Chief Advancement Officer

Title: Chief Advancement Officer
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Management: Yes
Exempt: Yes
Annual Salary: $135,000 - $150,000

About Boston Center for the Arts
Boston Center for the Arts (BCA) is a multidisciplinary cultural campus in Boston’s South End, home to artist studios, arts organizations, exhibition and performance spaces that together create a dynamic ecosystem of creativity and programming.
Through its residencies and initiatives, BCA serves as an epicenter for an expanding cohort of artists working across disciplines and has helped catalyze creative careers by providing fertile ground for experimentation, collaboration, and artistic risk-taking. At the heart of the campus is the historic Cyclorama, whose distinctive 360-degree form reflects a legacy of immersive storytelling and continues to inspire new experimentation at the intersection of art, technology, and public experience.
At a time of significant institutional transformation, BCA is deepening partnerships with the City of Boston and cultural leaders across the region while advancing bold commitments in governance, artistic leadership, capital planning, and civic collaboration. Under the leadership of its CEO and first-ever Artistic Director, BCA is building a more connected, artist-centered, and partnership-driven future for the organization and the broader creative community.
Position Concept
The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) is a senior member of the leadership team responsible for driving philanthropic growth, strengthening the Boston Center for the Arts’ institutional brand, and expanding the organization’s visibility and engagement across Boston’s cultural and civic landscape.
Reporting to the CEO, the CAO leads all advancement efforts, including major gifts, individual giving, foundation and corporate partnerships, marketing, communications, and institutional storytelling. This role plays a central part in shaping how BCA engages donors, audiences, artists, campus partners, and community stakeholders while advancing BCA’s role as a civic and cultural convener that amplifies the collective impact of artists, campus partners, and creative organizations.
The CAO will work closely with the CEO, Artistic Director, and Board of Directors to cultivate major donors, activate board engagement in fundraising, and develop strategies that advance BCA's evolving role as a civic and cultural convener within Boston's creative ecosystem. As the organization's lead fundraising executive, the CAO will maintain a portfolio of major donors and prospects, personally solicit and close five- and six-figure gifts, and drive a comprehensive advancement strategy that supports both annual operations and long-term institutional growth.

Key Responsibilities
Major Gifts and Philanthropy

• Build and manage a leadership giving pipeline valued at $1M+ annually, with accountability for achieving defined contributed revenue targets and moving prospects through all stages of the donor lifecycle.
• Manage, develop, and expand a portfolio of leadership donors and prospects capable of making transformational gifts.
• Lead and drive the cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of leadership gifts in partnership with the CEO and Artistic Director.
• Develop personalized engagement and stewardship strategies for high-capacity donors.
• Strengthen long-term donor relationships through thoughtful communication, engagement opportunities, and institutional stewardship.
• Partner with the CEO to develop annual fundraising goals, revenue projections, and performance metrics, regularly reporting progress against contributed revenue benchmarks.

Advancement Strategy

• Develop and lead BCA’s comprehensive advancement strategy, including major gifts, annual giving, donor…