Chief Advancement Officer

About the role

St. Anne’s-Belfield School is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to advance the school’s strategic vision through philanthropy and community engagement. Reporting to the Head of School and serving on the Senior Administrative Leadership Team (SALT), the CAO will support St. Anne’s-Belfield’s mission of preparing students to be “strong in body, broad of mind, tender of heart, responsive in soul” while ensuring the financial sustainability and vitality of the school’s programs and campus life.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead a comprehensive advancement strategy — including annual giving, major and planned gifts, capital campaigns, endowment growth, grants, and other philanthropic initiatives — aligned with the School’s Portrait of a 2036 Graduate and strategic priorities.
• Solicit, steward, and cultivate alumni, past and current parents/guardians, grandparents, faculty/staff, and foundations.
• Create annual and multi-year strategic fundraising plans for the Advancement team, with particular emphasis on metrics, KPIs, and goals to ensure sustainable programmatic growth in both the donor pipeline and annual revenue.
• Cultivate and steward relationships with donors: alums, parents/guardians, foundations, community partners, and friends of St. Anne's-Belfield.
• Work with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to identify philanthropic priorities and shape fundraising priorities.
• Provide leadership and oversight to the Advancement Office: donor communications, stewardship, family and alumni relations, development events, fundraising database management, and reporting.
• Cultivate, maintain, and steward an active portfolio of major donor prospects and solicit leadership gifts as appropriate.
• Work closely with Enrollment Management, Academics, Arts, Athletics, Student Life, Residential Life, Finance, and Facilities leadership to align advancement initiatives with St. Anne's-Belfield overarching priorities.
• Oversee the planning and coordination of signature events (reunions, fundraising events, donor receptions, community gatherings, alumni events, etc.) that engage key stakeholders and strengthen community bonds.
• Contribute to schoolwide planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.
• Serve as a public ambassador and representative for St. Anne's-Belfield — with alumni, parents/guardians, donors, community partners, and external stakeholders — building external relationships that support the school’s vision and growth.

Requirements

The successful candidate will bring a track record of leadership, innovation, and results in advancement, along with the personal qualities needed to inspire confidence and trust. While St. Anne's-Belfield will consider a broad range of backgrounds, candidates are expected to demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., M.A., MBA, M.Ed.) strongly preferred.
• At least 7–10 years of senior-level experience in advancement/fundraising, institutional advancement, or development — preferably in independent schools, boarding/day schools, higher education, or nonprofit educational institutions.
• Demonstrated success with solicitation, stewardship, major gift fundraising, annual funds, planned giving, and campaign management.
• Strong strategic planning, financial acumen, and operational management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills — ability to engage with a wide array of stakeholders (alumni, parents, students, faculty, trustees, donors, community partners).
• Deep appreciation for St. Anne's-Belfield’s core values: “Integrity, Curiosity, Diversity, Creativity, Agency, and Impact.”
• An orientation toward innovation, but sensitive to the culture of a close-knit school.
• Mission-driven, student-centered, community-oriented, and equity-minded.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic — able to envision and develop new programs while balancing mission and financial sustainability.
• Highly organized and flexible, demonstrating strong initiative and the ability to juggle competing priorities in a dynamic school setting.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will have a Bachelor’s degree and at least 7–10 years of senior-level experience in advancement/fundraising, institutional advancement, or development, preferably in independent schools, boarding/day schools, higher education, or nonprofit educational institutions. Advanced degrees (e.g., M.A., MBA, M.Ed.) are strongly preferred.

Skills

The successful candidate will possess exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills, as well as a proven track record of success in solicitation, stewardship, major gift fundraising, annual funds, planned giving, and campaign management. They should also demonstrate strong strategic planning, financial acumen, and operational management skills.

Benefits

Competitive annual salary, based on experience
Generous paid time off (PTO) — up to 6 weeks vacation + 3 personal days annually
Shared cost high-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance
School paid short-term and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance
Retirement plan with match
Supplemental insurance policies
Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
Discounted gym membership
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Tuition remission and program discounts for children enrolled at the school
20% discount to the St. Anne’s-Belfield School store

Pay

Competitive annual salary, based on experience

Schedule

Not specified