Chief Advancement Officer

Spring into a career that makes a difference!

If you’re looking for meaningful work that improves the lives of pets and the people who love them, the Potter League for Animals could be the perfect fit. We’re seeking a confident and driven fundraising professional to serve as our Chief Advancement Officer.

This key leadership role oversees all fundraising efforts, ensuring strong financial support for our programs and initiatives. As part of the Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Advancement Officer also plays a vital role in shaping our organization’s strategic direction and fostering a culture of philanthropy.

Join Rhode Island’s largest animal welfare organization with a national reputation for excellence. With three locations—our Animal Care Center in Middletown, a low-cost spay/neuter clinic in Warwick, and the Pets in Need veterinary clinic in Riverside—we are a diverse and dynamic team dedicated to animal welfare, nonprofit management, and community programs.

At the Potter League, you won’t be just another employee—you’ll be part of a team that feels like family. We offer paid time off, a retirement plan with company match, health insurance, pet care perks, and a workplace where your voice matters. We celebrate individuality and believe our differences make us stronger for the animals and people we serve.

Ready to make an impact? Apply today!

Position Description:

Department/Location: Development – Animal Care & Adoption Center in Middletown, RI

Classification: Full-time, salaried, exempt

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Supervises: Director of Events and Corporate Relations; Development Associate; Administrative Assistant

Job Purpose

The Chief Advancement Officer plans, develops, implements, and leads all fundraising activities for the Potter League for Animals ensuring adequate funding for operational, program, and special project activities. The Chief Advancement Officer leads staff and volunteers to foster a culture of philanthropy within the Potter League.

Accountabilities

• Works with the CEO and Board of Directors to set and meet annual fundraising goals.
• Ensures the maintenance of appropriate systems and databases for donor management, research and cultivation, gift processing, and donor recognition.
• Oversees and enhances ongoing donor cultivation. Researches and identifies donor prospects and devises in-depth strategies to cultivate prospective donors, existing donors, foundations, and major donors. Provides guidance and consultation to the Board of Directors, CEO, and Chief Mission Officer to support the success of their stewardship and fundraising efforts.
• Meet regularly with program leaders to understand current and future programmatic plans and needs.
• Researches opportunities for grants write grants to private and family foundations follows up on grant reporting and new opportunities.
• Oversees direct response fundraising including direct mail, email marketing, donor acquisition, sustainer acquisition, and major donor communication.
• Encourages donors to participate in the League’s planned giving program and leads stewardship efforts for current members of the planned giving society.
• Establishes performance measures and monitors results. Regularly informs the CEO, Development Committee, and Board of Directors of progress toward established goals and objectives and provides comprehensive recommendations.
• Hires, supervises, evaluates, directs, and guides the performance of the Development Team members.
• Ensures that philanthropy and fund development are carried out in keeping with the Potter League’s values, mission, vision, and plans. Maintains accountability and compliance standards for donors and funding sources.
• Creates and adheres to an annual budget for the Development Department. Is responsible for the achievement of the department’s goals and financial objectives.
• Demonstrates initiative and a flexible work schedule to meet the demands of executive management while working enthusiastically and cooperatively with all departments and key management staff to assure that the goals of each department are met.
• Participates as a member of the Senior Leadership Team to lead and support overarching organizational strategies and goals.
• Adheres to all Code of Conduct standards and fosters a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for all staff, volunteers, patrons, and supporters.
• Other duties as requested.

Success Factors

The individual who will thrive in this position:

• Genuinely enjoys people and instinctively shows kindness and compassion to others
• Dynamic and outgoing with a sense of humor
• Finds social events energizing and refreshing
• Confident and self-assured, is proud of their individuality
• Driven, self-motivated, self-directed, and eager to achieve goals
• Outstanding project management skills and can plan weeks, months, and years ahead
• Can write professionally, creatively, and in a variety of styles to appeal to any audience

Benefits:

• Simple IRA
• Dental Insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

How to Apply:

Please send a letter of interest/direct questions to Todd Cramer, Chief Mission Officer, at tcramer@potterleague.org.

EMPLOYMENT DISCLAIMER:  This job description is not a contract – management reserves the right to change its contents at any time. This organization complies with the guidelines set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, age, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or veteran of the Vietnam era. This organization is an Equal Opportunity Employer.