Director of Advancement, Austin

Director of Advancement Austin, TXWho We Are: Children’s Cancer Association was founded in 1995 by the Ellis family after their five-year-old daughter, Alexandra, died of cancer. Their goal was to create something extraordinary: an organization with a new vision for what pediatric cancer support services look like. Today, the JoyRx Mentorship, Nature, and Music programs reach thousands of hospitalized children of all ages and diagnoses. Our programs reach children where they are — and make their tough days a little brighter.Simply put — joy helps sick kids feel better.Who You Are / Position Summary:Children’s Cancer Association is seeking a proven fundraising and communications professional who is inspired by our powerful mission, strong brand, and national presence to lead strategic revenue plans and public engagement efforts in order to achieve our growth priorities. As a leader within our newly combined fundraising and marketing teams, you understand the power of relationships, the importance of philanthropy, and you will lead the team in development, communications and brand management efforts rooted in the organization’s mission and impact. With the support of a strong team, you understand how to lead a fundraising program to create a holistic strategic communications calendar, launch or improve national donor programs, plan successful solicitations in order to meet fundraising goals, oversee communications and marketing enterprise-wide, and lead with a culture of stewardship and gratitude. In this role, you will strengthen community and media partnerships, create and execute fundraising event communications and brand experiences that bring our mission to life while achieving financial goals, and expand awareness of who we are and what we do – by cultivating our strong brand through marketing and communications activities.Based in our growing Austin, Texas, region, this role will work with regional fundraisers, but is part of a national team, supporting enterprise-wide advancement priorities that help connect donors, partners, families and communities to the programs and mission of CCA.In this role, you will develop and execute comprehensive advancement strategies and brand communications that support annual giving, strategic corporate partnerships, campaigns, events, grants and institutional relations, as well as set multiyear plans to achieve strategic priorities and community relations and brand awareness goals. You will represent CCA externally in the Austin market and beyond, serving as an ambassador for the organization and cultivating new opportunities for support and visibility.Working with an incredible team, you will lead and support advancement operations including donor and public relations, acquisition and engagement strategies, constituent and brand reporting, and donor program design and management to meet and exceed strategic goals. You will lead the brand team, and partner closely with Program, Finance, and Senior leadership teams to align fundraising priorities with organizational strategy and effectively communicate mission impact to supporters, advocates and friends of CCA nationwide.The Director of Advancement Communications will be based in Austin, Texas, and will report to the Vice President of Marketing and Development in Portland, Oregon.Essential Functions:Advancement Communications & StrategyLead the development and execution of strategic communications plans that support fundraising priorities, donor engagement, and organizational growth.Provide direction on fundraising tentpoles and donor program priorities to inform the integrated marketing calendar.Develop messaging, segmentation and solicitation strategies for donor programs, including supporting materials for annual giving, major gifts, campaigns, corporate partnerships, and events, to achieve budgeted revenue goals.Identify opportunities to strengthen donor acquisition, retention, and stewardship through effective multi-channel communications - including strategies to qualify, cultivate, solicit, upgrade, steward, and recognize donors.Work directly with the CEO and VP to support Board of Directors communications, meetings and special events, including agendas, board reports and presentations.Prepare or delegate preparation of written and verbal proposals, concept and informational materials, endowment and planned giving agreements, and other materials needed to secure major gifts in collaboration with colleagues, as appropriate.Monitor results of advancement communications efforts and recommend improvements to increase engagement and impactContent Development & Brand LeadershipBrand Building & MarketingOversee the organization’s brand strategy and storytelling across all platforms.Lead and guide the team to drive visibility, engagement, and strong mission-centered messaging, including family-facing and program materials for JoyRx partner sites when needed.Enhance brand recognition through partnerships, events, campaigns, and public engagement.Lead the creation of donor-facing communications including appeals, proposals, impact reports, presentations, newsletters, and stewardship materialsTranslate program impact and organizational outcomes into compelling stories that inspire philanthropic supportMaintain brand consistency, voice, and quality across advancement communications in all marketsPartner with Program, Brand, and Executive teams to surface stories, data, and moments of impact for external audiencesCross-Functional Leadership & OperationsCoaches, supervises, and evaluates the brand and communication team and ensures staff members have the tools needed to accomplish their jobs. This team supports all departments of the organization.Build a culture of collaboration, accountability, and creativity within the Advancement team.Ensure strong coordination and alignment between fundraising, data, and brand and finance teams.Lead timelines, workflows, and execution of major advancement communication projects and annual deliverablesProvides guidance to reports and tracks performance against development plan.Manage external vendors, writers, designers, or agency partners as neededHelp strengthen CCA’s visibility in Austin while supporting national advancement prioritiesQualifications and Skills:Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to develop relationships of trust and respect with development staff, colleagues, volunteers, and donors.Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling donor communications and impact messagingHighly organized with the ability to manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines in a fast-paced environmentSound judgment and discretion in handling sensitive and confidential donor informationStrategic and solutions-oriented thinker with the ability to identify opportunities to enhance donor engagement and stewardshipExperience leveraging technology and data to manage donor relationships and inform decision-making (experience with donor databases such as Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred)Collaborative team player with the ability to work cross-functionally and contribute to shared fundraising goalsEducation & Experience:Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Marketing, Journalism, Public Relations, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience8–10 years of relevant professional experience in communications, marketing, advancement, fundraising, or related fieldsDemonstrated experience developing strategic communications plans that support fundraising, donor engagement, or organizational growthStrong experience creating and overseeing high-quality written content for multiple audiences, including donor-facing communications, campaigns, and executive messagingNonprofit, healthcare, education, or mission-driven organization experience preferredWork Environment:This position is based in Austin, TX. This position is currently remote but will have an expectation to meet with other Austin staff members on a regular basis in person.Travel: This position may require occasional travel in the Austin Metro area; there may be limited travel to other key regions.Compensation & Benefits:This position offers a competitive benefits package and a salary range starting at $85,000. Final offer amounts and levels are determined by multiple factors, including your experience, and may vary from the amounts listed above.Generous benefits include:Heavily subsidized medical, vision, dental, and alternative care benefitsGenerous PTO package, paid wellness days, and ten (plus two floating) paid holidaysVoluntary short- and long-term disabilityFlexible spending plan401(k) with 3.5 percent CCA matchPaid four-week sabbatical to pursue creative talents after eight years of serviceProfessional development annual benefitSubsidized on-site parking or public transportation reimbursement.Position Type/Expected Hours of Work: This is a full time (40 hours/week) exempt position. Some flexibility in hours is allowed; days and hours of work are generally Monday through Thursday, 8:00 am – 5:30 pm, and Friday 8:00 am – 12:00 pm, currently 100% remote. This position may require occasional evening hours and weekend work.Application Guidelines:Complete the application through our application portal and answer the following two questions in your cover letter:Tell us how your previous work history has prepared you for this role.Tell us if the compensation and benefits information listed above meet your needs.To learn more about Children’s Cancer Association, visit JoyRx.org.Watch Founder and Chief Joy Officer Regina Ellis’ TEDx Talk on the Joy Effect