Senior Vice President of Advancement

Senior Vice President of Advancement

About the Position

The Senior Vice President of Advancement is a key member of RFKCA's Executive Leadership Team and a strategic partner to the President & CEO. Reporting directly to the President & CEO, the SVP works closely with the executive team and the Board of Trustees to advance the organization's philanthropic goals and strengthen relationships with donors, community leaders, and strategic partners.

This is a leadership role for an accomplished major gifts fundraiser and senior manager who is energized by building meaningful donor relationships and creating a sustainable culture of philanthropy. The SVP will lead the organization's comprehensive advancement team efforts with a clear emphasis on expanding and strengthening its major gifts program. Marketing and communications, annual giving, special events, and community engagement will serve as integrated strategies that cultivate prospects, deepen donor engagement, and support long-term philanthropic growth.

The SVP will personally lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of the organization's highest-capacity donors while developing strategies to identify new prospects and significantly expand the major gift pipeline. Working closely with the President & CEO, Board members, and other volunteer leaders, the SVP will help position RFKCA for transformational philanthropic growth by building authentic, long-term relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and community partners.

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, the SVP will collaborate across the organization to align fundraising priorities with strategic and programmatic goals, ensuring that advancement efforts help fuel the agency's continued growth and mission impact. The SVP will also strengthen Board engagement in philanthropy by partnering with Trustees on donor cultivation and solicitation, supporting their fundraising leadership, and helping develop a pipeline of future Board members from the organization's major donor community.

RFKCA has made a significant investment in the future of its advancement program by engaging Copley Raff, Inc. to conduct a comprehensive organizational assessment. Copley Raff identified key opportunities to strengthen fundraising capacity and developed a strategic roadmap for future growth. The incoming SVP will have the opportunity to build upon this work, implement priority recommendations, and lead the organization's next phase of philanthropic growth. The current interim SVP, part of the Copley Raff team, will support the transition and onboarding.

The SVP also serves as a visible ambassador for RFKCA, representing the organization throughout the community while fostering relationships that increase awareness, engagement, and philanthropic investment in the organization's mission.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts Strategy and Philanthropy

• Partner closely with the President & CEO to develop and execute a comprehensive major gifts strategy that significantly increases philanthropic support.
• Personally manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, leading the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of transformational gifts.
• Build and strengthen a sustainable pipeline of major gift prospects through strategic relationship development, thoughtful donor engagement, and effective moves management.
• Develop fundraising strategies that increase giving from individuals while strengthening support from foundations, corporations, and community partners.
• Manage a portfolio of 50 - 60 principal and major donors/prospects and create cultivation, solicitation and stewardship strategies for key gifts.
• Work collaboratively with executive and program leadership to identify compelling funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities.

Organizational Advancement Leadership

• Lead the Organizational Advancement team, including major gifts, grants, annual giving, marketing and communications, special events, and community engagement.
• Ensure all advancement functions work together to support donor acquisition, cultivation, stewardship, and long-term relationship building.
• Establish measurable goals and performance metrics across the department, ensuring annual fundraising and engagement objectives are achieved.
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing team culture focused on continuous improvement and donor-centered fundraising.

Executive and Board Partnership

• Serve as strategic advisor to the President & CEO on philanthropy, donor strategy, and external engagement.
• Partner with the Board of Trustees and Board Development Committee to strengthen Trustee engagement in fundraising and donor relationship-building.
• Support Trustees in cultivating and soliciting major donors while helping identify future Board members from the organization's philanthropic network.
• Serve as an ambassador for RFKCA, building relationships that enhance the organization's visibility and reputation throughout the region.

