Chief Advancement Officer

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Institute for Nonprofit Practice (INP) transforms communities by equipping social impact leaders – nonprofit, public sector, and social enterprise – with the skills, networks, confidence, and resources they need to effectively lead, advance social change, and make their organizations more effective, innovative, and sustainable.

INP trains thousands of leaders annually through the Core Certificate Program, RISE Program, Leadership Learning Series, Black Leadership Institute, alumni programming, and community convenings.

INP has experienced tremendous, transformative growth in the demand for its leadership programs over the last five years. From an annual operating budget of $2.9 million serving 230 leaders and 1,400 alumni in 2020, INP has matured into a dynamic, growing organization with 28 full-time staff and 58 part-time faculty members, with an annual operating budget of $7.3 million. INP now trains over 500 leaders annually and boasts a national alumni network of over 4,500 leaders.

INP is seeking an experienced and innovative Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to lead the strategic expansion of INP’s comprehensive advancement program to enable them to increase their impact nationally and realize their aspirations for the future.

Reporting to the President & Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CAO will be a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, partnering with the President & CEO, Board of Directors, and a skilled advancement and marketing/communications team to achieve key goals. This is an exciting and important time for the organization and an incredible opportunity for the right person to join INP at a critical inflection point in the social impact sector.

This is a hybrid role, with a special consideration for candidates from the eastern seaboard area. The role will require moderate domestic travel and in-person meetings with the Executive Leadership Team, prospects, donors, and funders.

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

INP was built to ensure that the nonprofit and social impact sector workforce is exponentially more effective, connected, equitable, and diverse.

This was the vision of the founder, organizer, consultant, and coach Barry Dym, Ph.D., who established INP in 2007. He set out to address several critical issues he saw as threats to the sustainability and effectiveness of the nonprofit sector – challenges that INP still seeks to remedy today:

• An under-investment in leadership development and organizational capacity building.
• A leadership succession crisis triggered by the retirement of baby boomers.
• The need for leadership that not only reflects the communities served but also leads to higher-performing organizations.

In INP’s first year, thirteen students in Boston completed the Core Certificate Program, which was established to equip nonprofit and public sector executives and managers with resources, relationships, and skills to strengthen their organizations. Since then, INP has added several important and impactful programs to its portfolio. Today, INP’s programs include:

• The RISE Program is an early career program focused on advancing and retaining talent in social impact work. Participants in this program deepen their understanding of how social impact organizations function, develop essential leadership skills, engage in networking, and propel their careers.
• The Black Leadership Institute (BLI), is a national eighteen-month program that connects, inspires, and uplifts senior-level leaders shaping social impact for Black communities across the country and across sectors.
• The Leadership Learning Series (LLS) is a free series of carefully planned virtual workshops and webinars led by experts and national thought leaders, with topics ranging from strategic leadership frameworks and tactical management resources to mindfulness practices and tools to promote holistic well-being.
• INP Alumni have ongoing access to timely programs and expert training, resources, and networking opportunities that have been designed specifically for them.

Today, INP supports, trains, and connects executives, managers, and emerging leaders throughout the country. INP has grown exponentially in terms of budget, staff and faculty, number of program participants, geographical reach, and overall impact to meet the needs of leaders and their teams as they navigate greater complexity leading and working within their organizations in the current climate. INP is well-positioned for continued growth. Currently led by President & Chief Executive Officer Yolanda Coentro, an INP alum class of 2011 and nationally recognized leader, INP continues to innovate and expand its programming and impact across the country.

With a proven, award-winning model and a growing network of accomplished alumni, INP is uplifting and uniting nonprofit and public sector leaders as they work and lead. By breaking down silos of isolation, engaging in learning, expanding relationships across fields, and deepening collaborations, INP alumni find creative and impactful ways to work together to achieve meaningful and lasting change in communities from coast-to-coast.

THE OPPORTUNITY

This is an important and exciting time for INP at a moment of significant change and challenge in the social impact sector. INP is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to join their team as they continue to build on INP’s considerable momentum and expand their efforts to transform communities and equip social impact leaders across the nation to meet the moment and achieve lasting, transformative change.

Reporting directly to the President & Chief Executive Officer, the CAO will be responsible for all aspects of institutional fundraising, donor engagement, marketing and communications, advancement operations, and data management. They will design and execute effective strategies and processes and develop the infrastructure necessary to deliver outstanding results in a growing national enterprise. The CAO will work closely with the President & Chief Executive Officer, the Board of Directors, and a dedicated team of fund development and marketing and communications professionals to advance INP's interests and goals in several key areas:

Diversify and grow INP’s revenue streams.

The annual budget at INP is currently $7.3 million. INP aspires to continue its trajectory of strategic growth and projects the annual budget will be approximately $15 million within the next five years. To achieve this, the next CAO will leverage, partner with, and support the President & CEO and Board of Directors to advance INP’s fundraising and marketing objectives. The CAO will architect and execute an expanded, comprehensive advancement strategy to secure and sustain support for INP’s operations and key programs and fuel continued growth nationally.

Build a national advancement team.

