Director of Advancement

Organization: EMBRACE - Enriching Many By Reaching All In Catholic Education
Reports to: Executive Director
Employment: Full-Time
Location: Kansas City metropolitan area preferred; regular travel throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas required

About EMBRACE

EMBRACE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to providing opportunities for inclusive education by supporting students with disabilities and learning differences in Catholic schools. Since 2018, EMBRACE has invested millions of dollars in grants and scholarships supporting students, teachers, and Catholic schools across the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

As EMBRACE continues to grow, we are seeking a Director of Advancement to help build the organization's fundraising capacity, expand our donor base, strengthen relationships with current and prospective supporters, and create new opportunities to increase our impact.

Position Summary

The Director of Advancement will lead EMBRACE's fundraising and development efforts and work closely with the Executive Director to grow revenue, expand the donor base, strengthen donor relationships, and build a sustainable development program.

This is a relationship-driven, results-oriented position requiring someone who is comfortable developing relationships, making fundraising asks, writing grants, pursuing corporate and foundation support, and identifying new opportunities for EMBRACE.

The ideal candidate will bring strong fundraising skills and a genuine passion for ensuring that every student, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to learn, belong, and thrive in a Catholic school. This person should be inspired by EMBRACE's mission and motivated by the opportunity to help Catholic schools become more inclusive and supportive of all students and families.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy

• Develop and implement an annual development plan and fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director.

• Establish fundraising goals, track progress, and measure results through defined KPIs.

• Identify new opportunities to diversify and grow EMBRACE's revenue.

• Build a sustainable fundraising program that supports EMBRACE's long-term growth and mission.

Major Gifts & Individual Giving

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects and donors.

• Build and manage a strong major gift pipeline and develop strategies to increase individual giving.

• Conduct donor visits and develop meaningful, long-term relationships with individuals and families.

• Identify opportunities to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors through thoughtful cultivation and stewardship.

Grants & Foundation Relations

Grant development will be a significant and ongoing responsibility of this position.

• Research and identify foundation, corporate, and other grant opportunities aligned with EMBRACE's mission and programs.

• Write and submit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and other funding requests.

• Manage grant deadlines, reporting requirements, renewals, and ongoing communication with funders.

• Work with the Executive Director to identify funding needs and develop strategies to maximize grant revenue.

Corporate & Foundation Partnerships

• Identify and cultivate corporate and foundation prospects and develop long-term funding relationships.

• Develop sponsorship opportunities and strategies to increase corporate support.

• Build partnerships with businesses and organizations that align with EMBRACE's mission.

• Work with the Executive Director to cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate and foundation partners.

Donor Stewardship

• Develop and implement strategies to retain and deepen relationships with EMBRACE donors.

• Ensure donors understand the impact of their support and the difference EMBRACE makes in Catholic schools.

• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records and track cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.

• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to remain engaged with EMBRACE and its mission.

Events

• Support EMBRACE fundraising events with a focus on maximizing revenue and donor engagement.

• Develop and manage event sponsorship opportunities.

• Use events to identify, cultivate, and engage prospective donors and corporate partners.

• Follow up with attendees, sponsors, and prospects to develop long-term relationships beyond the event.

Community & Relationship Development

• Represent EMBRACE throughout the Kansas City metropolitan area and the broader Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

• Build relationships with parish leaders, Catholic school leaders, business leaders, community organizations, donors, and prospective supporters.

• Regularly meet with donors, prospects, corporate partners, foundation representatives, and other stakeholders.

• Identify opportunities to increase EMBRACE's visibility, community relationships, and philanthropic support.

Measures of Success

Success will be measured by both fundraising results and the development of a sustainable fundraising program, including:

• Growth in philanthropic revenue, including individual, corporate, foundation, grant, and sponsorship support.

• Growth in the number of donors, donor retention, average gift size, and major gift pipeline.

• Successful pursuit, submission, and management of grant opportunities and funding relationships.

• Development of systems, relationships, and strategies that position EMBRACE for continued long-term growth.

Specific annual fundraising goals and KPIs will be established with the Executive Director.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional fundraising/development experience preferred.

• Demonstrated success in major gifts, individual giving, grant writing, or corporate/foundation relations.

• Strong grant-writing, communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.

• Experience developing and managing a fundraising pipeline and comfortable cultivating and soliciting donors.

• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities, and meet deadlines.

• Knowledge of the Kansas City philanthropic community strongly preferred.

• Experience working with Catholic organizations or Catholic education preferred but not required.

• Commitment to EMBRACE's mission and Catholic education.

• Ability and willingness to travel throughout the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.

• Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is passionate about EMBRACE's mission and believes strongly that every student, regardless of ability, should have the opportunity to receive an inclusive Catholic education. They are a strategic, entrepreneurial, and relationship-oriented fundraiser who is comfortable working independently, building meaningful relationships, making asks, writing grants, pursuing new funding opportunities, and delivering measurable results.

The successful candidate will be someone who sees the potential for EMBRACE to grow significantly and is excited about helping build the infrastructure, relationships, and revenue necessary to expand the organization's impact.

This person should bring energy, creativity, persistence, and a strong sense of ownership to the role and be equally comfortable meeting with a major donor, writing a grant proposal, developing a corporate partnership, following up with an event sponsor, or traveling across the Archdiocese to build a new relationship.

Compensation

EMBRACE will establish a competitive compensation package based on the scope of the position, experience, organizational resources, and mutually agreed-upon performance expectations.

The compensation structure may include a base salary and performance-based compensation tied to established fundraising goals and KPIs.