Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Advancement
Officer

Southern Maine Agency on
Aging

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging (SMAA) seeks an experienced,
dynamic, and aspirational chief advancement officer (CAO) to join a
committed and growing team during an exciting time of
organizational growth and importance as SMAA’s annual giving
revenue is expected to double by 2025 and triple by 2027. The CAO
will ignite and sustain a sophisticated and inclusive culture of
philanthropy among the Board of Directors, the Advisory Council,
staff, and volunteers of SMAA. 

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging is a private, non-profit
organization dedicated to planning and implementing social services
for adults age 60 and older, prioritizing those with the greatest
economic and social need, including low-income individuals, BIPOC
communities, and individuals residing in rural areas. SMAA programs
include Meals on Wheels, the Sam L. Cohen Adult Day Center, Agewell
exercise and wellness workshops, caregiver support and respite
services, and an active Information & Referral phone line that
connects older adults and caregivers to the resources they
need.

Serving in a vital leadership role within SMAA, the CAO is
presented with a unique opportunity to evolve and lead a strategic,
creative, and entrepreneurial development program. Reporting to
Megan Walton, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the CAO will set
organizational fundraising goals and objectives that build upon the
strengths of the current development program to meet and exceed
SMAA’s needs, now and into the future.

The CAO will oversee a staff of three across all areas of
fundraising and engagement, including individual giving;
institutional giving; donor engagement and stewardship; marketing
and communications; development operations; and board relations. By
aspiring to new levels of excellence and possibility, the CAO will
strategically grow and enhance the development function into a
philanthropic enterprise of unsurpassed effectiveness through the
implementation of creative fundraising tactics; innovative
engagement strategies; robust donor pipeline development, including
the diversification of funding sources, and an emphasis on growing
individual giving; clear and achievable goals; and data-informed
decision making. The CAO will also demonstrate success in
personally cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding gifts from
individuals and foundations, as well as the ability to guide and
support senior leaders in their fundraising efforts, serving as an
advisor and co-strategist for soliciting transformational
gifts.

The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of
fundraising success; and the enthusiasm, drive, and professionalism
to achieve organizational goals. As a leader and manager, the CAO
will promote a culture of excellence, collaboration, and
professional growth and set clear direction, priorities, and
measurable goals for the advancement team. The CAO will also
provide the highest level of support to SMAA’s Board of Directors
and its Advancement Committee, with an emphasis on further
cultivating and stewarding the philanthropic generosity of the
Board and assisting the CEO in the identification and recruitment
of new Board members, as appropriate.

With superior written and oral communication skills, the CAO
will demonstrate the ability to champion the impact, strategic
priorities, and vision of SMAA, adopting the organization’s message
and voice and translating it to diverse audiences. To this end, the
CAO must also demonstrate an ability to fully immerse themselves in
the life of the organization to serve as a spokesperson to
prospective and existing donors effectively. Importantly, the CAO
will bring a passion for SMAA’s mission, with a strong
understanding of and appreciation for the organization’s history,
impact, achievements, and vision.

The Southern Maine Agency on Aging has partnered with Isaacson,
Miller, a national executive search firm, to help with this
recruitment. Confidential inquiries, nominations, and applications
should be sent via electronic mail to:

Rebecca Kennedy, Partner
(she/her)

Becky Piper, Senior Associate
(she/her)

Elizabeth Arvanitis, Search
Coordinator (she/her)

https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/southern-maine-agency-aging/chief-advancement-officer

SMAA considers applicants for
all positions without regard to age, race, religion, color, gender,
disability, national origin, sexual preferences, or any other
legally protected class.