The INP advancement team is currently comprised of a Vice President of Development, a Development Operations Coordinator, a Donor Relations Manager, a Senior Grants Writer, a Grants Writer, and a Senior Communications and Marketing Manager. The CAO will mentor team members, refine and expand capacity to facilitate expansion and incorporate best-in-class approaches to elevate the individual and collective impact of the team as INP continues to scale nationally. They will cultivate a welcoming and supportive team working environment that values and rewards strategic thinking and planning, rigorous engagement, attention to detail, collaboration, learning, and professional development to deliver excellent results.

Build robust systems and processes to fuel and sustain “next level” fund development.

The next CAO will ensure that INP has robust operational and data management, analysis, and reporting systems and processes in place to optimize the capacity of the advancement team, drive efficiency and effectiveness, and support data-informed planning and decision-making. This will entail working with the President & CEO and other members of both the senior team and the advancement team to assess current systems and processes and design and implement necessary improvements.

Strengthen INP’s national reputation and brand to amplify impact.

An increased focus on building INP’s brand will be critical to achieving INP’s vision, expanding its reach, and amplifying its visibility and impact nationally. The CAO will work closely with the President & CEO and other members of the Executive Leadership Team to develop and execute a comprehensive strategic marketing and communications plan to strengthen INP’s national brand and further extend INP’s reach and influence in the social impact sector.

Strengthen and deepen the fund development partnership with the Board of Directors.

The INP Board of Directors is comprised of a deeply committed group of business and community leaders who are passionate about the mission of the organization. The next CAO will work closely with the Board of Directors and the President & CEO to develop and support new opportunities for board engagement in INP's fund development efforts.

Collaborate closely with other members of the INP team to support a healthy culture and achieve shared goals.

INP is a deeply relational organization. INP’s culture and systems are built on a philosophy of mutual respect and interdependence, and they collaborate closely to lift up and strengthen their collective work and impact. The CAO is a critical member of the team and will contribute to INP’s culture with a commitment to cross-departmental partnerships, authentic engagement, collaboration, and deep learning.

QUALIFICATIONS OF THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

INP’s next Chief Advancement Officer will be an experienced leader with deep knowledge and passion for the nonprofit sector and a nuanced and current understanding of relevant developments and dynamics impacting INP and the social impact sector writ large. The CAO will approach their work with a humble, learning mindset and have a demonstrated commitment to building strong, engaged, collaborative teams. Demonstrated ability to drive resources into an organization is required.

While no one candidate will embody all of the qualifications enumerated below, the ideal candidate will possess many of the following professional and personal competencies, attributes, and experiences:

• Experienced and strategic fund development professional with at least ten years of senior leadership experience and a record of building and growing successful funding portfolios and advancement teams in a non-profit organization. A track record of securing seven-figure major gifts and institutional grants in large urban environments is essential.
• Strong track record of leading advancement efforts in large organizations, including the development of comprehensive fund development strategies, campaigns and plans, oversight of annual fundraising events, effective departmental budget and operations management, and the successful cultivation and stewardship of strong donor relationships resulting in seven-figure corporate and foundation grants and major donor gifts.
• Experience designing and overseeing effective strategic marketing and communications programs, including a comprehensive strategic communications and narrative strategy that illuminates organizational growth and impact.
• An effective partner to the President & Chief Executive Officer and Board of Directors who can draw on prior experience to ensure a strong partnership to expand INP’s advancement efforts. The CAO will work with the Board of Directors and other key volunteers, leveraging their talents, resources, and ideas to enhance fundraising activities; enhance board members’ ability to identify fundraising opportunities, and encourage their ongoing participation as donors and solicitors
• Demonstrated commitment to INP’s mission to build capacity for strong leadership and management within the nonprofit sector.
• Values alignment and commitment to living out the values of social impact work in the INP workplace. A collaborative, collegial style that fosters respect, teamwork, and flexibility.
• Excellent communicator, collaborator, and relationship builder who can skillfully engage and connect with a wide range of audiences. Critical skills in this arena include exceptional, demonstrated public speaking ability; the capacity and gravitas to engage effectively in mission-critical one-on-one conversations; the ability to craft compelling written materials and messages that are specifically tailored to donors and funders, key stakeholders, and the community writ large; and a nuanced understanding of effective strategies to leverage social media.
• Deeply relational, with a demonstrated capacity to build high-trust relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• An effective builder of strong, cohesive teams. Prior experience calibrating, structuring, and overseeing effective advancement team staffing models in a growth-oriented organization. Demonstrated capacity to create working conditions that support impact, collaboration, learning, professional development, and camaraderie.
• A savvy navigator of the nonprofit sector who brings a working understanding of the social impact sector ecosystem and can craft and communicate compelling stories and appeals about the value of INP’s mission and work.
• Ability to zoom in and out with ease, maintaining a steady focus on strategic goals while attending closely to the details that lead to a high level of excellence and success.
• Flexibility, nimbleness, and humility. Commitment to ongoing, personal learning and growth.

COMPENSATION, BENEFITS, AND LOCATION

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position starts at $200,000 and is negotiable depending on experience. INP has a generous benefits package that includes health, dental, and vision coverage and a retirement savings 401(k) plan. In addition, and at present, INP offers Flexible Time Off (FTO) for all team members, eleven paid holidays, and winter and summer breaks for collective rest and restoration for all employees.

Location

This is a hybrid role, with a special consideration for candidates from the eastern seaboard area. The role will require moderate domestic travel and in-person meetings with the Executive Leadership Team, prospects, donors, and funders.