Chief Advancement Officer

Chief Advancement Officer

Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area

San Francisco, CA (hybrid)

The Moran Company is pleased to partner with Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area to recruit the organization's first Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).

Friends of the Children–SF Bay Area (Friends-SF) is part of a national network dedicated to impacting generational change by empowering children facing the greatest obstacles through long-term relationships with professional mentors, called Friends. The organization intentionally selects children who are navigating significant challenges and provides each child with a salaried, professional mentor from kindergarten through high school graduation, 12+ years, no matter what.

Friends work closely with youth and their families to build the academic, social‑emotional, and life skills that help young people thrive, while also supporting their caregivers through a two‑generational approach. Celebrating its 10th year in San Francisco, 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.

With a permanent home in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood, a collaborative leadership team, and committed philanthropic supporters, Friends‑SF is positioned for its next stage of growth. Its new five‑year strategic plan calls for doubling the number of children served and building the foundation for greater reach across the Bay Area. With a current annual operating budget of $3.6 million, Friends‑SF’s growth plan calls for raising $24 million over the next five years to support expanded programs, capital needs, and long‑term sustainability, including increasing annual revenue to approximately $6.5 million by 2031.

Friends‑SF seeks an accomplished, strategic, and results‑driven Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to build and lead the fundraising and communications strategy that will make its next growth phase possible. Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a key member of the executive leadership team, the CAO will serve as the organization’s senior fundraising and communications leader, primary major and principal gifts strategist, and trusted thought partner to the Executive Director and Development Committee.

This newly created position offers the opportunity to lead a growing development and communications team (currently three team members) and translate an exciting new strategic plan into meaningful philanthropic investment and increased awareness of Friends‑SF. The CAO will develop and execute the strategy to raise $24 million over the next five years, helping Friends‑SF double the number of children served through its impactful program model.

The CAO will develop and lead a comprehensive, multi‑year fundraising strategy encompassing individual, major, and principal gifts; foundation and corporate support; events; and government funding. Working closely with the Executive Director, an engaged Board of Directors, and dedicated staff, the CAO will inspire philanthropic investment, foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the organization, build on established systems, and equip the Board and Advisory Circle to engage their networks to help advance fundraising goals.

This is an ideal opportunity for a seasoned advancement leader who combines strategic vision with hands‑on fundraising and is energized by the opportunity to build on Friends‑SF’s established foundation and scale its fundraising capacity and impact. The successful candidate will bring initiative, executive presence, and the confidence to connect with high‑net‑worth donors,…