Chief Advancement Officer

The New York Climate Exchange (“The Exchange”) seeks a visionary leader to serve as Chief Advancement Officer (CAO). This is a unique opportunity to build and lead a fundraising organization from the ground up in collaboration with diverse partner organizations focused on affecting real change battling the biggest crisis of our time — climate change. The CAO will serve as a senior leader for The Exchange, setting strategic direction for fundraising and executing a multi-year, comprehensive development strategy to support the organization’s critically important mission as well as to significantly increase its visibility in New York City and ultimately on the global stage. 

This position will require a seasoned, entrepreneurial development professional who seeks to play a key role in building a sophisticated and sustainable philanthropic model for an emerging organization. The CAO will be an experienced leader, comfortable with ambiguity, familiar with solving complicated, nuanced problems and working in complex organizations, and skilled at leading through influence. They will work in collaboration with the CEO and partner organizations to secure principal and transformational gifts. 

The Exchange is committed to identifying a diverse hiring pool for the CAO role. 

The position will report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO).  

Salary and Benefits  

Salary for the CAO is between $290,000 – $310,000 per year. The position includes eligibility for generous health and retirement benefits, and paid time off/sick leave.    

Salary will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to qualifications, experience, education, licenses, and specialized training. The above hiring range represents The Exchange’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.   

Responsibilities  

Under the direction of and working closely with the CEO, the CAO will undertake the following responsibilities:  

Executive Leadership & Planning 

• Collaborate with the CEO and other senior leaders to ensure the success of The Exchange by taking responsibility for creating and executing a significant capital campaign. 

• Develop and implement strategic, complex and innovative fundraising plans to achieve a sustainable fundraising program that will support the mission of The Exchange from start-up through subsequent growth phases. 

• Work with senior leaders to identify and refine giving priorities across capital, operational, and programmatic needs, fostering strategic partnerships with colleagues to address their priorities for fundraising while advancing the highest impact giving opportunities for The Exchange overall. 

• Maintain strong working relationships with core and affiliate advancement partners to maximize collaborative fundraising efforts, ensuring strategic participation and coordination in the oversight of complex solicitations on behalf of The Exchange. Keep partners regularly informed and secure their support for proposed policy recommendations. Formalize fundraising expectations and policies for how partners will work together, including a process to resolve any potential conflicts regarding access to prospective donors. 

Fundraising & External Relations 

• Update and refine strategies for existing prospects and donors and personally manage a portfolio of transformational gift ($10M+) and principal gift ($1M-$9.99M) prospects with the highest-level capacity, moving them through the stages of identification, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship. Securing transformative gifts will be a high priority during the early stages of The Exchange’s evolution. 

• Identify and create new relationships with top-level donors and prospects with a known interest in supporting climate, sustainability, and environmental justice initiatives. Engage current donors and partner institutions in this process as appropriate. 

• Lead and oversee the involvement of the CEO, members of the Senior Leadership Team, the Board of Directors, and other senior Exchange stakeholders in Development activities. Manage connections between current and prospective donors and these leaders, providing staffing, strategic guidance and support. Strategically engage these parties in the work with prospective donors when appropriate, exercising sound judgment and efficiently communicating prospect strategies. 

• Develop and implement a strategic plan for new donor engagement (through formal and informal advisory opportunities) and event programming that deepens connections and cultivates volunteer leadership. 

• Recruit and support a high-level development volunteer body that can assist in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of principal and transformational gifts for The Exchange. 

• Plan and coordinate strategic, high-quality development events geared toward high-level donors, ensure development of appropriate program content, and negotiate staff responsibilities surrounding each event. Ensure that events have a clear and defined advancement purpose, are efficiently managed to the bottom line, and that follow-up initiatives are in place. 

• In collaboration with communications and marketing colleagues, oversee the creation of compelling messaging and case statements in support of fundraising strategies. 

Management and Oversight 

• Revisit, revise as necessary, set, and endorse fundraising financial goals and targets for FY24-FY26 related to capital and operating financial needs. 

• Evaluate and refine the initial Advancement staffing plan, including the identification and definition of additional positions necessary to support the goals and objectives of a start-up fundraising program. 

• Recruit, manage, train, mentor and evaluate a dynamic, innovative, high-performing, diverse and inclusive team of development professionals. 

• In collaboration with the CEO and Senior Leadership Team prepare and oversee the Advancement team budget, using sound fiscal management and with attention to the efficient allocation of resources. 

• Continually enhance the menu of funding and recognition opportunities, with a primary focus on the principal and transformational gift levels. 

• Champion efficient processes and data-informed decision making to guide the work of the Advancement team. 

• Assess, refine, and oversee all polices and infrastructure for development procedures, donor database, gift acceptance, gift acknowledgement, research, and other systems-related aspects of the fundraising program. 

