Director of Advancement

About Community Catalyst: Community Catalyst is the national health justice organization working to ensure care is accessible, affordable, and accountable to the people it serves—and that racial bias does not determine who receives care. For more than two decades, Community Catalyst has partnered with state and community advocates to change systems before harm occurs. The organization integrates policy reform, community organizing, data, narrative strategy, and thought leadership to advance structural change in health care. The Opportunity: The Director of Advancement is a key leader within the Advancement team, responsible for managing frontline staff, driving new business development, and strengthening Community Catalyst’s philanthropic pipeline. Reporting to the Senior Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships, this role translates advancement strategy into disciplined execution—ensuring the team is building strong relationships, developing compelling proposals, and advancing opportunities with clarity and consistency. This role manages Senior Advancement Officers and is accountable for the quality and movement of the pipeline, with a strong emphasis on foundation partnerships and new revenue generation. The Director must bring deep experience working with major national philanthropies and be able to navigate complex, multi-stakeholder funding environments with credibility and confidence. The Director is also a strong grant writer and narrative strategist, able to translate complex health justice, policy, and systems-change work into clear, compelling, funder-ready materials. In addition, this role will support and help shape fundraising strategies tied to alliance-based and network-driven initiatives, ensuring that multi-partner efforts are positioned effectively for philanthropic investment. This is a builder role, requiring someone who can manage people, create structure, strengthen systems, and drive execution in a growing advancement function. Key Responsibilities: Team Leadership and Advancement Execution Manage and support Senior Advancement Officers, including supervision, coaching, prioritization, and performance accountability. Translate advancement strategy into clear workplans, pipeline goals, and execution priorities. Ensure the team is prepared for funder engagement, proposal development, and follow-through. Provide day-to-day guidance to maintain focus, clarity, and momentum across advancement activities. New Business and Foundation Partnerships Identify, qualify, and advance new foundation and philanthropic prospects aligned with organizational priorities. Build and maintain strong relationships with major national foundations and philanthropic leaders. Lead early-stage cultivation and discovery conversations to assess alignment, funding priorities, and pathways to support. Navigate complex, multi-stakeholder foundation environments with strong coordination and clear positioning. Maintain a disciplined and active pipeline in Salesforce, with clear next steps and forward movement. Grant Writing and Proposal Strategy Lead the development and drafting of high-quality concepts, LOIs, proposals, and funder-facing materials. Translate complex programmatic, policy, and advocacy work into clear, persuasive narratives. Shape the overall investment case, including outcomes, impact, learning, and theory of change. Coordinate with program, finance, and communications teams to ensure proposals are strategic, accurate, and funder-aligned. Strengthen proposal quality across the team and provide guidance on messaging and framing. Alliance and Network-Based Fundraising Support fundraising strategies for alliance-based and network-driven initiatives, including multi-partner efforts such as the Health Justice Alliance. Help develop and articulate value propositions for shared or tiered partnership models. Coordinate messaging and positioning across partners to ensure alignment and funder clarity. Translate alliance work into compelling, fundable opportunities for foundations and aligned partners. Systems, Coordination, and Internal Alignment Maintain strong CRM discipline, ensuring accurate tracking of relationships, pipeline stages, and next steps. Provide concise updates to the Senior Director on pipeline progress, risks, and opportunities. Support coordination across teams to ensure timely proposal development and clear internal alignment. Facilitate smooth transitions from new business development to long-term stewardship when appropriate. Required Qualifications: 8–10 years of experience in advancement, foundation fundraising, or philanthropic partnerships. Demonstrated success building and advancing relationships with major national foundations. Strong grant writing experience, including development of proposals, LOIs, and concept papers. Experience managing staff and driving team performance and accountability. Ability to synthesize complex policy, advocacy, and systems-change work into clear, compelling narratives. Experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Strong project management, organization, and follow-through. CRM experience (Salesforce preferred). Preferred Qualifications: Experience supporting or leading alliance-based, network-based, or multi-partner fundraising efforts. Experience working in health justice, public health, advocacy, or systems-change environments. Familiarity with national philanthropic networks and funding landscapes. Measures of Success: Within the first 12 months, the Director will have: Provided strong management and support to Senior Advancement Officers. Increased the volume and quality of new foundation prospects. Advanced new opportunities into active cultivation, proposal, and funding stages. Produced high-quality, compelling proposals aligned with funder priorities. Strengthened pipeline discipline and visibility through Salesforce. Supported effective positioning and fundraising for alliance-based initiatives. Improved coordination, clarity, and execution across advancement efforts. Position Highlights: Department: Advancement Reports To: Senior Director, Advancement and Strategic Partnerships FLSA Status: Exempt Employment Type: Full-Time Location: Remote; up to 20% travel