Vice President of Advancement

Cristo Rey Orlando High School•Orlando, FL

20d•$130,000 - $150,000

About The Position

Cristo Rey Orlando High School (CRO) is a Catholic, college preparatory high school located in Orlando, FL, serving students of all faiths from families of limited financial means. The school opened its doors to its inaugural freshmen class in the fall of 2025 and is co-educational, serving students of diverse backgrounds. CRO helps its students grow intellectually, academically, emotionally, spiritually, socially, and morally, with the aspiration that all students graduate from high school and college and become the future leaders in our churches, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, and the community at large. CRO prepares students to excel in college, in career, and in character. Our college-prep curriculum, Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), and faith-based education combine to give students a unique experience and an affordable option for high-quality education. CRO is part of the Cristo Rey Network®, the only network of high schools in the country that integrates four years of rigorous college preparatory academics with four years of professional work experience through the CWSP. Comprised of 41 Catholic, college- and career-preparatory schools serving 12,000 students across 25 states with 22,000 graduates, the network delivers a powerful and innovative approach to education that equips students from families of limited economic means with the knowledge, character, and skills to transform their lives. A CRO education is made possible through a unique blend of philanthropic fundraising, minimal family tuition contributions, the CWSP, and Florida Tax Credit (FTC) Scholarships administered through Step Up For Students. This multi-revenue model requires the Vice President of Advancement to understand and actively support all funding streams, raising the necessary funds to continue growing CRO while also cultivating the corporate and individual donors whose contributions to Step Up For Students generate the scholarship dollars that help make a CRO education accessible. Since opening, CRO has built a solid foundation of community support, establishing a strong donor base and raising significant philanthropic support. The organizational culture is built on excellence, openness, vulnerability, strong team dynamics, and a shared commitment to the mission. CRO is in a dynamic phase of growth and institutional development. As a young and expanding school, we are actively scaling enrollment, strengthening our Corporate Work Study partnerships, advancing campus development, and building long-term financial sustainability. This role is not about maintaining existing structures alone; it is about helping shape them. The Vice President of Advancement will play a critical leadership role in stewarding momentum, building durable systems, and advancing a bold vision that requires both strategic discipline and entrepreneurial energy. Candidates who are energized by growth, complexity, and mission-driven impact will find this an especially meaningful opportunity. The Opportunity CRO is seeking an experienced and relationship-driven Vice President of Advancement to lead the next chapter of the school’s fundraising and external relations efforts. Having successfully completed its startup phase under the leadership of a founding Vice President who built the advancement department from the ground up, the school is positioned for success. The foundation has been laid: the department is established, a talented team of two direct reports is in place, major donor relationships have been cultivated, and significant philanthropic investments have been secured. The next Vice President of Advancement will inherit a healthy portfolio of leadership and major gift donors and will be expected to deepen those relationships while building the systems, processes, and departmental culture needed to scale fundraising for the long term. Additionally, this role involves meaningful collaboration with the Vice President of CWSP, recognizing the natural overlap between corporate partners who employ CRO students and those same organizations’ philanthropic and sponsorship capacity. The Vice President of Advancement will also play a critical role in coordinating with community partners and fellow nonprofit organizations to drive corporate donor participation in Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program through Step Up For Students. Who You Are You are an experienced fundraising leader who excels at nurturing and growing donor relationships over time. You are a systems-thinker who can assess what’s working, identify gaps, and implement the structures needed for long-term success. You lead with warmth, integrity, and accountability. You value team culture and invest in creating an environment where your staff can thrive and do their best work. You are energized by mission-driven work and understand the unique dynamics of a Catholic, college-preparatory school serving students from families of limited means.

