Job Overview

Are you ready to lead organizational growth to fuel gospel impact around the world?

Do you see advancement not just as fundraising, but as ministry—connecting vision, generosity, and global mission? Are you energized by building partnerships, developing people, and crafting strategies that multiply resources for the kingdom? If so, you may be the next Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships at ABWE.

The Opportunity

ABWE exists to fulfill the Great Commission by multiplying leaders, churches, and missions movements among every people.

As our Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships, you'll play a pivotal role in expanding that mission's reach. You'll lead a growing team, deepen donor relationships, and create pathways for individuals, churches, and organizations to invest strategically in gospel impact.

This is a role for a builder and connector—someone who loves vision, relationships, and results. Your leadership will directly influence how ABWE mobilizes resources and partnerships to reach the nations.

What You'll Do

• Lead and grow a high-performing advancement team, including legacy giving, donor development, and partnership engagement functions.
• Design and implement strategies that cultivate major donors, churches, and partner organizations.
• Develop and manage comprehensive legacy and planned giving initiatives in partnership with Finance and Legal.
• Create compelling campaigns and initiatives that inspire generosity and partnership across the ABWE network.
• Represent ABWE at conferences, donor events, and networking opportunities — connecting the global mission with mission-minded partners.
• Collaborate across teams (Communications, Engagement, Global Ministries) to align messaging, storytelling, and impact reporting.
• Oversee donor portfolios with excellence, ensuring personalized engagement and long-term stewardship.
• Use data-driven insight to refine advancement strategies, improve processes, and track growth trends.
• Host and coordinate events that connect donors and leaders to the frontlines of ministry.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communications, Finance, or related field.
• At least three years of experience in fundraising, donor development/advancement, partnerships, or related fields such as financial services or campaign marketing.
• Proven ability to build relationships, influence decision-makers, and communicate vision with authenticity and passion.
• Joy-filled faith in Jesus Christ and a calling to serve through ministry leadership.
• A creative, self-motivated, and organized approach to strategy and execution.
• Willingness and ability to travel extensively, both domestically and internationally.

Who You Are

• A relational leader who thrives on connecting people to purpose.
• A strategic thinker who can move from vision to action.
• A ministry partner who sees generosity as discipleship.
• A team builder who develops and empowers others.
• A servant leader rooted in integrity, humility, and gospel-centered mission.

Why Join ABWE

For nearly 100 years, ABWE has been equipping missionaries, planting churches, and mobilizing partners to reach the unreached. We're a collaborative team passionate about advancing the gospel with excellence and authenticity. Here, your leadership will directly shape how God's resources flow to the frontlines of global mission.

You'll join a community of believers who pray together, serve together, and celebrate together—all with one shared goal: to see Christ known among every people.

Ready to Make a Global Impact?

If this sounds like you, we'd love to start a conversation. Apply today and help us grow the partnerships that fuel gospel transformation around the world.

Job Description

Job Summary/Primary Role: The Director of Advancement and Strategic Partnerships serves as a key representative of ABWE, Inc., cultivating long-term relationships with donors, churches, and like-minded organizations. This individual will develop and implement strategies for donor development (including major and legacy giving), partnership engagement, and advancement initiatives. By expanding ABWE's constituency base, managing donor relations, and strengthening organizational partnerships, this role helps secure resources that fuel gospel-centered ministry worldwide.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, churches, and organizational partners.
• Develop and implement strategic plans for legacy and planned giving, including collaboration with Finance and Legal teams on estates and gift planning instruments.
• Produce written proposals, reports, and donor briefings; manage acknowledgment and follow-up.
• Maintain and use CRM/database tools to document contacts, analyze trends, and build reports/dashboards.
• Build and nurture relationships with pastors, church leaders, business leaders, and networks.
• Represent ABWE at conferences and networking opportunities to promote global ministry.
• Facilitate collaboration between internal ministries and external partners, creating opportunities for shared impact.
• Host and coordinate engagement events for donors, pastors, and ministry leaders.
• Develop advancement initiatives and campaigns in coordination with leadership.
• Collaborate with Communications and Engagement teams to create effective donor and partner materials.
• Oversee assigned donor portfolios and manage long-term stewardship plans.
• Contribute to capital campaigns and global project fundraising, including donor vision trips.
• Ensure donor database integrity, accuracy, and security.
• Provide analysis, data mining, and reporting to guide strategy and decision-making.
• Identify process improvement opportunities to strengthen donor and advancement operations.
• Manage and build an advancement team.
• Performs other duties or special projects as required or as assigned.

Qualifications: Ability to pass background check and all necessary clearances as mandated by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business, Communications, Finance, or related field required.

Minimum Prior Experience Required: Demonstrated success and experience (3+ years) in fundraising, advancement, partnerships, campaign marketing, sales, or financial services.

Travel: This position will require extensive travel, both domestic and international.

Necessary Attributes:

• Joy-filled personal faith rooted in Jesus Christ and a heart to serve.
• Strong relational and interpersonal communication skills (listening, verbal, written, presentation).
• Detail-oriented, organized, self-disciplined, and deadline-driven.
• Able to maintain confidential information with integrity.
• Knowledge of Scripture and global missions with ability to engage across denominations.
• Creative, self-motivated, and proactive in pursuing opportunities.

Christian Life: ABWE is a Christian organization, and it is necessary that employees possess and maintain a lifestyle that is above reproach. Employees are encouraged to participate in staff events including corporate and departmental prayer times and staff meetings and lunches.

All ABWE employees must:

• Be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ and able to articulate a personal testimony of salvation.
• Be walking in Christ-like obedience to Biblical standards in ways that evidence a transforming relationship with Jesus Christ, particularly as outlined in ABWE's Christian Code of Conduct.
• Be a current and active member and/or regular attendee of a like-minded local church that aligns doctrinally with ABWE.
• Be able to fully support ABWE's mission, vision, core values, Statement of Faith, and ministry philosophy.
• Be able to follow all guidelines set forth in the ABWE IHQ Staff Handbook.

Physical Demands and Work Environment: The physical demands are minimal and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations, including extended periods of time sitting at a desk. The work environment is representative and typical of similar jobs in comparable organizations. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit for extended periods of time, talk or hear; perform fine motor, hand, and finger skills in the use of a keyboard, telephone, or writing. The employee is frequently required to stand, walk, and reach with arms and/or hands. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. The employee will spend their time in an office environment with a moderate to high noise level. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.