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Chief Advancement Officer
- Hiring from
- United States
- Work type
- Hybrid
- Posted
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Position Overview
Now Hiring: Chief Advancement Officer
Full-Time | Executive Leadership | Hybrid
Location: Miami, FL
Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications
Lead Philanthropy. Expand Impact. Advance Diabetes Research.
The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is seeking an accomplished and strategic Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to lead its advancement operations, strengthen philanthropic partnerships, and support the pursuit of a biological cure for diabetes.
DRIF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing groundbreaking diabetes research through strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, scientific collaboration, and public awareness.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the Chief Advancement Officer will provide executive leadership across fundraising, marketing, communications, events, and donor engagement.
This is a unique opportunity for an experienced fundraising executive to translate a compelling scientific mission into sustainable philanthropic growth, transformational donor relationships, and increased national visibility.
The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with hands-on fundraising experience, a proven record of securing significant philanthropic commitments, and the ability to build and lead high-performing teams.
What You’ll Lead
Executive Strategy & Fundraising Leadership
- Develop and execute a comprehensive advancement strategy encompassing major and principal gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, capital campaigns, and signature fundraising events.
- Establish diversified fundraising strategies to increase philanthropic revenue and support long-term organizational sustainability.
- Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and strategic philanthropic partners.
- Partner with the CEO and Board of Directors on major gift strategies, donor cultivation, solicitation, and relationship management.
- Build and maintain a strong donor pipeline with defined cultivation strategies, measurable milestones, and clear revenue objectives.
- Establish fundraising targets, revenue forecasts, and performance benchmarks.
- Analyze fundraising results and identify opportunities to improve donor engagement, retention, and overall giving performance.
- Lead efforts to secure transformational philanthropic commitments, including six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts.
Marketing, Communications & Brand Visibility
- Oversee DRIF’s marketing, communications, brand positioning, and public relations strategies.
- Develop integrated communications initiatives that strengthen mission awareness and support fundraising priorities.
- Ensure consistent and compelling messaging across digital platforms, social media, print, public relations, and external communications.
- Lead brand development and thought leadership initiatives that strengthen DRIF’s reputation and national presence.
- Partner with executive leadership on media opportunities, public speaking engagements, and organizational visibility.
- Leverage donor-centered storytelling to communicate scientific progress and demonstrate the impact of philanthropic contributions.
- Expand national awareness of DRIF and its mission to advance a biological cure for diabetes.
Advancement Operations & Infrastructure
- Build and strengthen the systems, processes, and infrastructure needed to support sustainable fundraising growth.
- Establish scalable procedures for donor pipeline management, stewardship, campaign execution, reporting, and revenue forecasting.
- Evaluate and optimize fundraising technology, donor databases, and advancement management platforms.
- Use prospect research, fundraising analytics, market intelligence, and pipeline reporting to guide strategic decisions.
- Develop and manage advancement budgets while monitoring financial performance.
- Establish operational standards that promote efficiency, accountability, and measurable results.
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Advancement team.
- Provide strategic direction across fundraising, events, marketing, communications, and donor engagement.
- Evaluate staffing needs and recommend organizational structures that support organizational growth.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and performance-oriented culture.
- Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability standards.
- Empower team members to achieve measurable results while supporting their professional development.
Board & Volunteer Engagement
- Partner with the Board of Directors to advance fundraising priorities and organizational growth.
- Encourage and support Board participation in donor cultivation, solicitation, and philanthropic strategy.
- Support Board development and Advancement Committee initiatives.
- Build strong relationships with Board members, volunteers, and other strategic stakeholders.
- Prepare executive-level reports and presentations communicating fundraising performance, donor engagement, and organizational impact.
How Success Will Be Measured
Success in this role will be demonstrated through the ability to:
- Increase major and principal gift revenue.
- Build a strong and sustainable donor pipeline.
- Secure significant and transformational philanthropic commitments.
- Strengthen Board engagement and participation in fundraising initiatives.
- Expand DRIF’s national visibility and awareness.
- Develop scalable systems and processes that support long-term revenue growth.
- Build and lead a collaborative, high-performing Advancement team.
- Strengthen the connection between scientific progress, donor engagement, and philanthropic impact.
What We’re Looking For
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree.
- 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit advancement, philanthropy, fundraising, development, or a related field.
- Demonstrated success leading comprehensive fundraising programs across multiple revenue streams.
- Proven experience personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major, principal, and transformational gifts.
- Experience overseeing integrated marketing, communications, and brand development functions.
- Track record of building fundraising infrastructure, improving advancement operations, and developing high-performing teams.
- Experience partnering with executive leadership, governing boards, and volunteer leaders to advance organizational fundraising goals.
- Exceptional relationship-building, communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.
- Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and financial management capabilities.
- Ability to translate organizational objectives into actionable fundraising strategies and measurable outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree and/or Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) certification.
- Experience in healthcare, academic medicine, biomedical research, or a disease-focused nonprofit organization.
- Knowledge of diabetes research, healthcare philanthropy, or scientific advancement.
- Experience leading comprehensive or capital campaigns.
- Familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT or comparable donor management platforms.
- Experience leading national fundraising initiatives and brand awareness campaigns.
- Established relationships with major donors, philanthropic foundations, corporate partners, or other high-capacity funding sources.
The Ideal Candidate
The successful candidate will be a visionary, collaborative, and results-oriented executive who combines strategic thinking with hands-on fundraising leadership.
You understand how to inspire philanthropic investment, cultivate lasting relationships, and translate an ambitious organizational mission into measurable growth.
You bring:
- A proven record of securing significant and transformational philanthropic support.
- A relationship-first approach to working with donors, Board members, executives, and strategic partners.
- The ability to connect compelling storytelling, marketing, and communications with fundraising strategy.
- Experience building effective systems, infrastructure, and high-performing teams.
- Strong business judgment and the ability to turn long-term objectives into actionable plans.
- The ability to lead across multiple functions while maintaining a clear focus on fundraising performance.
- A genuine commitment to mission-driven work and DRIF’s pursuit of a biological cure for diabetes.
Why Join the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation?
This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution at the executive level of an organization working toward one of the most important goals in diabetes research.
As Chief Advancement Officer, you will directly influence DRIF’s ability to engage donors, increase philanthropic support, strengthen its national presence, and fund scientific progress that could transform the lives of people affected by diabetes.
You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside dedicated professionals, scientific leaders, and philanthropic partners while helping build the resources needed to advance groundbreaking research.
If you’re an accomplished advancement executive with the fundraising expertise, strategic vision, and relationship-building skills to lead an integrated advancement operation, we’d like to hear from you!
Work Environment & Requirements
- Work arrangement: Full-time, hybrid position based in Miami, FL.
- Additional working hours may be necessary during peak fundraising periods, special events, and organizational initiatives.
- Travel may be required for donor meetings, conferences, site visits, and other organizational activities.
- Reliable transportation is required for commuting to the office and attending work-related meetings.
- Ability to meet the physical requirements associated with the role, including participation in organizational events and activities.
Apply Today
Join the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and help build the philanthropic resources needed to advance the search for a biological cure for diabetes.
DRIF is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on job-related qualifications, experience, and organizational needs.
