Director of Advancement

Junior Achievement • Salisbury, MD

5d • $65,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Junior Achievement of the Eastern Shore (JAES) seeks a strategic, relationship-driven leader to direct its advancement work and help shape the future of a growing organization. The Director leads day-to-day fundraising and works closely with the President & CEO to strengthen donor relationships, secure philanthropic support, expand corporate partnerships, and grow annual revenue. The role combines strategic planning with hands-on fundraising and requires the ability to secure significant sponsorships, gifts, and grants while building meaningful partnerships and supporting staff, volunteers, and community stakeholders.

The Director establishes and advances fundraising goals across corporate, foundation, individual, sponsorship, and special funding sources; manages donor and partner relationships; and identifies new funding opportunities and revenue streams. The role also provides guidance to Advancement staff, interns, and volunteers; oversees stewardship, grant management, advancement processes, systems, and analytics; collaborates on budgeting and revenue tracking; and supports donor communications and impact reporting. The Director serves as a visible JAES ambassador throughout the region and partners across departments to ensure advancement strategies align with program growth, community needs, and organizational priorities.

JAES serves nearly 14,000 students across eleven counties each year and provides experiential learning in financial literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship. The position reports to the President & CEO. The stated annual salary range is $65,000–$80,000, depending on relevant experience, demonstrated executive-level impact, and alignment with the role's scope and responsibilities. JAES does not provide employment visa sponsorship; candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business or nonprofit management, or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience.
• At least 5 years of progressively responsible fundraising, advancement, business development, or partnership experience.
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic support, sponsorships, corporate partnerships, or major gifts.
• Experience leading projects, initiatives, or teams.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• Strong strategic planning and organizational skills.
• Ability to analyze data and make informed decisions.
• Legally authorized to work in the United States without the need for employment visa sponsorship, now or in the future.

Nice To Haves

• Experience supervising and developing staff.
• Experience working with Boards of Directors.
• Experience in nonprofit leadership, education, workforce development, youth-serving organizations, or related sectors.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms and fundraising analytics.
• Knowledge of the Eastern Shore philanthropic and business community.

Responsibilities

• Establish and achieve annual fundraising goals across corporate, foundation, individual, sponsorship, and special funding sources as part of an advancement strategy aligned with organizational priorities and growth objectives.
• Develop, manage, and grow a portfolio of major donors, corporate partners, foundations, sponsors, and strategic community stakeholders through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Identify and develop new funding opportunities, strategic partnerships, and revenue streams.
• Partner with the President, Board, and staff to strengthen donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
• Serve as a visible JAES ambassador throughout the region and represent the organization among business, philanthropic, and civic leaders.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and support to Advancement staff, interns, and volunteers while fostering a collaborative, mission-focused team culture.
• Ensure effective stewardship, grant management, and advancement processes that support donor retention and organizational compliance.
• Collaborate with Education and Operations on budgeting, forecasting, and revenue tracking in accordance with organizational standards and funding requirements.
• Utilize and oversee advancement systems and fundraising analytics to support effective fundraising and informed decision-making.
• Monitor fundraising performance, donor trends, and revenue opportunities to support long-term sustainability and growth.
• Support the development of donor communications, sponsorship materials, annual reports, and impact reporting.
• Use storytelling, program impact data, and fundraising results to deepen donor engagement and reinforce JA's reputation in career-connected learning, economic mobility, and youth success.
• Partner across departments to ensure advancement strategies reflect program growth, community needs, and organizational priorities.

Benefits

• 70% employer-paid health insurance coverage.
• Employee wellness plan.
• Flexible work schedule with an approved work-from-home option.
• Phone stipend.
• 401K retirement plan.
• Eligibility for a performance-based bonus of up to 5%, based on individual and organizational goals.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager