Chief Advancement Officer

THE ROLE The Chief Advancement Officer is the Foundation's chief executive, leading every aspect of its philanthropic enterprise — major and principal gifts, the Evanston to Everywhere campaign, annual giving, alumni relations, advancement communications, and development operations. The CAO reports to the Superintendent, partners closely with the Foundation Board of Directors, and is accountable to both the Superintendent and the Board for performance and full transparency in reporting. WHAT YOU'LL DO Fundraising & Campaign Leadership Lead and personally engage in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of leadership, major, and principal gifts — including full execution of the Evanston to Everywhere capital campaign Grow planned giving, endowment, and investment strategies that secure the Foundation's long-term financial health Partner with the Foundation Board to build and drive a multi-year strategic plan that grows annual and capital revenue Guide prospect research, portfolio strategy, and proposal writing across the development team Partner with the District 202 CFO on capital campaign project management Board & Institutional Partnership Serve as a trusted advisor to the Superintendent and a key partner to the Foundation Board and its committees Partner with District 202 CFO to understand ETHS’s financial needs and capabilities, both with the capital campaign and ongoing support Manage Board and Executive Committee agendas, materials, and new-member onboarding alongside the Board Chair Develop a comprehensive staff-held strategy to communicate with, energize, activate, and engage Board and Committee members Prepare budgets, quarterly reports, and audit materials that give the Board and District full visibility into Foundation performance Team & Operations Leadership Lead, coach, and evaluate Foundation and Alumni Relations staff, building a culture of philanthropy and teamwork Manage the Foundation's gift-tracking systems, fundraising policies, and annual budget process Oversee the investment of Foundation funds in coordination with the Foundation Treasurer Communications & Alumni Engagement Represent ETHS and the Foundation at public, donor, and alumni events Collaborate with Director of Development and Director of Advancement Communications to elevate donor-focused storytelling with strong advancement communications, including the Annual Appeal, Annual Report, and donor recognition Collaborate with the Director of Alumni Relations to lead Alumni Relations, including reunions, the Distinguished Alumni Awards, and Board growth Foster collaboration between the Foundation and Alumni Relations to maximize connections between donors and alumni alike Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred 10+ years in charitable fund development, including 5+ years in a senior leadership role A track record of closing major and principal gifts and leading capital campaigns from strategy through execution Success building and motivating high-performing teams, volunteer boards, and cross-functional partnerships Excellent written, verbal, and public communication skills, with the presence to represent ETHS to donors, alumni, and the community Fluency with donor databases and gift-tracking systems Familiarity with the Evanston/Skokie, Chicagoland, or comparable philanthropic communities is a plus A genuine belief in the mission of ETHS and the students it serves Ability to travel periodically both regionally and nationally #J-18808-Ljbffr