Vice President Advancement

Profile

Vice President, Advancement

Arlington, VA

Type:

Full-time

Min. Experience:

Executive

WHO WE ARE

Rooted in community for more than 40 years, Communities In Schools (CIS) strives to bring community resources inside public schools, where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. Founder Bill Milliken said, “It’s relationships, not programs, that change children. A great program simply creates the environment for healthy relationships to form between adults and children. Young people thrive when adults care about them on a one-to-one level, and when they also have a sense of belonging to a caring community.”

CIS programs are conducted annually throughout the United States, serving 2,900 schools; 1.61M students with over 11,000 community volunteers and 117 CIS affiliate organizations across the country. Their programs for students include providing needs assessments, support teams with corresponding plans to address academic and non-academic needs, delivery of multiple tiers of support for both students and families, progress monitoring and evaluation and assessment with parents and student support systems.

MISSION AND VALUES

Communities In Schools (CIS), is “all-in” for kids. It is our passion—it is our mission. At the National Office, CIS collaborates with local affiliate organizations to provide resources and create communities of caring adults who work hand-in-hand with educators to make sure young people have the tools they need to stay in school and achieve in life. We are the nation’s largest dropout prevention organization, and we achieve our mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who demonstrate a passion for what they do.

CIS also holds the following talent beliefs:

Every staff member is passionate and committed to the mission.

As a National Office, CIS employees have a responsibility to live our values and integrate principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion across the organization and lead by example.

In turn, CIS is committed to continuously improving decision making, incentivizing creativity, and building engagement and we do this by building a diverse workforce, fostering a climate of inclusion, and shaping business practices and policies that promote equity.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Reporting to the Chief External Engagement Officer, the Vice President of Advancement is responsible for creating and executing an innovative and comprehensive strategy that will cultivate and steward the financial resources needed to advance the critical work of Communities In Schools (CIS).

The Vice-President will play an integral role in securing philanthropic support from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund the national office’s operational budget and plan for future sustainability.

This is achieved by nurturing relationships with key stakeholders, such as board members, funders, alumni, and volunteers.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities:

Strategy Development and Implementation

Create, implement, and manage the fundraising strategy for stakeholder engagement including corporate, foundation, and individual donors.

Support the Chief External Engagement Officer and the CEO in advancement activities, managing engagement of prospects, providing research, and conferring on strategies for transformational gifts.

Collaborate with marketing and communications and student supports staff to maximize information and results to increase visibility, recognition, and branding opportunities.

Evaluate trends in the external environment and provide input for short and long-term strategic fundraising, operational planning, and positioning for the organization.

Develop strategies and tactics to increase revenue from existing and new funding streams.

Promote and contribute to diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice by initiating and participating in activities and functions that enhance organizational diversity.

Advancement Operations and Team Leadership

Lead and develop a highly effective team of advancement officers who make successful and lasting contributions to the CIS mission and strategic plan.

Partner with the Chief External Engagement Officer on the overall revenue strategy for the organization and build systems and structures that encourage and support teamwork and collaboration across the External Engagement department, and with other departments within the organization.

Implement best-in-class practices for effectively shepherding all prospects and stewarding all donors to support the CIS mission with sustained investments. Lead the team to develop concept papers, proposals, reports, end-of-year giving campaigns, events and all necessary activities to secure revenue.

Oversee the revenue and expenditure budgets, including development, implementation, tracking, and regular reporting to staff, the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors.

With the support of the advancement team, prepare monthly, quarterly, and annual reports and financial analyses for the senior leadership team as well as presentations for the Board of Directors and Committees on progress toward financial goals and provide guidance and direction to achieve objectives.

Manages personal portfolio of top individual donors and planned giving donors.

Fosters a culture of philanthropy in the department and throughout the organization, ensuring that organizational culture and systems support fundraising efforts.

Required Skills and Minimum Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree or equivalent education and experience, with a minimum of 12 years fundraising experience with a focus on high-net worth individuals, corporate and foundation relations, and 5 years managing and leading teams.

Exemplary track record directing a large advancement function and demonstrated results securing six and seven figure gifts. Expertise in the full scope of fundraising activities.

Broad people management skills including performance management, coaching and staff development. Ability to establish and maintain collaborative relationships and partnerships across business and organizational lines.

Deep understanding of anti-racist and anti-oppressive practices in fundraising.

Strong financial acumen and experience in developing, managing and adjusting department budgets as well as individual project budgets.

Significant experience in developing and/or working with technology and software associated with fundraising including on-line research tools and database programs.

Experience collaborating with an internal research function focused on identifying and qualifying potential sources of significant gift giving. Possesses the technical knowledge to utilize technology-based research and report generation tools.

Advanced PC skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).

Strong time management and prioritization skills.

Proven strength in communication skills (written, verbal, and use of other technologies) and collaboration.

Demonstrated strength and proven track record in project management.

A willingness to learn and a flexibility to shift as priorities shift.

Ability to build positive relationships with your colleagues and are willing to help others.

Excited to work with people who have different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives from your own.

TRAVEL

Travel up to 20% may be required including travel in the domestic United States with overnight stay(s).

ABOUT US

CIS staff continue to work in a virtual environment; however, the national office is open and available for staff to use as appropriate.

To ensure the health and safety of staff and job applicants, all interviews will be conducted by phone and/or video conference.

BENEFITS & PERKS

Work that makes a difference—the opportunity to contribute to an important mission!

Competitive and comprehensive compensation and benefits package, including:

Five weeks of Paid Time Off

Generous 403b Retirement Savings Plan contribution

9 Paid Holidays

90% of employee health care premiums paid by the organization

Summer Work Schedule and Winter Break

Employer-paid short-term and long-term income replacement programs, and much, much more!

Communities In Schools is committed to a workforce that is representative of the varied communities we are privileged to serve. We provide a work environment that does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, mental or physical disability, genetic information or any other basis protected by applicable law. CIS prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

For more information on Communities In Schools please visit our

website

Company info

communitiesinschools.org