Director of Advancement

POSITION DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Director of Advancement

DEPARTMENT: Calvary Christian Academy

REPORTS TO: President 

Status: Exempt; 12-month calendar

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At Calvary Christian Academy, a ministry of Calvary Chapel, we are a community of Christian believers who exist to make disciples of Jesus Christ through a biblical school environment that prepares students to glorify God spiritually, academically, and socially. Our vision is to reach our community and change our world. As a Minister and staff member, it is not only what we do, it is also who we are.

Purpose Statement:

The Director of Advancement is responsible for providing strategic leadership and direction for all advancement initiatives at Calvary Christian Academy under the President. This role develops and executes comprehensive fundraising strategies that support the school's mission and long-term growth, while cultivating meaningful relationships with leadership, donors, and key stakeholders. The Director oversees all advancement efforts, including annual giving, major gifts, emerging endowment development, capital campaigns, special events, donor stewardship, and philanthropic communications. 

Scope of Role:

The Director of Advancement serves as a key member of the leadership team, overseeing the entire landscape of institutional growth and donor relations. The scope of this position includes the strategic design and execution of all philanthropic revenue streams, primarily the Annual Fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, and emerging endowments. This leader is responsible for cultivating a comprehensive culture of generosity across the CCA community, managing the internal advancement team, and serving as the primary liaison between the President’s office and the school’s most significant financial partners.

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership & Annual Giving: Develop and oversee a multi-year advancement plan; specifically lead the growth and sustainability of the Annual Fund to meet immediate operational needs and foster a consistent pipeline of support.
• Major Gift & Portfolio Management: Personally manage a high-level portfolio of major donors; oversee personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to secure transformative gifts and capital support.
• Executive Partnership: Collaborate closely with the President and Board to align messaging; strategically leverage executive leadership to maximize donor engagement and fundraising outcomes.
• Team & Volunteer Management: Lead and mentor the Advancement staff and volunteer base; foster a collaborative environment and educate staff and leadership on fundraising best practices.
• Operations & Data Strategy: Oversee donor pipeline management and advancement software; utilize data-informed strategies to track performance, evaluate the Annual Fund’s effectiveness, and provide regular reporting.
• Communications & Corporate Partnerships: Direct all advancement-related communications (campaign materials, stewardship, etc.) and lead strategies to expand corporate sponsorships and community business partnerships.
• Events & Special Initiatives: Provide oversight for annual fundraising events and the development of emerging endowment structures.

Qualifications & Skills

• Spiritual Alignment: A deep, active commitment to Jesus Christ and the educational philosophy of Calvary Chapel and CCA; demonstrates a "servant-leader" heart.
• Professional Experience: 3–5 years of proven success in advancement leadership, with a demonstrated record of managing Annual Funds, major gifts, and capital campaigns.
• Strategic Expertise: Ability to analyze complex fundraising data and translate insights into actionable, high-growth strategies.
• Communication Excellence: Exceptional interpersonal and public speaking skills; ability to navigate sensitive situations with Christ-like integrity and confidentiality.
• Leadership Gifting: Strong administrative and discernment skills; ability to inspire collaboration across administration and the broader school body.