Description

THE ORGANIZATION:

For over a century, Hillsides has served Southern California as a premier child welfare provider, delivering therapeutic, trauma-responsive, and advocacy services that enable the stability and overall well-being of the children, youth, and families it serves. Today, Hillsides has evolved into a $53 million nationally recognized organization with programs and campuses throughout Los Angeles County. As an agency, Hillsides provides services to over 14,000 children, youth, and families annually throughout the county of Los Angeles with eight locations of care. Hillsides provides a full continuum of services from prevention to intensive in schools, homes, offices, and through telehealth. 

Every day, Hillsides opens its arms to individuals from all walks of life — infants, youth, young adults, and families navigating life’s most complex challenges. Some come seeking refuge from crisis. Others are looking for someone to listen, advocate, or walk alongside them through a difficult chapter. What unites them is not just their need — but their strength, and their right to be seen, supported, and believed in. From mental health services for children and youth, to housing and workforce support for young adults — Hillsides’ reach is wide, and the impact is deeply personal.

To learn more about Hillsides and its core values, please visit https://www.hillsides.org/. 

THE OPPORTUNITY:

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Advancement Officer will play a critical role in developing and implementing integrated fundraising strategies to support Hillsides’ mission. As a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the Chief Advancement Officer will actively participate in executive leadership efforts to help shape and lead a culture grounded in accountability and innovation, while leading and developing a high-performing advancement team of five. Fundraising responsibilities will include major gifts, corporate giving, annual giving, capital campaigns, individual giving, institutional giving, planned giving, special events, and in-kind support. 

Essential duties include, but are not limited to: 

Fundraising Strategic Planning 

• Lead, manage, and execute a comprehensive fund development strategy to strengthen, diversify, and grow the organization’s short- and long-term funding base.
• Develop and achieve annual restricted and unrestricted fundraising goals (currently $2.7 million); evaluate the effectiveness of the fund development program on an ongoing and annual basis.
• Build infrastructure to support efficient and effective fundraising, including trend analysis, market research, and donor communications.
• Work closely with program chiefs and directors to maintain a deep understanding of Hillsides’ services, programs, and the populations served.

Major Gifts, Donor Engagement, & Stewardship

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and leadership prospects; foster ongoing relationships with current and former Board members to maintain engagement and leverage continued philanthropic support.
• Expand donor pools through effective community outreach.
• Research, identify, and develop individual, corporate, and community prospects, while ensuring appropriate donor recognition.
• Serve as a key spokesperson, representing Hillsides at community events, media opportunities, and other stakeholder gatherings. 

Grants & Institutional Giving

• Oversee and manage the Grants Director to ensure the timely preparation and submission of grant applications.
• Oversee the development of proposals, case statements, solicitation materials, and other fundraising collateral.
• Manage corporate and foundation relationships and proposals in alignment with organizational priorities.

Volunteer Engagement & Community Relations

• Oversee the Director of Community Services to maximize volunteer engagement and strengthen community partnerships.
• Staff and oversee dedicated volunteer groups, including The Guild, H100, and the Hillsides Volunteer Network (HVN).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with community stakeholders to advance the organization’s mission and fundraising goals.

Board & Executive Collaboration

• Collaborate with the Board of Directors and Governance Committee to support Board development and fundraising. Provide strategic support in donor engagement and identification of potential contributors with the Board.
• Establish and oversee performance measures, monitor results, and help the CEO and Board of Directors evaluate the effectiveness of the organization’s fund development program.
• Partner closely with the Chief Executive Officer on organizational activities, including key stakeholder engagements.
• Participate in Board and relevant committee meetings, which currently include Executive, Governance, Building and Grounds, Finance, and Program and Policy. 

Operations, Budgeting, & Systems

• Develop, manage, and monitor the advancement department’s income and expense budget in alignment with organizational objectives.
• Oversee the Database Manager to ensure systems and processes support accurate tracking, analysis, and reporting of fundraising activity.
• Provide oversight of donor and prospect records, gift processing, reporting systems, and prospect research strategies.

TRAITS AND CHARACTERISTICS DESIRED:

The Chief Advancement Officer will be a dynamic, forward-thinking, and entrepreneurial leader with a proven record of fundraising success, including the planning and execution of comprehensive development programs. This individual will bring vision, creativity, and integrity to the role, serving as a trusted ambassador for Hillsides and a passionate advocate for its mission.

The successful candidate will be a strategic and innovative advancement professional with exceptional interpersonal and communication skills. A strong relationship builder, they will connect authentically with donors, Board members, volunteers, staff, and community partners across all levels of engagement. The Chief Advancement Officer will foster a collaborative, “all-hands-on-deck” culture that encourages open and direct communication and celebrates both individual and team achievements.

This leader will be resourceful, results-oriented, and highly organized, with the ability to think strategically while executing with discipline. They will demonstrate the ability to generate new ideas, set priorities, manage multiple initiatives, and follow through to achieve financial goals and deadlines. Comfortable operating at both the strategic and tactical levels, the Chief Advancement Officer will be a skilled manager as well as an effective individual contributor.

The ideal candidate will be an empowering leader who can manage a hybrid team and build a strong, inclusive culture. They will be an effective delegator who sets clear expectations, leads productive meetings, documents fundraising activities, measures progress, and supports professional growth. Embracing technology, the successful candidate will research and leverage AI and other tools that may assist in fundraising efforts. The Chief Advancement Officer will inspire confidence, bring people together, listen to understand, and guide teams toward achieving fundraising goals. 

CAREER TRACK LEADING TO THIS POSITION:

The Chief Advancement Officer will be an accomplished leader with proven fundraising and management experience. A strong record of personal achievement in cultivating donors and securing major gifts as well as documented success in creating and managing a comprehensive development program is important. Leading candidates will have experience building fundraising programs with year-over-year increases both in fundraising and donor pipelines. Experience with community relations and volunteer engagement would be ideal. Experience working in a complex human services organization as well as a knowledge of the Los Angeles philanthropic community is desired but not required. Candidates with an interest in behavioral and mental health are encouraged to apply.

COMPENSATION:

The salary range is $200,000 to $220,000 based on experience. A comprehensive benefits package including healthcare/dental & vision, vacation/holidays, and a 401(k) 4 percent match will be provided. Hillsides is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

TRAUMA INFORMED CARE (TIC):

Hillsides practices Trauma Informed Care principles which recognize the signs, symptoms, and widespread impact of trauma. Employees are asked to comprehensively integrate knowledge of Trauma Informed Care into policies, procedures, and practices with the goal to prevent re-traumatization which promotes healing of families, youth, individuals, and communities.