Requirements

Minimum of five years of progressive professional fundraising experience, including at least three years of management experience leading a development / advancement team.
Demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual major gifts, foundation grants, and gifts of $100,000 and above.
Proven ability to build and manage systems, processes, and infrastructure for advancement operations.
Exceptional relationship-building and management skills with the ability to engage donors, board members, corporate leaders, and community stakeholders at the highest levels.
Strong strategic thinking with a track record of developing and executing multi-year fundraising plans.
Experience managing and developing staff with a focus on team culture, accountability, and professional growth.
Dedicated to supporting the school's mission and values, particularly in a faith-based educational setting.
Excellent written, verbal, and public speaking communication skills.
Proficiency in CRM systems and data-driven fundraising management.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
Bachelor’s degree.
Physical demands include being required to sit, stand, walk, talk, hear, and climb stairs. Ability to operate a computer and other office equipment. Occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
Experience in Catholic education, faith-based organizations, or mission-driven nonprofits.
Experience with high school scholarship programs and understanding of how private school tuition funding models work in Florida’s school choice landscape.
Experience collaborating with corporate partners.
Familiarity with the Cristo Rey Network model or similar integrated work-study programs.
Experience working with a board of directors in a fundraising capacity.

Responsibilities

Lead and execute a comprehensive, multi-year fundraising strategy encompassing annual giving, major and leadership gifts, corporate and foundation grants, planned giving, special events, and capital campaigns as appropriate.
Steward and grow an existing donor portfolio, with particular emphasis on nurturing relationships with major and leadership-level donors.
Work closely with the President & CEO and Development Committee of the Board to set annual fundraising goals and develop strategies to achieve them.
Personally manage a portfolio of major and leadership gift prospects and donors ($100,000+), engaging in direct identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
Implement donor recognition, cultivation, and stewardship strategies that inspire continued and increased investment across all giving levels.
Provide strategic direction for annual fund campaigns, events, and mid-level giving programs executed by the Director of Development.
Ensure gift acknowledgment processes and donor records are timely, accurate, and reflective of best practices.
Formalize and expand planned giving program that builds on existing donor commitments.
Lead, mentor, and develop two direct reports (the Director of Development and the Director of Marketing & Advancement Operations) with clearly defined performance expectations, regular feedback, and professional development opportunities.
Build and sustain a departmental culture rooted in excellence, collaboration, openness, and accountability – aligned with the broader organizational culture of CRO.
Establish and refine advancement department systems, processes, and workflows to support sustainable, scalable fundraising operations.
Ensure effective utilization and integrity of CRM systems for donor tracking, pipeline management, and reporting, holding the team accountable for accurate and timely data.
Build the annual expense budget for all advancement functions and monitor expenses throughout the year.
Staff all meetings of the Development Committee of the Board of Directors, providing strategic updates, data-driven reports, and actionable recommendations.
Partner with the Board to leverage their networks, relationships, and giving capacity for maximum philanthropic impact.
Support board members in their roles as ambassadors and fundraisers for CRO.
Collaborate strategically with the Vice President of CWSP to identify and capitalize on dual engagement opportunities with corporate partners.
Develop and implement joint strategies to approach corporate partners, maximizing the total value of each corporate relationship.
Coordinate messaging and outreach with the Vice President of CWSP to ensure a unified, strategic approach to corporate engagement that reflects both the CWSP value proposition and the broader philanthropic case for support.
Share prospect intelligence, relationship insights, and pipeline data with the CWSP team to ensure coordinated and complementary engagement efforts.
Set strategic direction for all advancement-related communications, including fundraising appeals, donor reports, annual reports, newsletters, and digital content, with execution led by the Director of Marketing & Advancement Operations.
Ensure marketing, branding, and storytelling efforts align with and advance fundraising objectives and the school’s broader mission.
Represent CRO at community events, donor meetings, and public engagements as a visible ambassador for the school’s mission.
Collaborate with the Finance & Operations Department to ensure accurate record keeping for budget, audit, and reporting purposes.
Serve as the organizational steward of brand and storytelling integrity across all school departments, coordinating consistent messaging through the Director of Marketing & Advancement Operations.
Collaborate with community partners and fellow nonprofit organizations participating in the Step Up ecosystem to coordinate donor outreach and maximize collective impact.
Stay current on legislative changes and policy developments related to Florida’s school choice scholarship programs.