CLIENT SUMMARY
Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries exists to restore the Faith, Family, and Future of vulnerable children and families through Christ-centered services that emphasize ministry and healing. Founded in 1892, Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries brings more than 130 years of faithful service to children impacted by abuse, neglect, and trauma.
Today, the organization provides a continuum of care that includes Crisis Care, Residential Care, Family Care, and Foster Care, supported by a dedicated and growing team of approximately 135 employees.
Connie Maxwell’s culture is best described as “a true family”—one that intentionally cares for one another so it can provide excellent, individualized care to those it serves. Internally, the ministry is known for joy, unity, and fun, paired with visionary leadership that is positioning Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries as a future national leader in child and family healing
The ministry’s irreplaceable values include being Christ-centered, promoting healing, practicing forgiveness, living in unity, realizing dreams, embracing sacrifice, showing empathy and compassion, absolute surrender to God, and striving for excellence in all things.
POSITION OBJECTIVE
Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries is seeking a Vice President of Strategy and Engagement to play a pivotal role in executing President Danny Nicholson’s long-term vision.
This role exists to help Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries complete a multi-year transformation into a national model for trauma-informed, Christ-centered healing, grounded in Dr. Bruce Perry’s Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics® (NMT). The VP of Strategy and Engagement will focus on external engagement, fundraising strategy, and relational execution, ensuring donors, partners, churches, volunteers, and communities are deeply aligned with Connie Maxwell’s mission and approach.
This is not a visionary role. The strategy is already defined, funded, and working. The organization is seeking a humble, teachable, highly relational leader who can faithfully execute an established plan, strengthen relationships, and further extend the organization’s influence with integrity and excellence.
POSITION KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- External Strategy & Engagement
- Set and guide CMCM’s overall strategy for engaging donors, churches, volunteers, alumni, and community partners.
- Ensure all engagement reflects Connie Maxwell Children’s Ministries relational, Christ-centered philosophy.
- Fundraising Leadership
- Oversight of:
- Annual Fund
- Major Gifts
- Planned Giving
- Endowment growth
- Work alongside the VP for Advancement to diversify and strengthen revenue streams.
- Assist with ongoing and future capital campaign efforts
- Marketing & Communications
- Provide leadership over CMCM’s marketing and communications strategy to ensure clarity, consistency, and mission alignment.
- Volunteer & Church Engagement
- Strengthen volunteer systems and deepen church partnerships, ensuring engagement remains relational rather than transactional.
- Team Leadership & Collaboration
- Lead and develop a team of direct reports, fostering unity, encouragement, and shared purpose.
- Model collaboration across departments and alignment with executive leadership.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE NEEDED
- Bachelor’s degree
- 8–10+ years of fundraising or advancement leadership experience
- Knowledge of Annual Funds, Major Gifts, Planned Giving, and Endowments
- Deep, authentic Christian faith and evident spiritual maturity
- Strong sense of calling and mission alignment
- Highly relational with excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- Positive, encouraging, collaborative leadership style
- Willingness and ability to take direction from the President
- Commitment to doing things relationally, not just efficiently