Senior Director of Advancement

Job Description

Job Description

Background:   CYC empowers young people to overcome obstacles and excel by providing a range of services designed to keep young people in school, prepared for college and career, and on the pathway to success. CYC is focused on helping students graduate from high school with a pathway towards further education, training, certifications, meaningful employment, or enlistment.

Position Title: Senior Director of Advancement

Department: Advancement

Reports to: Chief Advancement Officer 

Direct Reports: Advancement Specialist 

Position Summary:

The Senior Director of Advancement is a strategic, relationship-driven fundraising professional who will lead and expand the organization's development efforts. This role will lead and implement fundraising strategies that support CYC's mission, programs, and long-term sustainability.

Core Goals:  

• Achieve Annual Fundraising & Revenue Growth by developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that increases annual revenue through major gifts, individual giving, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, and diversified funding opportunities. 

• Strengthen Donor & Corporate Relationships by
  cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and expanding relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, board members, alumni, and community stakeholders to build long-term philanthropic support. 

• Provide Strategic Advancement Leadership by leading and developing a culture of philanthropy across CYC, fostering collaboration, promoting accountability, and aligning fundraising efforts with CYC's mission and strategic priorities. 

• Expand Community Engagement & Strategic Partnerships by
  increasing CYC's visibility and impact by developing meaningful corporate, alumni, and community partnerships that support fundraising initiatives and organizational growth. 

• Drive Data-Informed Fundraising Operations by ensuring effective fundraising operations through accurate CRM management, donor tracking, performance reporting, forecasting, and data analysis to support strategic decision-making. 

Required Qualification:  

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, communications, marketing, public administration, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible fundraising, development, or advancement experience, including donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts, developing donor relationships, and achieving fundraising goals.
• Experience developing and implementing fundraising strategies across multiple revenue sources, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, grants, and events.
• Experience leading staff or cross-functional teams, managing projects, and overseeing fundraising budgets.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage donors, corporate partners, Board members, and executive leadership.
• Proficiency with donor CRM systems and the ability to use fundraising data to monitor progress, guide decisions, and report results.

Preferred Qualifications:  

• • Advanced degree and/or CFRE credential. 
  • Five to seven years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including major gifts and donor relationship management. 
  • Demonstrated success in building or expanding donor portfolios, and cultivating and securing sponsorship revenue.
  • Experience supervising staff, managing projects, and implementing fundraising strategies. 
  • Knowledge of the Greater Cincinnati philanthropic and corporate community.
  • Experience partnering with executive leadership and Boards of Directors to advance fundraising priorities, engage key stakeholders, and strengthen long-term donor relationships.
  • Experience leading capital campaigns or other multi-year fundraising initiatives, including campaign planning, donor engagement, and progress tracking.

Work Environment & Schedule:  

This is a full-time, exempt position, working Monday through Friday during regular business hours. Flexibility is required to attend occasional early morning, evening, and weekend meetings, fundraising events, and community engagements. Local travel is expected. The position may offer limited flexibility for a hybrid work schedule after successfully completing a 90-day introductory period.