Chief Advancement Officer Full-time NEW

The Opportunity

The Albany Academy seek a dynamic, strategic, and accomplished fundraising executive to serve as the next Chief Advancement Officer. This is an extraordinary opportunity to lead a comprehensive advancement program for a prestigious, historic independent school system with a deep commitment to academic excellence, leadership development, and community impact.

Following a highly successful period of philanthropic momentum—including raising over $8.2 million in recent years to support key capital and operational initiatives—the new Chief Advancement Officer will step into a community energized for its next phase of growth. The centerpiece of this next chapter is the planning and execution of an upcoming $50 million comprehensive fundraising campaign. This landmark campaign will secure Academy’s future by expanding endowment funding for financial aid, enhancing faculty compensation and professional development, and modernizing historic campus facilities to serve future generations of students.

Essential Responsibilities

The Chief Advancement Officer provides strategic vision, leadership, and administrative oversight for all fundraising, constituent relations, and stewardship activities. The position’s responsibilities fall into four key areas.

Strategic and Campaign Leadership

• Strategic Advisory: Serve as a trusted advisor and partner to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team on all philanthropic, fundraising, and institutional advancement strategies. Foster a strong culture of philanthropy across the Academy community.
• Campaign Execution: Plan, coordinate, and execute the upcoming comprehensive campaign (anticipated in the $40-$50 million range) in close partnership with the Head of School, Board campaign leadership, and external campaign counsel.
• Case Development: Translate Academy’s long-term strategic priorities into compelling, persuasive philanthropic opportunities and a powerful written case for support.
• Goal Setting & Analytics: Establish clear campaign timelines, gift tables, annual fundraising targets, and robust performance indicators to measure progress and ensure transparency and accountability.

Major Gifts and Portfolio Management

• Portfolio Ownership: Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a core portfolio of high-capacity prospects and donors to secure major, principal, and planned gifts.
• Regional & National Expansion: Expand the Academies’ philanthropic footprint by cultivating stronger donor networks within New York’s Capital Region and broadening outreach to regional and national alumni networks.
• Targeted Philanthropy: Drive growth for high-impact strategic priorities, specifically focusing on endowment building for initiatives such as student financial aid, competitive faculty compensation, and facility modernizations.

Constituent Engagement and Volunteer Mobilization

• Board Partnership: Serve as the primary staff liaison to the Board’s Institutional Advancement Committee, preparing trustees and senior campaign volunteers with the strategic guidance and materials needed for successful cultivation and solicitation.
• Community & Alumni Relations: Oversee inclusive, multi-generational alumni relations and parent engagement programs to build lifelong connections to the Academies and cultivate a vibrant culture of philanthropy.
• Strategic Outreach: Collaborate with the communications team to ensure that all advancement outreach, digital media, publications, and events are aligned with the Academies’ mission, visual identity, and strategic messaging.

Operations, Financial Stewardship, and Team Leadership

• Team Development: Recruit, mentor, and lead a high-performing advancement team, establishing a culture of collaboration, professional growth, and clear accountability.
• Operational Excellence: Supervise and modernize the advancement division’s infrastructure, ensuring best-in-class database management (using Raiser’s Edge or equivalent systems), strict gift-acceptance policies, and efficient prospect research.
• Financial Alignment: Partner closely with the CFO and Business Office to manage the advancement budget, ensure accurate financial reporting, reconcile funds, and maintain rigorous, transparent stewardship of restricted endowment funds.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor’s degree, and significant progressive experience in institutional advancement or philanthropic leadership.
• Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts.
• Strong understanding of major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, donor stewardship, and advancement operations.
• Experience developing fundraising strategies and managing significant prospect portfolios.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, develop, and motivate advancement professionals.
• Experience building productive relationships with donors, institutional leaders, and governing boards.
• Strong financial, organizational, and performance-management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, professional judgment, integrity, and discretion.

Preferred

• Established philanthropic, civic, or professional relationships in New York’s Capital Region.
• Significant experience leading or supporting a comprehensive fundraising campaign.
• Demonstrated success securing seven-figure philanthropic commitments.
• Experience in independent schools, higher education, or comparable nonprofit organizations.
• Experience strengthening an advancement operation and expanding major-gift fundraising capacity.
• Advanced degree or relevant professional credential.

Leadership Profile

The successful candidate will be:

• An accomplished fundraiser. Personally secures significant philanthropic commitments and enjoys cultivating lasting donor relationships.
• Relationship-centered. Builds genuine connections characterized by trust, authenticity, and an understanding of donor interests.
• Strategic. Connects philanthropic opportunities to institutional priorities and long-term aspirations.
• A strong leader and manager. Develops talent, establishes expectations, and builds a culture of accountability and results.
• A trusted partner. Works effectively with the Head of School and Board, offering sound judgment and candid advice.
• Collaborative. Builds productive relationships across the Academy community.
• An effective communicator. Articulates Academy’s mission and aspirations in ways that inspire philanthropic support.
• Organized and disciplined. Understands the importance of planning, consistent follow-through, and effective systems.
• Mission-centered. Recognizes philanthropy as essential to educational excellence and institutional health.

Reporting Relationship & Organizational Context

The Chief Advancement Officer reports to the Head of School, serves on the senior leadership team, and works closely with the Board of Trustees and Institutional Advancement Committee.

The Chief Advancement Officer leads an established team responsible for alumnae/i relations, events, annual giving, database management, and advancement operations. As Academy prepares for a comprehensive campaign, the Chief Advancement Officer will assess departmental capabilities, develop existing personnel, and recommend additional positions and investments.

The role requires strong organizational leadership and substantial personal involvement in major-gift fundraising. The Chief Advancement Officer will collaborate with the CFO, communications leadership, and other administrators to align advancement activities with institutional priorities.

The Chief Advancement Officer will also work with external campaign counsel, which will provide strategic advice, organizational assessment, and coaching. Responsibility for advancement leadership and fundraising execution will remain with the Chief Advancement Officer.

Commitment to Academy

Albany Academy is an independent Pre-K through Grade 12 school in Albany, New York, fostering intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and strong character in each student.

At the heart of our school is a passionate and highly skilled faculty, deeply committed to the academic, social, and emotional development of every student. Our educators serve as teachers, mentors, and advocates, challenging students through rigorous learning while nurturing confidence, creativity, and resilience.

Academy’s dynamic community values and celebrates diverse perspectives and life experiences. Aligned with our Mission and Core Values, we are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and academically excellent school culture where students are inspired to lead lives of purpose, empathy, and integrity.

As a member of the Academy community, the Chief Advancement Officer is expected to support the school’s Mission and Core Values and contribute to its broader life.

Albany Academy is an equal opportunity employer committed to building and sustaining an inclusive community. The Chief Advancement Officer must be capable of performing all duties described herein, with or without reasonable accommodation. Academy reserves the right to alter this job description. Employment is at-will.