Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Advancement Officer

Friends of the Children Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California
(Hybrid position)

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Friends of the Children - Los Angeles to recruit the organization’s next Chief Advancement Officer.

Founded in 2017, Friends of the Children – Los Angeles (Friends LA) is a chapter of the national Friends of the Children network, which began 30 years ago. Friends LA’s mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth facing the greatest obstacles through long-term professional mentorship relationships for 12+ years, no matter what. Our professional mentors (Friends) support children navigating significant trauma, providing each child and family with weekly 1:1 support from kindergarten through high school completion.

Friends LA is recognized as the premier child mentoring organization in LA County, taking a two-generational approach that supports both children and their caregivers.

Friends of the Children Los Angeles has a dedicated and diverse team of 80+ full-time staff, including a dynamic Executive Director and an engaged Advancement team comprised of a Major Gifts Officer, External Relations Manager, and Development Operations Manager. Friends LA also has a committed Board of Directors and an active Advancement Committee. The organization manages an $8 million annual operating budget, supported by a mix of public funding and philanthropy, and has a strong, board-approved strategic growth plan with a goal to double the number of families served by 2027.

As part of its growth plan, Friends LA is working to increase annual revenue from approximately $8 million to $12 million, further diversify its revenue mix, and add new earned‑revenue capacity through Medi‑Cal reimbursement to foster growth and long‑term stability. Friends of the Children’s impact is evident - a longitudinal study by the Harvard Business School Association of Oregon confirmed that for every $1 invested in Friends of the Children, the community benefits over $7 in saved social costs.

Friends LA operates five sites, with headquarters in Metro‑South Los Angeles and additional sites in Antelope Valley, San Gabriel Valley, and South Bay.

This is a hybrid position based in Los Angeles County. Candidates must live in LA County, be available to work on‑site in the office at least once a week and regularly attend external donor meetings throughout LA County.

Friends LA seeks a Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) who is a build‑and‑scale leader to ignite the next phase of the organization’s advancement strategy, including reimagining team structure and fundraising systems to scale impact. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CAO is responsible for leading all revenue‑generating and external engagement strategies, including individual giving and major gifts, institutional giving and grants, government and public funding (in partnership with the Executive Director), corporate support, events, strategic communications, and board engagement.

The Chief Advancement Officer will oversee a team of three, evaluate and intentionally build systems and team capacity, and drive high‑level execution of the organization’s fundraising and communication strategies.

This is an ideal role for a seasoned advancement leader who thrives in a growth environment, brings both strategic vision and roll‑up‑your‑sleeves execution, and is excited to help an engaged CEO scale a high‑impact organization in a complex market like Los Angeles. The CAO will be a high‑achieving, strategic, collaborative, and mission‑driven thought leader with a proven track record of successful fundraising and building a culture of philanthropy.

• Design and lead a comprehensive, multi‑year advancement strategy to grow annual revenue from approximately $8M to $12M, aligned with Friends LA’s strategic plan.
• Oversee and integrate all revenue streams, including major and principal gifts, foundation and institutional giving, government and…