Key Qualifications

• Extensive experience leading major gifts fundraising with a demonstrated record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding transformational gifts, including at least five years of senior leadership experience.
• Proven success securing six-figure gifts and building sustainable major gift pipelines.
• Experience partnering closely with a President & CEO and Board of Trustees to achieve ambitious philanthropic goals.
• Proven staff management experience.
• Demonstrated ability to develop authentic relationships with high-net-worth individuals, foundations, corporations, and community leaders.
• Experience leading and mentoring advancement professionals while building collaborative, high-performing teams.
• Keen understanding of how marketing, communications, grants, annual giving, events, and community engagement can be strategically leveraged to strengthen donor relationships and advance fundraising.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and interpersonal skills, with the executive presence to represent the organization externally.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive workplace and advancing RFKCA's mission and values.
• CFRE credential preferred.

Compensation and Benefits:

This is a full-time, salaried, exempt position with an annualized starting salary range between $155K to $170K, commensurate with experience and qualifications. RFKCA also offers a comprehensive and generous benefits package which includes health, dental, and vision insurance, employer-paid life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 403b plan with employer match, and generous paid time off. This is an in-person leadership role based in Lancaster, MA, with substantial time spent in the field cultivating and stewarding relationships with major donors, prospects, and community partners in support of the organization's philanthropic goals.

Commitment to Equity and Belonging

RFKCA is an equal opportunity employer and views diversity, inclusion, belonging, and cultural competence as vital guiding principles in its work. RFKCA welcomes and encourages applications from visible minority group members, Indigenous persons, members of the LGBTQ community, persons with disabilities and others who may contribute to the diversity of the organization and reflect the diversity of the communities served.

About RFK Community Alliance

With a mission to promote meaningful and sustained well-being, RFK Community Alliance (RFKCA) provides high-quality care and support to people and families facing complicated challenges. As a multi-service agency, RFKCA offers a wide range of programs serving educational, developmental, behavioral health, and mental health needs across the lifespan - from infants to seniors.

RFKCA embraces the core values of Collaboration, Compassion, Excellence, Learning, Inclusivity, Integrity, and Hope. Through programs including adoption, adult services, behavioral health, community services, education, youth justice transformation, and residential care, RFKCA serves individuals and families throughout Massachusetts and the nation.

RFKCA grew out of two organizations - the Doctor Franklin Perkins School, founded in 1896, to educate and care for children with developmental and intellectual disabilities, and RFK Children's Action Corps, founded in 1969, to carry on the legacy and life of the late Senator Robert F Kennedy helping children facing challenges without privilege or a voice. RFKCA is a non-partisan, mission-focused human services organization focused on the care and services for people facing significant challenges. Highlights of RFKCA's work includes:

• A Full Continuum of Care - Comprehensive and individualized services within the eight service domains: Adoption, Adult Services, Behavioral Health, Community Services, Early Education and Care, Education, Youth Justice Transformation, and Youth Residential Care.
• A Unified Approach - An evidence-informed Theory of Change that clarifies our focus and aligns our work across programs. Our commitment is to help our service recipients and staff to be Connected, Capable, and Healthy.
• Commitment to Excellence - A commitment to continuous learning and growth, deepening our impact, driving innovation, and excellence in the services we provide.
• A Legacy of Opportunity - As one of only two organizations entrusted by RFK's family to bear his name, we are proud to honor his legacy by advancing his vision and creating meaningful opportunities for every person in our care.
• Creating Change Beyond Our Services - RFKCA advocates for systems-wide change and investments in the human services sector both within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and nationally.

RFKCA has approximately 530 staff members and an annual budget of close to $50M. Its main office is in Lancaster, Massachusetts with programs serving individuals in Eastern, Central, and Western Massachusetts, as well as across the United States.

Why You'll Love Us

In addition to being a part of a supportive team, we offer amazing employee benefits, including:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Generous paid time off
• Holiday Pay
• Educational Assistance
• Employer paid life insurance
• Employer paid Short- & Long-Term Disability
• Retirement Plan with generous employer match
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program

To apply for this position please click on → Senior Vice President of Advancement . RFKCA offers a compassionate, inclusive company culture and excellent work environment. RFKCA is deeply committed to the principles of equity, diversity, and inclusiveness. We do not discriminate based on race, color, creed, national origin, religion, age, gender identity, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability. EOE/AA

Pay Range: $155,000 - $170,000 per year