Chief Advancement Officer

Job Title: Chief Advancement Officer
Department: Advancement
Location: Ideally based in or near Washington, DC,  Oakland or LA, CA; New York, NY, Seattle, WA; or Chicago, IL.  This position can be remote and requires an ability to travel.
Reports To: Chief Development and Marketing Officer
Supervises: 4-6 direct reports  

Sierra Club’s Mission is to explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; and to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment.

Context:  As America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, our 134-year old organization is committed to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors; to working to complete America’s transition to a clean energy economy; to safeguarding the health of our communities; and to protecting wildlife and preserving our wild places.  This work is powered by our approximately 700 staff across the country, a network of 64 local chapters that are led and fueled by thousands of volunteers, and our more than 3.4 million members and supporters. We are also proud to be a unionized employer, with three labor unions representing more than half of our employees.  Sierra Club completed a successful billion dollar comprehensive revenue campaign in 2025, which has fueled our grassroots power, organizational capacity, and big wins for the environment.

Scope: The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will lead Sierra Club’s advancement strategy during a period of organizational evolution and new leadership. The role focuses on securing long-term financial sustainability by growing diversified, mission-aligned restricted and unrestricted funding from institutional funders and individual donors giving $25,000+ annually.

As a Leadership Team member, the CAO will provide both strategic vision and leadership to grow sustainable revenue and advance Sierra Club’s mission. They will oversee and integrate multiple major revenue streams, including: individual major and principal gifts, institutional grants, board giving, and capital and comprehensive campaigns.

This leader will also manage staff leading grant writing and donor stewardship in support of national and chapter activities, and will guide fundraising for multiple funding structures, including the 501(c)(3) (via Sierra Club Foundation fiscal sponsorship) and 501(c)(4), and political action related entities. The CAO collaborates closely with Finance, Program, Communications, Membership Growth, Chapter Fundraising, Field, and Green Ventures and Partnerships to align on key initiatives and ensure the coherence and effectiveness of advancement narratives and priorities.

To Apply
The Sierra Club provides equal employment and advancement opportunities to all staff members. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, lived experience and skills. The Sierra Club does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, immigration status, socioeconomic status, ancestry, age, sizeT, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, familial status, veteran status, disability, AIDS/HIV status, medical condition, prior conviction, arrest history, traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to, hair texture and protective hairstyles, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

The Sierra Club values applicants who are people that identify as Black, Indigenous, and other minority groups; women; queer, transgender, gender non-conforming, and gender fluid people.

Explore, enjoy and protect the planet.

Applications will be accepted through March 22, 2026.

Compensation and Benefits
The salary range for this position is $240,000 - $260,000 annually.

The Sierra Club offers a competitive salary package commensurate with skills and experience plus excellent benefits that include medical, dental, and vision coverage, and a retirement savings 401(k) plan. 

This is a category 1, exempt, non-represented, leadership, and managerial position.

Sierra Club values the expertise and talents of foreign nationals. Sierra Club sponsors both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas when certain criteria are met, based on immigration laws and organizational needs. Such sponsorship is at the discretion of the Department Head and Sierra Club People Department in consultation with the Office of General Counsel. The Sierra Club cannot guarantee the approval of a visa petition. The Sierra Club is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce belonging.