Chief Advancement Officer

The CAO will break away from episodic, transactional messaging and fundraising to architect and drive a unified, high-performing "Advancement Engine" — an intertwined short- and long-term strategy that blends enrollment/admissions, development, and marketing into one cohesive vision. The CAO will provide high-level strategic management to the advancement department, directly supervising three Directors (Admissions/Recruitment, Development, and Marketing/Communications) to ensure total alignment across all school growth initiatives.

Organizational Mission

Frankel Jewish Academy is a rigorous college preparatory high school dedicated to academic excellence and Jewish literacy. We inspire students to think critically, creatively, and compassionately, dedicating themselves to Jewish tradition, peoplehood, and the State of Israel, and to become lifelong learners and leaders.

Characteristics of Professional Excellence

FJA Professionals:

Are invested in and dedicated to our mission and the school community's continued growth and success
Create an inclusive, open-minded school community and learning environment for our students
Embrace cross-curricular learning opportunities to create meaningful educational experiences inside and outside the classroom
Are passionate, dynamic, and nurturing mentors
Seek opportunities for innovation and growth
Value responsive and collaborative professional relationships
Encourage students to challenge themselves to think critically about the world around them
Foster authentic connections with students through support, consistency, professionalism, and understanding
Inspire students to approach the world with awe and wonder
You'll have opportunities for professional development, mentorship, and to shape the advancement strategy of a leading independent school.

Ideal Prospective Candidates

Strategic and relationship-driven leader with a strong advancement background, including experience building and scaling a Development program from the ground up
Minimum of 7 years of advancement experience, preferably in an independent school setting
Proven success in major gift fundraising, donor cultivation, and capital campaigns
Excellent communicator with exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal skills
Effective team manager with a track record of mentoring, motivating, and supporting staff
Proficient with advancement software, database programs, and operational tools
Familiarity with the Detroit Jewish community is a plus, though not required
Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Integration
Architect of the "Advancement Engine": Lead the integration of marketing, development, and recruitment into a synchronized, multi-year institutional strategy
Departmental Supervision: Manage, mentor, and set clear professional goals for the three department Directors (Admissions/Recruitment, Development, and MarComm), fostering an aligned team environment
Board & Committee Governance: Attend all Board of Trustees meetings, staff the Development Committee, and actively support the Development Committee Chair
Financial & Resource Oversight: Develop and manage the comprehensive annual Advancement budget, directly linked to FJA's strategic and financial priorities
Data-Driven Reporting: Report to the Board on high-level "confidence indicators" and institutional health metrics
Development & Capital Campaign Leadership
Major Gift Cultivation: Move from hitting short-term end-of-year targets to managing multi-year major gift strategies; identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership donors and top prospects
Executive Solicitations: Accompany and strategically brief the Head of School, Board members, and volunteer leadership during direct, high-net-worth solicitations
Future-Proofing & Campaign Prep: Design and prepare comprehensive campaign guidelines for capital campaigns and future facility upgrades and renovations
Endowment & Legacy Giving: Develop and implement an effective planned giving program while fostering close working relationships with the Jewish Federation of Detroit
Grants (Liaison Role): Serve as a liaison between program staff and grant writers to help steward the school's existing grants portfolio; this is not a grant-writing position
Alumni Council Activation: Oversee the structural expansion of alumni relations, including activating the Alumni Council and starting an alumni mentor program
Marketing & Communications (MarComm) Oversight
The Story Engine: Direct the MarComm team to move beyond simple updates toward building a robust "story engine" that shares concrete proof points of alumni success and student growth
Brand Placement: Oversee long-range internal and external marketing plans, ensuring high visibility of cultural and academic milestones like the "Portrait of a Graduate"
Reputation Management: Ensure all electronic communications, school publications, and website strategies advance FJA's reputation for academic excellence and Jewish values
Admissions & Recruitment Strategy
Pipeline Expansion: Guide the Admissions team to build a powerful recruitment pipeline through robust community partnerships
Regional Dominance: Strategize outreach to ensure FJA is the definitive "default option" for Jewishly engaged families within a 60-minute geographic radius
Event & Data Integration: Align admissions parlor meetings, tours, and recruitment dates with the integrated development and marketing calendar
Community & Event Presence: While not an event-planning role, the CAO is expected to attend school and community events, engage donors there, and stay connected to broader Jewish community happenings

Qualifications and Experience

Education: Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred
Experience: Minimum 7 years senior development and advancement leadership experience, ideally within an independent school or Jewish communal setting
Campaign Provenance: Significant personal involvement and documented success in capital campaigns, major gift programs, and direct solicitations from high-net-worth individuals and foundations
Strategic Acumen: Well-versed in high-level strategic planning, operational data analysis, and long-term pipeline development
Systems Literacy: Proficient with advancement software, operational tools, and donor database ecosystems
Communication Skills: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with a proven record of motivating and mentoring staff