Christian Academy
School System
Position: Development Director
Job Description
Scope
The Development Director is a lead fundraising professionalforthe Christian Academy School System.This position is full-time, year-round, and accountable for strategically designing and executing a personal solicitation program targeted at securing philanthropic support for the school’s mission and vision, working with the Development team.
Qualifications
The Development Director shall possess characteristics that reflect:
- A strong, clear Christian testimony with a mature, godly spirit
- A daily example of the highest Christian virtue both in and out of school
- A commitment to faithful attendance and support of a church whose beliefs are in agreement with the Statement of Faith
- Agreement and belief that The Bible is the final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind
The Development Director shall possess:
- A Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in nonprofit management, business management, or equivalent
- 2+ years professional experience with nonprofit or fundraising organizations preferred
- A minimum of five years of professional fundraising experience with demonstrated results
- Previous experience in designing and managing development programs and strategies
- Experience with developing and maintaining productive relationships with board members, donors, parents, administrators, and faculty
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Natural inclination to initiate and nurture relationships
- Grant writing and research experience
- Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team
- Experience with Raiser’s Edge or other donor database
- Proven ability to ask for funds either individually or in group settings
- Proactivity, personal accountability, discernment, and the ability to collaborate effectively to accomplish department and system goals.
Responsibilities
- Create, inspire, and maintain donor interest, loyalty, enthusiasm, and engagement
- Meet annual and long-term fundraising goals for the Annual Fund, Capital Campaign, and other campaigns
- Oversee and directfundraising activities, including annual giving, capital campaigns, special projects, and otherancillary group school-related solicitations(including PTO, athletics, fine arts, and missions)
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close donations to the school
- Exhibit and promote a comprehensive understanding of the philanthropic priorities of the school, effectively matching the specific interests of donor prospects to the needs of the school
- Assist in the design, implementation, and management of all fundraising activities, including annual giving, endowments, capital campaigns, special projects, and other school-related solicitation
- Identify, cultivate, solicit, and close major and planned gift prospects, focusing primarily on the $10,000 level and above, and with a primary focus on individuals
- Meet annual fund development goals and metrics as developed by school leadership. These goals include a specified number of weekly meetings with qualified donor prospects and a set number of formal solicitations, as well as dollars raised and donor participation goals
- Develop and implement a Planned Giving program, including identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and closing planned gifts
- Build and maintain ongoing positive relationships with giving prospects
- Supervise donor and gift record-keeping
- Coordinate development research activities
- Attend school-wide events as appropriate to meet with donors and potential donors
- Work closely with the System Development office to foster effective campus-level and system-wide development efforts
- Assist in all Development activities as needed
Outcomes
- Assure excellent stewardship of God’s resources in time, talent, and treasure
- Create new one, three and five year plans to achieve desired development/fundraising outcomes each year
- Increase gifts and donations for established fundraising efforts, such as the Annual Fund and Capital Campaigns
- Enhance relationships with donors, corporations, foundations, and friends of the school to cultivate ongoing and new gifts
Reporting Relationship:
This position reports directly to the Director of Development.