Job Description Director of Development and Stewardship
Organization:
SS. Philip and James Church & University Parish
Position description:
Saints Philip and James Church and University Parish is looking for a Director of Development and Stewardship.The Director of Development and Stewardship leads SS. Philip and James' fundraising activities at both the campus ministry and the parish at large. This is a full-time salaried position. This person will work under the direct supervision of the Chaplain & Director of the Catholic Community at Hopkins and ultimately the Pastor of SS. Philip and James. The Director of Development will advance the mission, vision, and strategic plans of SS. Philip and James University Parish, in collaboration with the Dominican friars and other staff for the spread of the Gospel and the salvation of souls in Baltimore and Johns Hopkins University.
The Director of Development works most closely with the Chaplain to manage donor relationships and implement comprehensive annual fundraising efforts specifically for the Catholic Community at Hopkins. The Director of Development is responsible for broad and creative fundraising and relationship building. The selected candidate will develop and execute a comprehensive major gift strategy and manage the tracking, acknowledgement, and reporting of all gifts. The Director of Development will also play a key role in the planning, budgeting, and oversight of any future capital projects undertaken by the parish and campus ministry.
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Major Gift Strategy
Identify and cultivate relationships with potential major donors.
Personally engage and meet with top donors and prospects.
Prepare donor research and prospecting materials to support the Chaplain and Pastor in their major gift conversations.
Capital Needs
Help the University Parish prepare for future capital projects.
Strategic Planning
Develop and maintain an annual development calendar with clear benchmarks and timelines
Plan and execute major annual initiatives including a Giving Tuesday campaign, a year-end appeal, a spring appeal, and various other campaigns as appropriate.
Track progress towards annual fundraising goals and provide regular reporting.
Support CCH's monthly donor society, major gift strategy, and grant applications.
Donor Acknowledgement and Cultivation
Engage alumni, parents, parishioners, and other benefactors through monthly donor cultivation efforts and stewardship communications including but not limited to a monthly e-newsletter.
Oversee all registrations, communications, and post-event follow-up for cultivation initiatives (either in collaboration with Johns Hopkins or hosted by the campus ministry/parish).
Ensure timely, personalized acknowledgement of gifts.
Pray for the benefactors of CCH and SSPJ, and encourage the rest of the staff to do the same.
Parish Stewardship Innovation
Help the Pastor and parish staff grow and promote giving to the parish through Offertory Appeals, bequests, etc.
Database & System Management
Oversee all donor records and gift tracking while maintaining database integrity and reporting accuracy.
Generate financial and donor engagement reports.
Manage technical backend of online giving platforms and digital campaigns.
Coordinate with parish bookkeeper and Office Manager for reconciliation and compliance with archdiocesan policies.
Communications & Design
Create development materials (often using Canva), including appeal graphics, newsletters, and event collateral.
Draft appeal letters, follow-up communications, annual reports, and impact updates that clearly articulate the mission and impact of CCH.
Assist with the maintenance of the donor-facing portions of the CCH website and social media presence.
Qualifications:
Must be a practicing Catholic in good standing who upholds all Church teachings, loves Christ and His Church, is committed to the mission of the Dominican friars and SS. Philip and James, and sees development work as an essential part of our parish's mission to evangelize Johns Hopkins University to the saving name of Jesus Christ.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of experience, training, and education is required; master's degree preferred.
Documented successful solicitations of numerous major and principal gifts.
Strong organizational and leadership capabilities.
Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, budgeting, research, board development, donor relations, and staff management.
Exemplary interpersonal, public speaking, and writing skills.
Demonstrated ethic of accountability in the workplace. High level of initiative and excellent judgment.
High level of energy, initiative, and creativity.
Willingness to work evenings and weekends as needed.
Proficiency in the use of MailChimp (or a similar mass email platform), and donor databases (Bloomerang preferred) is desired. Ability to quickly master them is necessary.
Work Environment, Hours, and Compensation:
The position will require working in the offices of SS. Philip and James Church in frequent collaboration especially with the Chaplain, Pastor, Office Manager, and Campus Minister.
This work will entail a 40 hour work week with usual practice of being in the office from 9am-5pm on weekdays, with ample flexibility when evening or weekend work is needed. We are open to considering remote work as possibility for the Director.
The Director of Development and Stewardship will be paid an annual salary of $90,000-$100,000/year and will receive a full benefits package through the Archdiocese of Baltimore, including health, dental, and vision insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan with a 4% match. The current Development Coordinator (who is transitioning to another role on our team) and the Chaplain will provide structured onboarding, including: documentation of systems and workflows, training in Bloomerang and reporting procedures, overview of appeal timelines & donor segmentation, transfer of Canva templates and communication assets, and introductions to key benefactors.
The Director of Development and Stewardship would ideally begin work in July 2026, but could begin later in the summer or early fall.