Chief Advancement Officer

About Mikva

Mikva Challenge’s Mission is to develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active citizens who will promote a just and equitable society.

Mikva Challenge was founded in 1998 as a tribute to former White House Counsel, Judge, and U.S. Congressman, Abner Mikva and his wife, Zoe, a former public-school teacher, and lifelong education activist.

Mikva is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization guided by the principles central to its founders: the best way to learn democracy is to do democracy. For Mikva Challenge, Democracy is a Verb. To that end, Mikva creates bridges between youth and adults to allow them to form interpersonal connections and make civic decisions, together, by providing opportunity, support, and connections that increase civic knowledge, engagement, and transformation — culminating in empowerment, skill, and inclusion. The consequences for young people are transformative to identity — from motivation to serve one’s community, to improvements in academic and social lives, and to the development of active, thoughtful citizens and leaders.

Mikva is driven by their Core Values of Youth Voice, Civic Education, Community, Equitable Inclusion and Reflection and Growth. You can learn more about those values here.

Mikva’s four main program areas involve young people in civic engagement through hands-on, project-based learning that deeply transforms students’ civic attitudes, skills, and sense of agency.

Since 1998, Mikva Challenge has grown and developed an impressive history. Mikva has expanded its reach to impact over 17 states, 3200 teachers, and more than 135,000 high school students, annually. By opening up spaces for democratic education and youth participation in schools and government, Mikva strives to prioritize the needs of low-income youth and under-resourced communities and schools. 88 percent of the youth Mikva serves come from low-income households, and 90 percent are youth of color. Over the last few years, the percentage of students enrolled in Mikva programs who are more likely to be successful beyond high school has increased by over 85 percent. Mikva is poised for growth to build a national Action Civics movement!

Learn more about Mikva at mikvachallenge.org

The Opportunity

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will partner with Mikva Challenge leadership to propel the organization to the next level. Mikva Challenge is on the cusp of significant growth and is seeking a Chief Advancement Officer that will craft a development strategy aligned with the organization’s national growth plan. The CAO will use a creative approach to convert strategy into effective execution, translating Mikva’s initiatives and goals into clear objectives for board and staff. They will build, develop, and nurture a high-functioning development team, utilizing a motivating approach to further collaboration, achieve consensus, and generate support from stakeholders. Collaborating closely with the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Advancement Officer will implement a comprehensive and multi-faceted donor communication and stewardship strategy that ensures donor satisfaction. 

The Chief Advancement Officer will manage a team of eight, with three direct reports.

This role is expected to travel, on average, 15-20% of the time to further the organization’s growth.

The Chief Advancement Officer responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Establish a strong development program aligned to the strategic growth plan, positioning Mikva for long-term, sustainable success through strong and growing philanthropic support;
• Develop and implement a robust national development strategy that encompasses foundations, major and other individual donors, corporations, special events, and government contract and fee-for-service revenue for a $7M organization;
• Create and implement a process by which a steady source of donor prospects are identified, researched, and qualified for the appropriate level of cultivation and solicitation, with the goal of creating a multi-year pipeline to sustain and grow the organization for the future;
• Manage Mikva’s Communications Director to deliver strategic messages to various individuals and stakeholder groups to increase their understanding of the organization’s identity and brand, strategic imperatives, and case for charitable support;
• Prepare and ensure accurate fundraising reports that include all lines of revenue, including philanthropy, government and district contracts, fee-for-service — monitoring monthly progress towards goals;
• Review and create clear policy guidelines for development, including processing and accounting, donor recognition, and stewardship;
• Develop feedback mechanisms to measure the impact of Mikva’s communications/marketing program;
• Manage the performance and professional development of the development and communications teams and create an environment where all staff feel welcome and have equal access to opportunities for professional growth and impact;
• Develop a strong bond with the organization, thoroughly understanding its history, distinct mission, values, and culture; its youth participants; operations; base of financial support; and the opportunities for involvement;
• Lead the board’s Resource Development Committee, partnering with the Resource Development Chair to oversee Board fundraising activities and ensure revenue goals are met;
• Be visible in the civic and philanthropic community nationally (often by attending events to that raise awareness of Mikva and its work), promote Mikva’s presence in appropriate business and civic conversations, and attract donors and advocates to advance Mikva’s mission.

