Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Advancement Officer

Overview:
Open Eyes is a Christian mission organization that focuses on reaching the hardest-to-reach places with the Gospel through long-term investment and local leadership development. Committed to holistic transformation of lives and communities, Open Eyes chooses to work in remote and challenging areas around the globe. The organization equips local leaders called Mobile Messengers™ for evangelism, church planting, and relief and development work.

Organizationally, our core behaviors are: 1) Servant Leadership: We serve our teammates, field leaders, and donors, embodying the heart of our mission with kindness and intentionality, 2) Excellence: We strive for the highest quality in all we do, 3) Growth Mindset: We intentionally develop thinking and practices that increase our capacity to contribute to our mission, 4) Joy: We cultivate gratitude and fun as we engage in our work, and 5) Clear Communication: We are proactive, specific, and respectful in our communication with each other.

Position Summary:
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) serves as a senior leadership team member, partnering with the President and Chief Operating Officer to develop and execute comprehensive advancement strategies that drive organizational growth for Open Eyes. This executive position provides strategic oversight of all marketing and fundraising functions.

The role requires creating strategic and integrated marketing and advancement campaigns that elevate the organization’s mission and generate philanthropic investment. The CAO will lead innovative fundraising initiatives and establish sustainable revenue streams through diversified funding sources including major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and planned-giving.

This role requires an entrepreneurial leader who can independently develop advancement strategies, build high-performing teams, and establish measurable outcomes. The CAO must thrive in a mission-driven ministry environment while leading with vision, integrity, and collaborative excellence.


Primary Responsibilities:


Strategic Leadership
· Serve as a member of the executive leadership team, supporting strategic planning and organizational development
· Develop and execute comprehensive marketing and advancement strategies with measurable outcomes
· Lead a high-performing development team and manage donor/prospect portfolios
Revenue Generation
· Secure major gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation grants, and planned giving commitments
· Conduct donor visits independently and alongside the President to present investment opportunities
· Lead foundation relationships and grant writing/management processes
Marketing & Communications
· Create integrated marketing campaigns and donor engagement strategies
· Ensure consistent branding and messaging across all channels
· Collaborate on fundraising materials that effectively communicate organizational impact
Relationship Management
· Own strategy and cultivation for all prospects in assigned portfolio
· Maximize church partnerships and leadership relationships
· Manage donor stewardship and follow-up activities
Operations & Analysis
· Establish metrics and data-driven reporting systems for advancement activities
· Manage advancement budget in collaboration with COO
· Track and analyze campaign effectiveness to optimize strategies
· Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Qualifications:
Experience & Education
· Minimum 10 years in marketing, sales, or development with demonstrated success
· Prior experience in an executive-level leadership role
· Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred (Marketing, Business, Nonprofit Management, or related field)

Core Competencies
· Proven grant writing and major gift fundraising abilities
· Systems and design thinking approach to problem-solving and process optimization
· Strong technology aptitude for fundraising systems and data analysis
· Understanding of AI and technology’s role in automating advancement functions
· Excellent written and verbal communication skills with public representation capabilities
Leadership & Collaboration
· Curiosity-driven mindset with enthusiasm for innovation and continuous improvement
· Ability to work independently and lead collaborative teams effectively
· Strong interpersonal skills with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities
· High integrity, accountability, and results-oriented approach
Technical & Organizational
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Excel modeling/reporting
· Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and confidentiality
· Data-driven analysis capabilities with ability to create metrics and reports

Mission Alignment
· Adherence to Open Eyes’ Statement of Faith
· Understanding of organizational mission, vision, and values with ability to translate into relationship building


Compensation and Location:


This is a full-time position in Charlotte, North Carolina. Salary is commensurate with experience; full benefits package offered (health insurance, dental, retirement matching, FSA, etc.)


To apply, please send a resume and cover letter to [email protected]