Common Hope | Saint Paul, MN
Salary Range: $80,000 - $90,000
Position: Senior Advancement Officer
Location: Common Hope, St. Paul, MN
Reports To: Director of Development
Conditions: Full-Time; Benefit Eligible
Salary: $80,000 to $90,000; salary will be based on the candidate’s relevant experience and demonstrated track record in fundraising.
Organization Description:
Common Hope promotes hope and opportunity in Guatemala by partnering with children, families and communities who want to participate in a process of development to improve their lives through education, health care, housing and family development. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota the organization brings together supporters and communities to build a brighter future together.
Our Values: Hope, Empathy, Responsibility, Proactivity, Curiosity, Teamwork
Purpose
The Senior Advancement Officer plays a key leadership role in advancing Common Hope’s mission by developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy. This position is responsible for growing and stewarding a portfolio of donors, strengthening meaningful relationships with supporters, and contributing to sustainable philanthropic revenue.
Working in close partnership with the Director of Development & Communications, the Executive Director, Board, and the fundraising team, this role fosters donor engagement, supports grant development efforts, and supervises the Individual Giving Officer and Grant Writer to ensure a coordinated, relationship-centered fundraising program that advances Common Hope’s mission of empowering children and families in Guatemala through education, healthcare, housing, and family development.
This position requires strong relationship-building skills and the ability to work effectively in a multicultural, mission-driven environment, helping connect donors with the transformative impact of Common Hope’s work.
Job Responsibilities/Key Accountabilities
Donor Portfolio Management
- Lead Individual Giving, Major Gifts, Legacy Circle strategies and ensure the organization meets its target revenue goals.
- Develop and communicate a clear annual revenue plan in collaboration with the Director of Development and Communications.
- Steward and strategically grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects.
- Develop and implement personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
- Maintain regular communication and engagement with donors through meetings, calls, and written updates.
- Own forecasting and pipeline management and identify opportunities to increase donor giving and secure multi-year commitments.
- Track engagement strategies and donor interactions through the organization’s Raiser’s Edge NXT system and ensure high-quality data integrity.
Individual Giving Leadership
- Supervise and mentor the Individual Giving Officer to strengthen portfolio management, donor engagement strategies, and overall individual giving performance.
- Support the development and implementation of strategies to strengthen donor retention and increase giving levels.
- Provide guidance on donor cultivation strategies and relationship management.
Grants Support
- Support cultivation and relationship-building with foundation partners in coordination with the Director of Development & Communications.
- Collaborate with the development team to identify grant opportunities and support proposal development.
- Assist with stewardship and reporting for foundation partners as needed.
- Help align program priorities with institutional funding opportunities.
Donor Engagement and Stewardship
- Work closely with program and communications teams to share impact stories with donors.
- Strengthen donor understanding of Common Hope’s work and mission.
- Support donor visits, events, and engagement opportunities that deepen relationships with the organization.
Collaboration and Strategy
- Collaborate with the Director of Development & Communications and the Executive Director to implement fundraising strategies, sponsor relationships, and achieve revenue goals.
- Collaborate with the Visitor Experience team to cultivate relationships with high-potential visitors and convert engagement into philanthropic support.
- Work cross-functionally with U.S. and Guatemala teams to align donor engagement with program impact.
- Contribute to strategic planning for donor development and fundraising growth.
Data, Reporting, and Accountability
- Maintain accurate records of donor engagement activities in the Raiser’s Edge NXT system.
- Monitor portfolio performance and contribute to fundraising reports.
- Track progress toward annual fundraising goals.
Cross Departmental Collaboration
- Foster a collaborative culture that strengthens alignment between fundraising, programs, and communications.
- Collaborate with other departments to ensure institutional coherence and alignment.
- Adhere to organizational policies and donor confidentiality standards.
- Uphold institutional values and ethical fundraising practices.
- Participate in relevant training and professional development opportunities.
- Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Development & Communications.
Preferred experience and qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, business administration, international development, marketing, or a related field.
- Minimum of 7 years of experience in fundraising, advancement, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
- Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors to meet or exceed fundraising goals.
- Proven experience managing donor portfolios and building long-term donor relationships.
- Strong relationship-building, negotiation, and communication skills.
- Ability to work effectively in a multicultural and mission-driven environment.
- Experience working with donor databases, such as Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred.
- Availability for local travel, as needed. Eligible to travel to Guatemala is a plus.
- Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
To apply, please send your cover letter and resume to: jobs@us.commonhope.org.