Other Considerations 

• Travel in support of The Exchange’s philanthropic priorities, including events and personal cultivation and solicitation visits with the CEO, Exchange leaders, and coalition partners. The CAO will give particular attention to effectively leveraging the existing network and diversity of relationships already established through initial funders’ uniquely high visibility. 

• Assist in translating exciting research and program activity into philanthropic objectives. 

• Design and implement opportunities for authentic principal and transformational donor engagement and build partnerships with coalition institutions, ensuring strategic participation and coordination to increase the likelihood of a successful effort. 

Position-related Qualifications  

• Minimum of 10 years of experience in progressively responsible development leadership positions, which includes work in all functional areas and participation in a major capital campaign (planning, implementation, management, and successful conclusion). 

• Demonstrated track record of successful frontline fundraising for an institution of higher education, nonprofit organization, or other environment of similar complexity with multiple stakeholders; previous work experience in higher education or on environmental issues is preferred. 

• Experience with the regional, national, and international climate funding community with a working knowledge of language and content is strongly preferred. Relationships within the New York City climate community will also be greatly valued. 

• Hands-on principal gift ($1M-$9.99 million) and transformational gift ($10+ million) experience, including cultivation through solicitation and stewardship, preferably on a national and international scale, as well as experience working with planned giving, large and sophisticated corporate and foundation partners, and annual fund strategies for developing the next generation of leadership donors; success in securing gifts from both defined and undefined constituencies. 

• Particular strength in developing strategic and comprehensive fundraising plans, executing against these plans to achieve goals and objectives, developing fundraising strategies and experience working directly with the most senior levels of an organization is very important; ability to effectively strategize and engage various groups and constituents, including alumni, donors, and major benefactors. 

• Demonstrated commitment to and understanding of how to build diversity and inclusion in the advancement function; culturally competent with respect to issues such as racial, cultural, religious, sexual, and gender identity. 

• Ability to develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships; experience nurturing and motivating high-level volunteers and expressing appreciation for their role in building an effective development network. 

• Demonstrated ability to extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about strategy and process. Experience preparing and communicating analysis and reporting on revenue and growth trends to a variety of audiences. 

• Experience in high-level philanthropy and an understanding of the style, high level of detail, and impeccable customer service required; knowledge of the donors, strategies, and trends in New York City philanthropy and the ability to navigate the city's philanthropic elite preferred. 

Personal Characteristics 

• Commitment to, and passion for, the mission of The New York Climate Exchange; ability to communicate and create excitement about mission, vision, programs, and fundamental strengths of this historic initiative. 

• A penchant for diplomacy and the ability to work collaboratively with other colleagues while demonstrating cultural sensitivity and a strong respect for differences; must be a team builder who takes a nonhierarchical approach to leadership and understands that they are part of a team and may not always be in the spotlight. 

• Superior presentation skills, including the presence to deal effectively with corporate, government and academic leaders, faculty, researchers, senior administrators, donors, prospects, and volunteers, together with the ability to make the appropriate connections among members of these groups and to nurture strong and long-lasting individual and institutional relationships. 

• Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write and speak clearly and effectively and deliver an effective, coherent, and consistent message; a communication style that is open, succinct, cordial, and compelling. Previous proposal writing experience. 

• Strong computer skills, which should include desktop software, databases, and networked information systems; familiarity with technology and other innovations that can streamline the development process. 

New York Climate Exchange Staff Core Competencies  

• Develops and implements solutions that show understanding of how partners and/or own work achieves results that are financially, environmentally, and socially sustainable.  

• Shares new insights based on in-depth understanding of clients/partners and recommends solutions for current and future needs of clients/partners.  

• Initiates collaboration across boundaries and broadly across The Exchange, partner organizations, and other relevant institutions.  

• Makes choices and sets priorities with The New York Climate Exchange corporate perspective in mind.  

• Helps others to understand problems, partner and client needs, and the underlying context.  

• Recognizes the value of diverse perspectives and lived experiences and applies a critical lens to systemic sources of bias and discrimination.   

• Applies critical thinking and seeks input and experience from others to recommend a course of action consistent with The Exchange’s strategy.  

• Evaluates risk and anticipates the short- and long-term implications of decisions.  

• Commits to a decision and acts once it has been reached.    

Applications should include a cover letter and CV/resume.    

Please note that you must be able to work in the United States as The Exchange does not yet have visa-sponsoring capabilities.  

The New York Climate Exchange provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, height, weight, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.   


Note: Research indicates that men tend to apply for jobs when they meet just 60% of the criteria, while women and people from other marginalized groups only apply if they are a 100% match. If you are passionate about our mission and think you have what it takes to be successful in this role even if you don’t check all the boxes, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.  

You must be able to work in the United States as The Exchange does not yet have visa-sponsoring capabilities.