There are many factors that can influence whether a highly talented staff member will build a career within an institution or use it as a stepping stone. This article defines and explores the notions of developing career paths and succession planning and why they are critical human capital investment strategies in retaining the highest performers in advancement divisions. The article discusses how developing career paths and engaging in succession planning is a long-term human capital investment with a powerful return. The article will give advancement managers the rationale to develop career paths and succession plans for their highest performers and for sustaining high performance advancement divisions.