The Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) seeks an experienced, energetic, and creative Chief Advancement Officer (CAO). The CAO will have the opportunity to shape the CHS’s strategic fundraising vision for the future. The successful candidate will partner with the Executive Director/CEO, senior staff leadership, and Board of Trustees to create, plan, and execute a comprehensive campaign including annual, capital, and endowment.  

The successful candidate will have the demonstrated track record to lead, build, and manage a multi-faceted, comprehensive fundraising and marketing program in an environment where the prospective donor constituency is not immediately obvious. The CAO will strategically engage the Executive Director/CEO and Board of Trustees in public outreach and fundraising activities, providing meaningful engagement opportunities and effective support. S/he will be a creative and effective manager and implement policies and best practices to ensure greater staff collaboration and accountability. The ideal candidate will engage staff, Board of Trustees, and volunteers at all levels to create a robust fundraising culture and increase fundraising participation.  

The CAO will report to the Executive Director/CEO and lead a team of five development, marketing, and communications professionals. The candidate will have accountability to the CHS’s Campaign Committee and serve on the Executive Leadership Team. 

The Connecticut Historical Society (CHS) has always worked to understand the past and encourage historic inquiry. Through permanent and groundbreaking temporary exhibitions such as Common Struggle, Individual Experience, An Exhibition about Mental Health, the CHS has always worked to ensure that Connecticut residents feel connected not only to the history and culture of Connecticut but, through a shared understanding of history, with each other. The public programming of the CHS serves school groups, families, teachers, curious life-long learning adults, researchers, and the State of Connecticut. The CHS is the only state historical organization that offers a folklife program, the Connecticut Cultural Heritage Arts Program, to ensure the collection is an inclusive and true representation of the diversity of the state. The adoption of the state folklife program in 2015 resulted in bringing more than 60,000 objects, mostly photographic and video content, of the diverse cultural groups that are in Connecticut. 

The Connecticut Historical Society is at an exciting moment in its history. As the organization prepares for its 200th Anniversary in 2025, the CHS is committed to a five-year strategic plan to enhance its impact by elevating work with diverse communities across the state to develop engaging programs, events, and exhibitions. The CHS is in discussions with the State of Connecticut regarding a potential public-private capital project which is currently in its early stages of conception. In support of this capital project, the CHS anticipates launching a comprehensive fundraising campaign. In preparation for this anticipated campaign, the CHS has completed a campaign readiness assessment, an extensive development assessment, and wealth screen of its prospects. The CHS has also completed an institutional rebrand which will launch to the public in the first quarter of 2023.  

Connecticut Historical Society has retained Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC to facilitate this executive recruitment. Please send confidential inquiries and applications directly to Freeman Philanthropic Services, LLC via e-mail at [email protected].