Candidate Profile

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) of Mikva Challenge will possess the following professional and personal qualities, skills, and characteristics:

Innovator in Donor Stewardship and Fundraising

This leader will work tirelessly to build rapport and promote Mikva with its many constituents and partners. The CAO extract and analyze data to make effective, efficient decisions about donor strategy and process. This leader will bring a particular degree of expertise in the area of individual giving, however, they will have familiarity with a wide range of fundraising channels, including government grants, corporate funding partners and foundation support. The CAO will cultivate and grow relationships to strategically increase Mikva’s funding and donor base. This leader will have an inspirational approach to building collaboration and buy-in and generating support for the organization, continually innovating to help expand brand and reach.  

Captivating Communicator and Storyteller

The CAO will be a capable storyteller with a proven track record in public relations and marketing, showcasing expertise in crafting compelling narratives that effectively communicate organization mission to diverse audiences. A leader with the ability to articulate the transformative power of philanthropy to both internal and external stakeholders, the CAO will bring an approachable and familiar style to their interactions with a wide variety of constituents. An exceptional written and verbal communicator, this leader will bring strong active listening abilities to the role, which are essential for effective engagement and communication within Mikva. The CAO will bring bold thinking and an innovative perspective to telling the story of Mikva, with the ability to understand trends and turn them into strategies that address the challenges and needs of youth served by the organization.

Strategic Relationship Builder with a Commitment to Advancing Equity 

The CAO will be a strategic and innovative leader who, in partnership with the Board, Staff and larger Mikva community will develop, communicate and implement a new forward-looking strategic plan for the organization’s development and communication functions. This leader will provide a data-orientated approach to evaluating and establishing the direction of the

Fundraising strategy, with the ability to drive new systems and policies in service of the development of new and stronger programs and services. This leader must have a rich understanding of and belief in the power of celebrating and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and access at all levels, both internally and externally. The CAO will have a commitment to embedding equity into the policies, culture, communications, and processes that guide Mikva’s development and communications functions. 

Passion for Civic Engagement and the Mission of Mikva

The CAO will embody the values and mission of Mikva Challenge and, as a result, will inspire and motivate others to develop youth to be empowered, informed, and active civic leaders who will promote a just and equitable. An empathic, confident leader, the CAO will treat others with respect. The CAO will lead by example, understanding that empathy, humility, and a willingness to reflect on one's own growth areas are essential qualities. The ideal candidate will understand the youth services and civic engagement landscape and will have an eye consistently focused on the future and how to best adapt the approach to the changing environment of social services. The CAO will be an individual of unquestioned integrity, ethics and values - someone who can be trusted without reservation.    

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this position is $175,000 to $200,000. 

Mikva Challenge offers a comprehensive package of benefits including choice of HMO or PPO health care plan including dental and vision; 401(k) retirement plan matched up to 3% of salary; generous paid vacation and sick leave; flexible spending account; short- and long-term disability; Life Insurance; and an Employee Assistance Program.

Contact

Koya Partners has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Marissa Delgado and George Theotokatos. Express interest in this role by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email [email protected]. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

Mikva Challenge is an equal opportunity employer and we highly value diversity in our workplace. Mikva Challenge provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, political affiliation, marital status, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.

Applicants from historically underrepresented and/or marginalized communities, including people of color, are strongly encouraged to apply.

About Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group

Koya Partners, a Diversified Search Group company, is the nation’s premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world.

Diversified Search Group is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of “America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms” and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams.

Learn more about Koya Partners l Diversified Search Group via the firm's website.