Community Advancement Associate

Overview

Some of the best conversations in this job start with a question nobody has asked in years.

A woman in one of our communities taught third grade for thirty-four years. She held the hands of more frightened children than she could count. Nobody at her new address knew that until someone stopped in the hallway and asked her what she did before she came here. She talked for forty-five minutes. Three weeks later she was leading a book club on Thursday afternoons, and she said it was the best part of her week.

That is the job. You learn what people care about, you remember it, and over time you help them connect what they love to the future of the place they call home.

Responsibilities

What you would actually do

• Spend most of your week with people. Residents, their adult children, neighbors, local business owners, and friends of the community.
• Build a portfolio of 30 to 50 individuals from a pool of 300 to 600 people at your campus, and keep a real plan for each one.
• Invite people to give, clearly and without pressure. Gifts here vary by campus and generally run from $500 to $10,000, and some people choose to leave a legacy gift in their estate plans.
• Thank people quickly and personally, and make sure they know what their generosity actually did.
• Host gatherings, tours, and events where people can see the mission for themselves.
• Keep good records, so the relationship belongs to the organization and not to one person’s memory.
• Protect the people we serve. We have written guardrails about how and when we ask, and you will never be alone in deciding what is appropriate.

Qualifications

Who does well here

You bring two to three years of fundraising experience, or work that is genuinely equivalent: you have carried your own set of relationships, you have asked people directly for a commitment that mattered, and you have been accountable for the outcome. That experience may have a different name on it. Senior living sales counselors, club and membership directors, ministry and church development staff, client-facing financial professionals, and volunteer leaders who have built something real all do versions of this work. If that is your background, tell us about the relationships you built and what you asked people for.

Beyond experience, we are looking for three things: curiosity about people, follow-through when nobody is checking, and the ability to talk about money without pressure and without apology. Raiser’s Edge certification is a plus, and we provide the database training. Life experience is an asset in this work, and second career candidates are welcome.

What we are honest about

• This is patient work. Relationships develop over years, not quarters, and there is no monthly dollar quota in this role.
• You will hear no more often than yes, and some weeks will feel unfinished.
• Expect 2 to 4 evening or weekend commitments a month, and travel between campuses.
• You will spend time with people who are grieving, and with families who are worried. That is part of the trust.

What we provide

• Donor database training, paid AFP membership, support toward CFRE certification, and one professional conference each year.
• A mentor who has done this work, and protected time to learn.
• Colleagues who will tell you the truth kindly, and a campus team that knows the residents by name.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Paid time off and paid sick leave.
• 403(b) retirement plan with a company match.
• Company-paid life insurance, with the option to buy more.
• Employee Assistance Program.

About us

Christian Care Management operates the Fellowship Square communities across Arizona, in Phoenix, Surprise, Mesa, Historic Mesa, and Tucson. We are a nonprofit serving older adults in independent living, assisted living, skilled nursing, and affordable housing. We believe every person carries immeasurable value, and it shapes how we treat residents, families, and each other.

We are an outwardly Christian organization. You do not need to share our faith to belong here and to do this work well. You do need a genuine commitment to the way we treat people.

Fellowship Square Christian Care is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability, national origin, veteran status, or any other basis covered by applicable law. Reasonable accommodation is available at any point in the hiring process; contact Human Resources to request it.