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Nonprofit
Chief Advancement Officer (CAO)
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Description
About Beyond Literacy
Beyond Literacy (BeLit) is Philadelphia’s leading adult education nonprofit, helping more than
2,000 adults each year gain the literacy, language, digital, and workforce skills needed to achieve
economic mobility and full civic participation. Our mission is simple and powerful: Learning for
Work and Life.
Through free programs in adult basic education, GED preparation, English language learning,
workforce training, digital literacy, and family literacy, BeLit equips adult learners to move from
learning to earning. Our programs connect education to real opportunity through partnerships with
regional employers, foundations, and workforce systems.
As BeLit continues to grow its impact and visibility, we are seeking a dynamic and entrepreneurial
Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to help lead the organization’s fundraising, communications,
corporate partnerships, and external engagement strategy.
Position Overview
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a senior leadership role responsible for leading and
strengthening Beyond Literacy’s advancement strategy, including fundraising, corporate partnerships, donor engagement, communications, and external visibility.
This is a new leadership position designed to expand BeLit’s advancement capacity and support the
organization’s continued growth. The CAO will work closely with the CEO and Board of Directors to
cultivate major donors, expand foundation and corporate partnerships, grow sponsorship revenue, and
elevate the organization’s public presence.
Beyond Literacy operates with a lean and collaborative team, and the CAO will thrive in an
environment that values leaders who are both strategic and hands-on, comfortable shaping
big-picture advancement strategy while also actively participating in donor cultivation,
partnership development, sponsorships, proposals, events, and communications.
The CAO will lead BeLit’s first capital campaign planned to hard launch this summer and will
supervise a small advancement team that includes a Development Coordinator and Communications
Coordinator.
Key Responsibilities
Advancement Strategy & Leadership
- Lead and implement a comprehensive advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities
and growth goals.
- Cultivate major donors, expand philanthropic partnerships, and strengthen foundation and
corporate giving.
- Support board engagement in fundraising and strengthen board participation in giving and donor
cultivation.
- Help lead fundraising initiatives, milestone events, sponsorship strategies, and donor engagement
campaigns.
- Monitor fundraising performance and ensure strong stewardship and donor retention practices.
Corporate Partnerships & Sponsorships
- Expand relationships with corporate partners supporting workforce development and education
initiatives.
- Develop sponsorship opportunities tied to events, community initiatives, and workforce
partnerships.
- Cultivate long-term corporate partnerships to generate both philanthropic support and
mission-aligned collaborations.
- Identify new revenue opportunities through partnerships, sponsorships, and community engagement initiatives.
Major Gifts & Institutional Partnerships
- Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospective supporters.
- Lead cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for individual donors.
- Collaborate with the CEO and program leadership on foundation and institutional partnerships.
- Strengthen relationships with employers, workforce partners, and community stakeholders.
Communications & External Engagement
- Oversee BeLit’s communications and storytelling strategy.
- Guide development of newsletters, social media, marketing materials, and donor communications.
- Elevate the organization’s public profile through strategic messaging, partnerships, and events.
- Ensure consistent brand voice and mission-centered storytelling.
Team Leadership & Advancement Operations
- Supervise and mentor the Development Coordinator and Communications & Outreach Coordinator.
- Strengthen advancement systems, donor tracking, and reporting practices.
- Foster a collaborative, mission-driven advancement culture.
- Coordinate closely with program and finance leadership to align messaging and funding priorities.
Advocacy & Public Engagement
- Help position Beyond Literacy as a thought leader in adult education, workforce development, and
economic mobility.
- Support advocacy efforts that advance adult education and workforce opportunity.
- Assist with public presentations, stakeholder engagement, and policy conversations aligned with
BeLit’s mission.
Qualifications
Required
- 4-year bachelor's degree, preferred
- 10+ years of experience in advancement, fundraising, corporate partnerships, sponsorship
development, or related nonprofit leadership roles.
- Demonstrated success building partnerships, generating revenue, and cultivating donors or
sponsors.
- Experience developing and executing revenue growth strategies.
- Ability to operate as both a strategic leader and hands-on operator.
- Experience supervising or mentoring team members.
- Exceptional relationship-building and communication skills.
- Strong organizational and project management abilities.
Preferred
- Prior experience working with a primarily government-funded nonprofit organization.
- Experience with advocacy, public engagement, or policy-related initiatives.
- Experience managing corporate sponsorships, events, or partnership-driven revenue strategies.
- Experience working closely with nonprofit boards and board fundraising engagement.
- Background in education, workforce development, or community-based nonprofits.
- Must reside in Greater Philadelphia region
- Please include a cover letter with your resume
Benefits
Why Join Beyond Literacy
This is a unique opportunity to help shape the advancement strategy of a respected and growing nonprofit that is transforming lives across Philadelphia.
The Chief Advancement Officer will play a central role in strengthening philanthropic partnerships, growing corporate support, elevating BeLit’s visibility, and ensuring that adult learners have access to life-changing educational opportunities.
At BeLit, you will join a collaborative team committed to innovation, impact, and the belief that learning can unlock opportunity for every adult.
Read about our exciting and comprehensive full-time staff benefits!
- Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) bank
- Paid Holidays including Winter Break
- Choice of 3 Independence Blue Cross Health insurance plans (individual base policy monthly cost is 100% employer-paid) as well as optional dental and vision policies (monthly costs are 100% employer-paid for individuals)
- Flexible Savings Accounts for medical and dependent care expenses
- Employer-paid life, disability, and accident insurance; additional voluntary life insurance available, including dependent coverage
- Employee Assistance Program (100% employer-paid for individuals)
- Access to a network of mental health care resources through Tava Health
- 401K with quarterly employer contributions (no match required)
- Health Reimbursement Plan to cover co-pays of mental health services up to $500 per employee annually
- Paid parental leave program
Level of Language Proficiency
English fluency
Location
Associated Location
Apply to This Job
- Location and Hours Requirement
This role is based in the Greater Philadelphia area and requires regular in-person engagement with staff, board, and partners. Are you currently located in the region and able to regularly work onsite on workdays and evenings/weekends as needed?
- Board Engagement in Fundraising
How have you successfully engaged a nonprofit board in fundraising? What specific strategies have you used to increase board giving or access to new donors?
- Foundation & Corporate Revenue Growth
Describe a time when you expanded revenue through foundation and/or corporate partnerships. How did you identify opportunities, build relationships, and convert them into sustained funding? What were the results?
- Adaptability & Managing Priorities
Tell us about a time you had to adapt to a major change at work and/or manage multiple competing priorities. How did you approach the situation, and what was the outcome?
