Director of Development

Description

Christchurch School is a private, coed, Episcopal boarding and day school for grades 9-12. At Christchurch School, we combine 100 years of tradition, community, and relationships with a dynamic and innovative approach to learning that meets each child where they are and prepares them to succeed in a rapidly changing world. Christchurch’s amazingly beautiful campus is located on the Rappahannock River between Saluda and Deltaville, VA. (https://www.christchurchschool.org/ )

Christchurch’s next Director of Development will have the opportunity to create a development vision and strategies to build a strong financial foundation for the school’s second century. Working with a team of three dedicated development professionals who love the school and its mission, the Director of Development will build relationships with current long-term donors as well as new donors. In addition to the annual campaign, Christchurch has just closed out a successful capital campaign, so it is time to start preparing for the next.

This is a remote position, with the expectation that the Director of Development will travel to campus regularly. Additional travel for alumni and donor functions is a part of this job.

Job Duties

Job Summary:
The Director of Development is a key leadership position within the school, responsible for leading and implementing comprehensive fundraising strategies to support the school’s mission and strategic goals. As the Director of Development, you will work closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, alumni, parents, and other key stakeholders to cultivate relationships, secure financial support, and promote a culture of philanthropy within the school community.

Responsibilities:
1. Fundraising Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy aligned with the school’s mission and strategic priorities. Identify funding opportunities, set annual fundraising goals, and establish key performance indicators to measure success.

2. Team Leadership: Provide visionary leadership to the development team, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture. Recruit (as needed), train, mentor, and evaluate development staff, empowering them to achieve individual and team goals.

3. Donor Cultivation and Stewardship: Build and maintain strong relationships with alumni, parents, and other potential donors. Cultivate and solicit major gifts, planned gifts, and grants. Implement effective stewardship programs to recognize and engage donors, ensuring their continued support.

4. Develop New Alumni Relationships: Proactively identify and cultivate relationships with alumni who have not previously been engaged with the school. Design targeted strategies and initiatives to connect with alumni, build rapport, and inspire their involvement and support as donors.

5. Board Development: Collaborate with the Board of Trustees to develop their understanding and involvement in fundraising efforts. Provide guidance and support in identifying and cultivating prospective donors, as well as enhancing their own giving.

6. Capital Campaigns: Lead capital campaigns and major fundraising initiatives, overseeing campaign planning, goal setting, prospect research, solicitation strategies, and campaign communications.

7. Grant Writing and Management: Identify and pursue grant opportunities from family foundations. Prepare compelling grant proposals and manage reporting requirements, ensuring compliance and timely submission. The school does not pursue or accept State or Federal funding.

8. Budget Management: Develop and manage the annual development budget, ensuring efficient use of resources and tracking financial performance against goals. Prepare regular reports for the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and other stakeholders.

9. Communication and Marketing: Collaborate with the communications and marketing team to develop and implement effective messaging and materials that promote philanthropic initiatives and engage the school community and align with the school’s brand.

Skills Required

Qualifications:
Each candidate will bring a unique set of skills and experiences. In addition to a commitment to the mission and values of Christchurch, the following qualifications and attributes provide a profile of desired candidates.

• Bachelor’s degree and experience in a related field such as nonprofit management, philanthropy, or business administration.

• Proven track record of successful fundraising and donor cultivation, preferably in an educational or nonprofit setting.

• Strong understanding of development best practices, including major gift fundraising and donor stewardship.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse stakeholders.

• Strategic thinking with the ability to develop and execute comprehensive fundraising plans aligned with organizational goals.

• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and mentor staff.

• Exceptional organizational and project management abilities, with attention to detail and ability to prioritize tasks effectively.

• Knowledge of relevant fundraising software and databases.

Additional Info

To Apply:
To apply for the position of Director of Development, please submit your resume, cover letter, and professional references to Katherine Whitney at kwhitney@WarrenWhitney.com with “Christchurch” in the subject line. We look forward to reviewing your application and discussing how your expertise can contribute to the continued growth and success of our independent boarding school.

We recognize the importance of confidentiality and that an expression of interest may be purely exploratory in nature.

Christchurch does not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation. The position will remain open until filled.