Chief Advancement Officer

PGA Tour•Ponte Vedra Beach, FL

About The Position

The Chief Advancement Officer (“CAO”) is a senior member of First Tee's executive leadership team, responsible for architecting and executing the organization's comprehensive fundraising, donor relations, and development strategy. The CAO will lead efforts to dramatically grow First Tee's philanthropic revenue base — including major gifts, corporate partnerships, planned giving, and institutional grants — to fuel the organization's national impact and long-term sustainability. This is an extraordinary opportunity for a visionary development leader to shape a high-impact institution at a pivotal moment of growth. The CAO will work closely with the President & CEO, Board of Trustees, and chapter network to build a culture of philanthropy and deepen relationships with the donors, sponsors, and foundations that power First Tee's mission.

Requirements

15+ years of progressive nonprofit development experience, including significant major gifts leadership.
Demonstrated success closing gifts of $1 million or more; comfort with principal gift cultivation and solicitation.
Proven ability to build and lead high-performing advancement teams.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to craft compelling donor narratives and speak persuasively about mission and impact.
Track record of building authentic, lasting relationships with donors, volunteers, and organizational partners.
Experience working with boards and senior volunteers in a fundraising capacity.
Experience in utilizing technology, AI and other CRM tools.

Nice To Haves

Experience in youth development, education, or sports-based nonprofit sectors.
Familiarity with the golf industry, PGA TOUR ecosystem, or adjacent corporate partnership landscape.
CFRE certification or equivalent.
Experience structuring endowed funds, planned gifts, and restricted gift agreements in compliance with UPMIFA and relevant accounting standards.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and execution of a multi-year advancement strategy to grow annual philanthropic revenue significantly, with an emphasis on major gifts, Trustee-level donor cultivation, and endowment building.
Establish clear revenue goals, KPIs, and portfolio management systems to ensure consistent progress against fundraising targets.
Personally manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with capacity for seven-figure+ solicitations.
Cultivate and steward First Tee's Trustee donor program, ensuring an exceptional experience for the organization's most significant supporters.
Partner with the CEO and Board to engage principal and leadership gift donors through strategic outreach, recognition, and meaningful impact reporting.
Build a robust planned giving program to secure First Tee's long-term financial future through bequests, charitable trusts, and endowed funds.
Manage and expand First Tee's portfolio of corporate sponsors and foundation grants, aligning partnership opportunities with organizational priorities.
Develop compelling cases for support, grant proposals, and impact narratives that resonate with corporate and institutional funders.
Leverage First Tee's relationship with the PGA TOUR and the broader golf industry to unlock new philanthropic and sponsorship opportunities.
Build, inspire, and manage a high-performing development team, fostering a culture of accountability, creativity, and continuous improvement.
Partner with chapter leaders to strengthen local fundraising capacity and align national development with grassroots advancement efforts.
Serve as a strategic thought partner to the CEO and Board, providing regular advancement updates, trend analysis, and counsel on fundraising strategy.
Collaborate with marketing and communications colleagues to ensure donor-facing materials, impact stories, and campaign messaging reflect First Tee's brand and mission.
Champion First Tee's narrative externally, representing the organization at events, industry convenings, and donor engagements.