Chief Advancement Officer (CAO)

Chief Advancement Officer / Director of Advancement – Catholic Schools & Ministries

Future Opportunities Across the Nation | Part of OnTrack: ACELA’s Leadership Readiness Network

✝️ A Calling Rooted in Mission

In Catholic schools and ministries, advancement is more than fundraising—it is evangelization through relationship. The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) or Director of Advancement serves as a strategic leader, relationship architect, and mission ambassador, helping to build a culture of generosity that sustains and strengthens Catholic education and ministry.

Through OnTrack: ACELA’s Leadership Readiness Network, we are developing a trusted network of Catholic advancement professionals discerning service in schools, dioceses, and religious ministries. This is not an active job vacancy, but a proactive invitation to prepare for future opportunities with mission, clarity, and connection.

🛤️ Why Join OnTrack: ACELA’s Leadership Readiness Network?

OnTrack is ACELA’s confidential talent and discernment initiative that brings together mission-aligned leaders open to future opportunities. Participants gain:

• One-on-one career discernment and strategic coaching
• Priority access to interim and permanent advancement roles, including confidential and unadvertised searches
• Optional coaching and mentoring from advancement veterans
• Invitations to exclusive leadership development opportunities
• Connection to a national cohort of Catholic leaders in advancement, stewardship, and community building

Joining ACELA OnTrack ensures you’re not only considered for emerging roles but equipped to lead them faithfully and effectively.

🧭 Advancement Role Overview

The Chief Advancement Officer (or Director of Advancement) is responsible for building and executing the institution’s advancement strategy, encompassing fundraising, donor relations, communications, alumni engagement, and mission promotion. This leader works closely with the Head of School, President, or Executive Director to secure resources, build relationships, and articulate the value of Catholic education or ministry to a wide audience. Whether at the school, diocesan, or nonprofit level, the Advancement leader plays a vital role in ensuring mission sustainability and institutional vitality.

🌟 Leadership Focus Areas

• Create and lead a comprehensive advancement plan aligned with the organization’s mission and goals
• Cultivate major donor, foundation, and corporate relationships to advance key priorities
• Guide annual, capital, planned giving, and endowment fundraising efforts
• Oversee donor stewardship, acknowledgment, and recognition strategies
• Develop compelling messaging and case materials for various constituents
• Lead alumni engagement and community relations initiatives
• Manage advancement operations, CRM systems, and reporting structures
• Collaborate with leadership, board, and stakeholders to foster a culture of philanthropy

🧠 Ideal Candidate Profile

Advancement leaders come from varied sectors—education, non-profit, foundation work, business development, or alumni relations. The common thread is a passion for mission, strong relationship instincts, and strategic leadership.

The ideal candidate will:

• Be a practicing Catholic who understands and values the Church’s educational and ministerial mission
• Possess excellent communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills
• Demonstrate successful experience in campaign strategy, donor engagement, or constituent relations
• Thrive in team settings and collaborative leadership structures
• Lead with humility, professionalism, and Gospel-rooted conviction

🎓 Typical Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE certification preferred
• 5–10 years of experience in advancement, development, communications, or institutional strategy
• Proven track record of cultivating major gifts and building advancement infrastructure
• Familiarity with Catholic school, diocesan, or nonprofit ministry settings
• Strong project management and database/CRM fluency (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, etc.)
• A mission-first mindset grounded in servant leadership and stewardship principles

📩 Start the Conversation

If you feel called to serve as an Advancement leader in Catholic education or ministry—now or in the future—OnTrack: ACELA’s Leadership Readiness Network is your place to begin. Let’s explore how your gifts in strategy, storytelling, and stewardship might be used to strengthen Catholic institutions and extend the mission of the Church. The first step is a conversation.