Chief Advancement Officer

Position Overview

Now Hiring: Chief Advancement Officer Full-Time | Executive Leadership | Hybrid Location: Miami, FL Compensation: Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications Lead Philanthropy. Expand Impact. Advance Diabetes Research. The Diabetes Research Institute Foundation (DRIF) is seeking an accomplished Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to lead its advancement strategy, strengthen philanthropic partnerships, and support the pursuit of a biological cure for diabetes. DRIF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing groundbreaking diabetes research through strategic philanthropy, donor engagement, scientific collaboration, and public awareness. This executive role offers the opportunity to translate a compelling scientific mission into sustainable fundraising growth and increased national visibility. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and serving on the Executive Leadership Team, the CAO will oversee an integrated advancement operation encompassing fundraising, marketing, communications, events, and donor engagement. The ideal candidate is a strategic and relationship-driven executive with a proven record of securing transformational gifts, developing high-performing teams, and building the infrastructure needed to achieve ambitious philanthropic goals. Key Areas of LeadershipExecutive Strategy & Organizational Alignment

• Serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy and long-term planning.
• Partner with the CEO, Board of Directors, and executive leadership to establish advancement priorities and growth objectives.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive, multi-year advancement strategy integrating fundraising, marketing, communications, and constituent engagement.
• Establish measurable goals, key performance indicators, and reporting processes to evaluate performance and guide decision-making.
• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives to ensure advancement activities support DRIF’s mission and organizational priorities.

Fundraising & Philanthropic GrowthLead a comprehensive fundraising program encompassing major and principal gifts, annual giving, planned giving, corporate partnerships, foundation relations, capital and comprehensive campaigns, signature events, and donor stewardship. Responsibilities include:

• Create and execute diversified fundraising strategies designed to increase philanthropic revenue and long-term financial sustainability.
• Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward high-capacity donors and strategic philanthropic partners.
• Collaborate with the CEO and Board members on major gift strategies, donor cultivation, solicitation, and relationship management.
• Build and maintain a strong donor pipeline with clear cultivation plans and measurable milestones.
• Establish revenue targets, fundraising forecasts, and performance benchmarks.
• Analyze fundraising results and identify opportunities to improve donor engagement, retention, and giving.
• Secure significant philanthropic commitments, including gifts in the six-, seven-, and eight-figure ranges.

Marketing, Communications & Brand Visibility

• Oversee DRIF’s marketing strategy, brand positioning, communications, and public visibility.
• Develop integrated communications initiatives that strengthen mission awareness and support fundraising priorities.
• Ensure consistent, compelling messaging across digital platforms, social media, print, public relations, and external communications.
• Lead brand development and thought leadership initiatives that elevate DRIF’s reputation.
• Partner with executive leadership on media opportunities, public speaking, and executive visibility.
• Use donor-centered storytelling to communicate scientific progress and demonstrate the impact of philanthropic contributions.
• Strengthen national awareness of DRIF and its mission to advance a biological cure for diabetes.

Advancement Operations & Infrastructure

• Build and improve the systems, processes, and infrastructure necessary to support sustainable fundraising growth.
• Establish scalable procedures for donor pipeline management, stewardship, campaign execution, reporting, and revenue forecasting.
• Evaluate and optimize fundraising technology, donor databases, and advancement management platforms.
• Use prospect research, fundraising analytics, market intelligence, and pipeline reporting to inform strategy.
• Develop advancement budgets and monitor financial performance.
• Establish operational standards that promote efficiency, accountability, and measurable results.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing Advancement team.
• Provide strategic direction across fundraising, events, marketing, communications, and donor engagement.
• Evaluate staffing needs and recommend organizational structures that support future growth.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and performance-oriented culture.
• Establish clear goals and empower team members to deliver measurable outcomes.

Board & Volunteer Engagement

• Partner with the Board of Directors to advance fundraising priorities and organizational growth.
• Encourage and support Board participation in donor cultivation, solicitation, and philanthropic strategy.
• Support Board development and Advancement Committee initiatives.
• Prepare executive-level reports and presentations that communicate fundraising progress, donor engagement, and organizational impact.

Measures of Success

• Success in this position will be demonstrated through the ability to:
• Grow major and principal gift revenue.
• Strengthen donor pipeline development and fundraising performance.
• Secure transformational philanthropic commitments.
• Increase Board engagement and participation in fundraising.
• Expand DRIF’s national visibility and awareness.
• Develop scalable systems that support sustainable revenue growth.
• Build a strong, collaborative, and results-oriented Advancement team.
• Strengthen the relationship between scientific progress, donor engagement, and philanthropic impact.

QualificationsRequired

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit advancement, philanthropy, fundraising, development, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success leading comprehensive fundraising programs across multiple revenue streams.
• Proven experience cultivating, soliciting, and securing transformational and principal gifts.
• Experience overseeing integrated marketing and communications functions.
• Track record of developing fundraising infrastructure, systems, and high-performing teams.
• Experience partnering with executive leadership, governing boards, and volunteer leaders.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong strategic planning, organizational leadership, and financial management capabilities.

Preferred

• Advanced degree and/or CFRE certification.
• Experience in healthcare, academic medicine, biomedical research, or a disease-focused nonprofit.
• Knowledge of diabetes research, healthcare philanthropy, or scientific advancement.
• Experience leading comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge NXT or comparable donor management platforms.
• Experience leading national fundraising initiatives and brand awareness efforts.

The Ideal CandidateYou are a visionary and collaborative executive who combines strategic thinking with hands-on fundraising leadership. You understand how to inspire philanthropic investment, cultivate lasting relationships, and translate an ambitious mission into measurable organizational growth. You bring:

• A strong record of securing transformational philanthropic support.
• A relationship-first approach to working with donors, Board members, executives, and strategic partners.
• The ability to connect compelling storytelling and communications with fundraising strategy.
• Experience building effective systems, infrastructure, and high-performing teams.
• Strong business judgment and the ability to turn long-term objectives into actionable plans.
• A genuine commitment to mission-driven work and DRIF’s pursuit of a biological cure for diabetes.

Why Join DRIF?This is an opportunity to make a meaningful contribution at the executive level of an organization working to advance one of the most important goals in diabetes research. As Chief Advancement Officer, you will directly influence DRIF’s ability to engage donors, increase philanthropic support, strengthen its national presence, and fund scientific progress that could transform the lives of people affected by diabetes. Compensation: Competitive salary based on experience and qualifications. Work Requirements: Additional hours may be necessary during peak periods. Travel may be required for meetings, conferences, site visits, and other organizational activities. The position requires reliable transportation to the office and work-related meetings, as well as the ability to meet the physical requirements associated with the role. Apply TodayIf you are an accomplished advancement leader with the fundraising expertise, strategic vision, and relationship-building skills to lead an integrated advancement operation, we encourage you to apply. Join the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation and help build the philanthropic resources needed to advance the search for a biological cure for diabetes. Equal Opportunity Employer