategic direction to safeguard its long-term viability, while managing and encouraging staff excellence. The CAO will partner closely with program staff to maintain close alignment between programmatic goals and development efforts, ensuring the mission dictates the funding strategy and not vice versa.

Core Responsibilities:

• Raise the philanthropic resources necessary to support and grow YWCA of Central Massachusetts’ programs and initiatives
  • Manage a portfolio of prospects and donors who have the potential to provide significant charitable gifts to the organization. Cultivate, solicit and close annual, major gift and multi-year contributions. Achieve revenue goals.
  • Identify new funding prospects to support the organization.
  • Serve as a passionate proponent of the organization and its mission.
  • Appropriately represent the organization, its board and staff leadership to donors and prospects.
• Implement a comprehensive fundraising program.
  • Implement fundraising strategies and programs, including a future comprehensive campaign to invite multi-year investment in YWCA programs and capitalization of the organization’s growth goals;
  • Increase the YWCA’s support from individuals, corporations, foundations and other sources;
  • Lead the institutional gift grant strategy, maintaining regular correspondence with program officers and corporate gift decision makers, leading to strong mission-aligned partnerships and programmatic investments;
  • Develop and implement the YWCA’s leadership and major giving program, significantly expanding the number of individual and family donors who personally contribute leadership, principal, major and planned gifts to the YWCA;
  • Provide leadership, strategic direction, management and coordination for all aspects of the program’s advancement efforts;
  • Prepare the annual fundraising plan in collaboration with the CEO for presentation to Senior Management and the Board of Directors; provide detailed reports about the fundraising progress to the CEO and Senior Management on a regular basis;
  • Oversee donor stewardship and recognition programs, as well as all annual giving programs;
  • Develop and oversee the implementation of the YWCA’s event strategy;
  • Ensure that appropriate systems and procedures are in place to support the program’s future fundraising goals.
• Work collaboratively with volunteer and staff leadership across the region to enhance their fundraising skills and to support their revenue generating efforts.
  • Partner with the Chief Executive Officer to deploy her time and attention to leverage the greatest revenue generating opportunities. Coordinate fundraising efforts of CEO, the development committee of the Board of Directors, and other key fundraising team members;
  • Work effectively with the Board of Directors and other key volunteers, leveraging their talents, resources and ideas to enhance fundraising activities; understand the Board’s giving patterns and desired involvement; enhance board members’ ability to identify fundraising opportunities and encourage their ongoing participation as donors and solicitors;
  • Build strong relationships with program leadership and staff; understand the YWCA’s comprehensive programs; work collaboratively with and engage program staff in advancing development priorities;
  • Manage the advancement team to inspire outstanding performance and results. Strategically grow staffing capacity as growth in resources allow. Create working environment that is rewarding to staff and volunteers.
  • Recruit and motivate community and business volunteers to increase philanthropic attainment;
  • Foster a culture of philanthropy within the organization. Assure that the organization’s culture, systems and procedures support development and vice versa.
• Serve as a member of the YWCA of Central Massachusetts’ senior management team to advance the organization’s goals.
  • First and foremost, maintain focus on achievement of the organization-wide goals, and build and implement the comprehensive fundraising program to support achievement of the goals set forth in the YWCA’s annual and long-term strategic plan/s;
  • Provide counsel and guidance to the CEO and members of the senior staff team in order to incorporate the advancement and marketing perspective;
  • Embrace a culture focused on strong vertical and horizontal communication lines throughout the organization;
  • Serve as a proactive problem solver;
  • Ensure that philanthropy and fund development are carried out in accordance with the organization’s mission, vision and values;
  • Help establish performance measures, monitor results and help the CEO, development committee(s) and board evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s fund development program. Monitor all donor information; provide and present statistical analysis to board and senior leaders as needed.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• The CAO oversees the development department and will initially manage one direct report, the Director of Development Operations and Foundation Relations.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with and quickly gain the respect and support of various constituencies, including board and staff members, donors, foundation and civic leaders; experience recruiting and organizing volunteers.
• A solid understanding of nonprofit/for-profit fiscal management, principles and best practices.
• Creative, resilient and strategic in approach.
• A track record as an effective communicator; highly developed skills in writing and speaking, including donor correspondence and other kinds of materials; the ability to communicate the program’s mission and interests to a broad audience.
• Ability to give and receive feedback as a tool for growth.
• Flexible and adaptable style; a leader who can positively impact both strategic and tactical fundraising initiatives.
• High energy and passion for the YWCA’s mission is essential.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with exceptional attention to detail.
• The ability to work independently and as a team player, to take initiative, and to manage multiple tasks and projects at a time.
• Outstanding customer service skills.
• Passion for philanthropy and nonprofit work.
• Works well under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Valid Driver’s License and access to a car preferred.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required, Master's preferred.
• 7-plus years of professional experience in a nonprofit organization; demonstrated success in a development function (creating and managing relationships with multiple donor sources).
• Demonstrated experience in managing people and budgets.
• Demonstrable track record of personally identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing gifts from individual donors, corporations and foundations.
• A record of measurable results in organizing and implementing such activities as: major gifts, annual funds, corporate and foundation giving, planned giving, direct response and special events.

The compensation for the role is commensurate with experience, with an anticipated range of $110K - $135K. The YWCA offers excellent benefits, including a free health and fitness membership, health and dental insurance beginning after 30 days of employment, generous vacation, sick days, pension, life insurance and long-term disability coverage.

The YWCA is committed to hiring staff who reflect the diversity of the communities we serve . Candidates of color, bilingual and bicultural candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. If you are interested in working at a well-established, fast-paced and supportive organization committed to serving girls and women, please apply.

Interested candidates should send their resume, cover letter and compensation requirements to : Chuck Gordon, President and CEO, New Kensington Group, at [email protected].