Director of Advancement

Title:                          Director of Advancement 
Reports to:               Executive Director 
Direct reports:     Development Associate, Marketing & Recruitment Manager;  
Org positioning: Key member of the executive leadership team, collaborating cross departmentally.

Benefits:                   Yes 
Hours:                      Full-time, exempt.

Children’s Chorus (‘BCC’) harnesses the power of music to connect our city’s diverse communities, cultivate empathy and inspire social inquiry. Children, ages 7–18, come together across differences of race, religion, and socioeconomic status in a celebration of shared humanity and love of music. BCC bridges Greater Boston’s many diverse groups and fosters a sense of belonging and inclusion. Through intensive choral training and once-in-a-lifetime performing experiences locally, nationally, and around the world, BCC enhances the education and social development of youth as future leaders and global citizens in the 21st century. 

The Director of Advancement leads the strategy and execution of Boston Children’s Chorus’s fundraising efforts, with a clear mandate to harness the full strength of the Chorus’s artistic excellence, community impact, and deeply engaged donor base. This role is central to building a resilient, scalable philanthropic operation that can sustain and grow alongside the organization’s ambitions. 

The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in donor stewardship, acquisition, and retention, paired with the ability to translate organizational strengths into compelling philanthropic opportunities. In close partnership with the Executive Director, Board of Directors, Development Committee, and internal stakeholders, the Director of Advancement provides strategic leadership and hands-on execution to expand and diversify revenue streams, deepen donor engagement, and develop a robust, future-facing pipeline of support that ensures long-term sustainability and impact. 

CORE COMPETENCIES

Strategic Leadership
Lead a multi-year comprehensive fundraising campaign, currently at 40% to goal. Develop the campaign case for support aligned with the new three-year strategic plan, partner with the Executive Director to build volunteer leadership, and maintain a sustainable prospect pipeline.

Contributed Revenue & Pipeline Strategy
Partner with the Executive Director and Finance team to address cash flow gaps, strengthen predictable giving streams, and build rolling 12–18 month forecasts. Drive donor retention, acquisition, and recapture through segmentation, recurring giving, lapsed donor campaigns, and marketing-aligned outreach. Build and maintain an organization-wide donor pipeline with clear qualification and upgrade pathways.

Major Donor Strategy
Lead strategy for a high-value major donor portfolio, including prospect research, qualification, and moves management. Develop highly personalized cultivation and stewardship plans with tailored outreach, recognition, and impact-driven engagement, including strong board partnership.

Team Leadership and Empowerment
Lead and grow a high-performing Advancement team of fundraising and marketing professionals. Strengthen accountability through clear performance metrics and strategic hiring. Optimize systems, including CRM utilization and moves management tracking, to deepen donor relationships and strengthen both earned and contributed revenue. Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization through cross-functional alignment and shared ownership of fundraising goals.

Mission Fluency and Storytelling
Champion BCC’s distinctive role in Boston, where choral excellence intersects with youth development and social inquiry. Translate program outcomes—including confidence, belonging, civic voice, and leadership—into compelling narratives that deepen engagement and philanthropic support. Represent the organization with professionalism and a strong commitment to continued growth in both artistic practice and social inquiry.

Cultural Competency and Inclusivity
Demonstrate deep understanding of and respect for the diverse communities BCC serves. Foster an inclusive culture rooted in equity, belonging, and transformative philanthropy, while incorporating community feedback into advancement strategies.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL

• Manage effectively across all levels—up, down, and laterally

• Dream big while remaining grounded in execution

• Think critically and drive progress toward goals

• Be highly relational, thoughtful, and collaborative

• Use data and metrics to test, measure, and improve outcomes

• Translate strategy into clear, actionable tasks

• Demonstrate meticulous attention to detail

SKILLS AND PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor’s degree required; minimum 7 years of fundraising experience. CFRE preferred. Proven success in fundraising leadership, ideally within education and/or performing arts organizations. Campaign leadership and supervisory experience required. Experience coaching non-fundraisers, including board and staff stakeholders, strongly preferred. Excellent written and verbal communication, strong organizational skills, sound judgment, and the ability to manage multiple priorities under pressure. Familiarity with fundraising CRM systems, preferably Raiser’s Edge, preferred.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS
This hybrid role requires a minimum of 3 in-office days per week, with additional evening and weekend attendance at performances and community events as needed.

COMPENSATION
Salary: $125,000 annually, plus a competitive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k) employer contributions, generous PTO, short-term disability, and more.