About this Chief Advancement Officer role at St. Anne's-Belfield School
About the School
Since 1910, St. Anne’s-Belfield School has been committed to nurturing the whole student: body, heart, mind, and soul. As the largest independent school in the college town of Charlottesville, Va., our 900+ students, age 2 through Grade 12, inspire us each day as we aspire to educate the next generation of exemplary citizens and visionary leaders.
As a member of our school community, you'd be joining a team of people who are passionate about their roles and contributing to a community of purpose and belonging. Those who thrive at St. Anne’s-Belfield are people who, as outlined in our Portrait of a Graduate, pursue knowledge to generate impact, seek to engage diverse perspectives and practices, engage in reflection, demonstrate moral character and integrity, and work to understand and meet the needs of the community.
Our two beautiful campuses on 55 acres serve as vibrant hubs for curiosity, creativity, and academic excellence. This is perfectly complemented by our location in Charlottesville, one of the top 5 happiest cities in the U.S., as recognized by National Geographic and Outside Magazine. Opportunities abound to connect with nature, enjoy arts and culture, engage with the University of Virginia, only one mile away, and explore American history both within our region or Richmond (one hour by car) and Washington, D.C. (two hours by car).
If you're looking for a dynamic learning environment where your contributions help spark each child’s potential, we invite you to consider a career with St. Anne’s-Belfield. We at St. Anne's-Belfield School believe it is the quality and passion of our people that set us apart. We seek to hire the best teachers, administrators, staff members, and coaches to support our student body by offering a competitive benefits package and providing a wonderful working environment.
The Opportunity
St. Anne’s-Belfield School is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to advance the School’s strategic vision through philanthropy and community engagement. Reporting to the Head of School and leading an office of six full-time advancement professionals, the CAO will help ensure the School continues to thrive financially, grow in impact, and deepen engagement with alums, families, and community partners—all while upholding the values and mission that make St. Anne’s-Belfield unique.
This role is ideally suited to a visionary leader with demonstrated fundraising leadership and experience as a strategic partner across the school. The CAO will appreciate both St. Anne’s-Belfield’s deep-rooted traditions of student-centered education and the opportunities to generate significant support for the School’s strategic priorities.
Giving in FY26
- Total Committed: $4.6 million
- Annual Fund: $1.53 million
- Number of Donors: 1,048
- Parent/Guardian Donors: 426
- Faculty/Staff Donors: 134
- Alumni Donors: 292
About Head of School Autumn A. Graves
The CAO will be a member of the Senior Administrative Leadership Team (SALT) under the direction of Dr. Autumn Adkins Graves. Dr. Graves joined St. Anne’s-Belfield School as head of school in 2020 with more than 30 years’ experience as a leader in the education space. Under her leadership, the School has accomplished tremendous achievements. Among them include:
- Increasing the School’s investment fund from $59.8 million to $94M million over six years,
- Securing $4.6 million in new principal, legacy, and annual gifts in FY26,
- Enrolling the School’s largest enrollments for the last three years,
- Overseeing the renovation of the Early Childhood Program (ECP) and the shift to an outdoor curriculum and pedagogy,
- Reimagining and diversifying the Upper School Residential Life Program,
- Renovating 10,000 square feet of an iconic building on the historic Greenway Rise Campus to include a state-of-the-art makerspace, recording studio, library, and flexible learning spaces,
- Orchestrating a school-wide process to design the Portrait of a 2036 Graduate, incorporating futurist thinking to strategic programmatic and philanthropic enhancements,
- Creating a Support Services Department, expanding athletics offerings, and renovating recreational and strength training facilities, and
- Creating a comprehensive Civic Engagement Initiative.
Professional Skills and Competencies
The role of CAO will be essential to continuing to provide students with a multi-dimensional education experience that encourages them to grow into compassionate, engaged citizens. The successful candidate will bring a track record of leadership, innovation, and results in advancement, along with the personal qualities needed to inspire confidence and trust. While St. Anne’s-Belfield will consider a broad range of backgrounds, candidates are expected to demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (e.g., M.A., MBA, M.Ed.) strongly preferred.
- At least 7–10 years of senior-level experience in advancement/fundraising, institutional advancement, or development — preferably in independent schools, boarding/day schools, higher education, or nonprofit educational institutions.
- Demonstrated success with solicitation, stewardship, major gift fundraising, annual funds, planned giving, and campaign management.
- Strong strategic planning, financial acumen, and operational management skills.
- Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills — ability to engage with a wide array of stakeholders (alumni, parents, students, faculty, trustees, donors, community partners).
- Leadership style characterized by collaboration, integrity, diplomacy, and a commitment to mission-driven work.
- Deep appreciation for St. Anne’s-Belfield’s core values: “Integrity, Curiosity, Diversity, Creativity, Agency, and Impact.” An orientation toward innovation, but sensitive to the culture of a close-knit school.
- Mission-driven, student-centered, community-oriented, and equity-minded.
- Entrepreneurial and strategic — able to envision and develop new programs while balancing mission and financial sustainability.
- Highly organized and flexible, demonstrating strong initiative and the ability to juggle competing priorities in a dynamic school setting.
Responsibilities Include:
- Develop and lead a comprehensive advancement strategy — including annual giving, major and planned gifts, capital campaigns, endowment growth, grants, and other philanthropic initiatives — aligned with the School’s Portrait of a 2036 Graduate and strategic priorities.
- Solicit, steward, and cultivate alumni, past and current parents/guardians, grandparents, faculty/staff, and foundations.
- Create annual and multi-year strategic fundraising plans for the Advancement team, with particular emphasis on metrics, KPIs, and goals to ensure sustainable programmatic growth in both the donor pipeline and annual revenue.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with donors: alums, parents/guardians, foundations, community partners, and friends of St. Anne's-Belfield.
- Work with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to identify philanthropic priorities and shape fundraising priorities.
- Provide leadership and oversight to the Advancement Office: donor communications, stewardship, family and alumni relations, development events, fundraising database management, and reporting.
- Cultivate, maintain, and steward an active portfolio of major donor prospects and solicit leadership gifts as appropriate.
- Work closely with Enrollment Management, Academics, Arts, Athletics, Student Life, Residential Life, Finance, and Facilities leadership to align advancement initiatives with St. Anne's-Belfield overarching priorities.
- Oversee the planning and coordination of signature events (reunions, fundraising events, donor receptions, community gatherings, alumni events, etc.) that engage key stakeholders and strengthen community bonds.
- As a member of the Senior Administrative Leadership Team, contribute to schoolwide planning, resource allocation, and strategic decision-making.
- Serve as a public ambassador and representative for St. Anne's-Belfield — with alumni, parents/guardians, donors, community partners, and external stakeholders — building external relationships that support the school’s vision and growth.
Compensation
- Competitive annual salary ($200,000 to $240,000 per year), based on experience
- Generous paid time off (PTO) — up to 6 weeks vacation + 3 personal days annually
- Shared cost high-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance
- School paid short-term and long-term disability, life and AD&D insurance
- Retirement plan with match
- Supplemental insurance policies
- Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
- Discounted gym membership
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Tuition remission and program discounts for children enrolled at the school
- Free, after-school care for children enrolled at the school
- Free lunch when school is in session
- 20% discount to the St. Anne’s-Befield School store
Application
Send an email to stabcao@ies-consulting.org with:
- A letter of interest addressing qualification and vision for the role
- A complete resume detailing positions and responsibilities
- Three professional references with contact information
Please note materials submitted through any other website or means will not be considered.
