Description

For over 100 years, Girl Scouts has empowered girls to lead, break barriers, and create positive change. At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts (GSEMA), we foster a powerful all-girl space that values collaboration over competition, inspiring girls to turn their dreams into reality.

GSEMA is seeking an experienced and mission-driven Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to serve as a strategic architect and trusted partner in advancing the organization’s philanthropic vision. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CAO will engage Board members, major donors, philanthropic leaders, and community partners to strengthen and expand GSEMA’s funding and impact.

At a pivotal moment in GSEMA’s growth, the CAO is a key member of the senior leadership team, responsible for strengthening and expanding philanthropic partnerships to ensure long-term sustainability and impact. 

Position Overview 

The CAO leads all advancement functions, including development, fundraising, donor communications, constituent engagement, stewardship, and advancement operations. Building upon GSEMA’s three-year strategic plan, the CAO is responsible for achieving annual fundraising goals of $3 million over the next three to five years, supported by clear metrics, timelines, and operational plans. 

This leader creatively and proactively identifies, qualifies, and cultivates new and existing donor prospects, strengthening and diversifying the pipeline to deepen GSEMA’s philanthropic portfolio. With a balance of strategic vision, operational excellence, and emotional intelligence, the CAO builds momentum and deepens donor alignment with GSEMA’s mission and communicates the transformative impact of Girl Scouts - building girls of courage, confidence, and character – while supporting growth among new and emerging membership communities. Skilled at building authentic and productive relationships with individuals and communities of all backgrounds, the CAO helps shape and advance GSEMA’s next chapter of impact and growth.

The CAO leads, manages and mentors a team of five (5) advancement professionals, ensuring the organization meets its annual fundraising goals through cultivation, solicitation, individual giving, major and principal gifts, grants and foundations, and legacy giving.

This position is hybrid, with an office location at GSEMA's Waltham office. There is the expectation for regular team meetings and in-person meetings with team, donors and board members. Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including weekends and evenings as well as travel throughout GSEMA's service area.

Areas of Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership 

• Serve as chief strategist for comprehensive advancement program, including major gifts, campaigns, annual and planned giving, donor stewardship, and engagement
• Collaborate with GSEMA Senior Leadership Team and the Advancement Team to educate council members on leading practices of development and fundraising to promote and model an organization-wide culture of philanthropy, equipping staff and board members to serve as ambassadors of GSEMA’s mission
• Operationalize GSEMA’s 3-year Strategic Plan with overarching, measurable goals that evaluate return on investment and specific goals for each aspect of the plan, including major and individual donors, corporate, foundation, and events
• Serve as the liaison to the BOARD Fund Development Committee and to the Board Nominating and Development Committee; assist with new board member identification, recruitment, and orientation
• In partnership with Mission Delivery and Operations, generate Girl Scout Alumni database to design and execute an alumni donor campaign

Fundraising and Donor Engagement 

• Maintain a presence in GSEMA’s existing communities while building presence in new communities to increase the council’s visibility to engage a broader base of potential, current, and past donors
• Cultivate and steward relationships with a portfolio of individual donors, board members, corporations, foundations and other funders; identify and develop new funding sources
• Identify and generate portfolio of potential donors for cultivation for CEO and Board engagement and fundraising and meet assigned metrics for substantive donor/prospect engagements per month
• Manage a personal portfolio of up to 50 donors and prospects; plan and execute cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies
• Build a pipeline of giving for all categories
• The following are estimated allocations of focused time:
  • Major Gift Donor solicitation and stewardship: 40%
  • Partnership with and support for CEO & Board: 20%
  • Team building: 30%
  • Operations: 10%
    

Team and Organizational Leadership

• Ensure current processes, systems, policies, and infrastructure supports the most effective engagement of donors including effective donor database and confidential records management; make and implement suggestions for improvements
• Provide accurate financial reporting to the CEO, Board and SLT on progress towards goals, pipeline health and emerging opportunities
• In conjunction with the Chief of Staff and Senior Director of Marketing, provide strategic oversight and ensure consistent messaging and branding in all print and online donor cultivation and solicitation communication vehicles based on GSUSA marketing strategy
• In partnership with Marketing, deploy strong public relations skills to develop community collaborations and reach broader stakeholders
• Lead team in the cultivation, solicitation, and proposal development for grants, major and principal gift donors and foundations, including support for legacy giving conversations

Requirements

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively successful experience designing, building and executing direct fundraising and annual giving with an expectation of 5%–10% year-over-year growth
• Minimum of eight (8) years of management and supervisory experience
• Strong financial acumen with experience using fundraising databases and analytics to inform strategy and decision-making
• Demonstrated experience building internal and external relationships across a diverse set of stakeholders
• Experience developing and managing budgets effectively and ability and oversee financial resources
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication and influencing skills; persuasive, credible and polished communicator, both written and verbal
• Proven ability to plan and execute strategic communications that support and enhance advancement initiatives
• Proficiency in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office suite
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or another leading donor database
• Capacity to, independently and as part of a team, plan, organize and prioritize work, while managing multiple deadlines in a complex and fast-paced environment
• Strong problem-solving skills, with the ability to analyze and successfully manage a variety of variables, navigate differing personalities, and adapt effectively in a changing environment
• Deep appreciation for and active engagement in GSEMA’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character and the ability to compellingly project that mission to prospective donors

Preferred:

• Advanced degree preferred

Compliance, Legal and Other Requirements

• This position will require successful completion of background checks, which include a state check, sexual offender check and may or may not include a national background check.
• An active membership in the Girl Scout Movement is required to be maintained during employment.
   

Compensation and Benefits

Salary: $185,000 -$195,000 annually

Join Us in Making a Difference!

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts, we strive to create transformative learning experiences and leadership opportunities for our youth members. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and racial justice (DEI/RJ) are woven tightly into our mission of supporting and nurturing girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  We believe in fostering a culture that celebrates differences, promotes unity, and creates growth opportunities for our employees. Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Read more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice!

We Offer Amazing Benefits:

Work-Life Harmony:  Flexible schedule, typically 37.5 hours per week, more during peak recruitment times. Generous paid time-off benefits, including vacation, sick leave, and holidays.
We've Got You Covered:  Full medical and dental benefits, plus no-cost group life insurance, disability coverage, and an Employee Assistance Program.
Investment in Your Future: Plan for your retirement with 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan. We also support your career growth with paid time for training and other development opportunities.
Special Girl Scout Perks: Take advantage of discounts on Girl Scout merchandise at the Council Shop. Eligible family members can enjoy discounted rates for up to two (2) weeks at GSEMA summer camps. Experience the outdoors and connect with the Girl Scout spirit through outdoor activities and staff camp days.
Explore more about these benefits and join us in shaping a brighter future at GSEMA. Visit our careers page at GSEMA Careers.

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