| Organization | Rare Book School |
| Type | Full Time |
| Application Deadline | December 31, 2025 |
| College Degree Required? | Yes |
| Salary Range | $80-90,000 |
| kmcfadden@virginia.edu | |
| Phone | 4342423072 |
Description
The Director of Development is responsible for the overall leadership and management of Rare Book School’s fundraising efforts, including annual giving, major gifts solicitation, grant writing, donor stewardship, and planned giving. This position is also responsible for maintaining and building relationships with the School’s Board of Directors. The Director of Development reports to the Chief of Operations, is a member of the RBS Leadership Team, and supervises the Assistant Director of Development.
Responsibilities:
– Develops, executes, and manages a yearly comprehensive fundraising plan, incorporating annual giving, external grants, major gifts, donor stewardship, and planned giving fundraising initiatives
– Engages a portfolio of current and prospective donors on a continual basis to establish and build affinity between individuals and RBS, which will include travel for donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation visits
– Leads a fundraising team to secure financial support from individuals and other funding sources
– Drafts funding proposals, direct mail letters and emails, event materials, and other fundraising support documents
– Leads prospect wealth screening and biographical research
– Coordinates special fundraising events, as necessary
– Manages for the Development team and organizes partnering staff
– Supervises gift entry, accounting, and reporting functions, ensuring compliance and that donors receive timely gift receipts
– Responsible for the management of donor database, currently Raiser’s Edge
– Prepares fundraising reports for Executive Director, Chief of Operations, and the Board of Directors; staff liaison to Development and Campaign Leadership Committees
Required qualifications:
– Bachelor’s degree
– Minimum five years’ experience with a lead role and a track record of success in at least three key aspects of fundraising (annual fund, major gifts solicitation, grantwriting, donor stewardship, planned giving)
– Ability to work independently and with a team
– Strong organizational and time-management skills
– Effective communication skills, including ability to write and speak persuasively
– Willingness to work some evenings and weekends, especially in RBS’s summer period and an annual New York Board meeting in January
– Willingness to travel for donor cultivation (must have a valid driver’s license)
– Academic, library, or cultural arts experience
– Demonstrated knowledge of planned giving stewardship
Preferred qualifications
– Seven years’ experience—evidence of operational capacity as part of a development team
– Experience working on endowment or capital campaign
– Familiarity with the University of Virginia and/or college & university fundraising
This is a full-time, exempt, benefited position. Benefits include health insurance (including dental and vision); long-term disability; access to professional counseling for individuals and family members; and 403b retirement plan, including employer’s matching contribution (after one year). Salary range of $80,000-90,000 will be commensurate with experience.
To apply, please send a resume, cover letter, and a short sample of professional writing to (rbs_hr@virginia.edu). We welcome inquiries. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until a successful applicant is found.
Rare Book School is an equal opportunity employer committed to Inclusive Excellence in our workplace.
Job Duties
– Develops, executes, and manages a yearly comprehensive fundraising plan, incorporating annual giving, external grants, major gifts, donor stewardship, and planned giving fundraising initiatives
– Engages a portfolio of current and prospective donors on a continual basis to establish and build affinity between individuals and RBS, which will include travel for donor cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation visits
– Leads a fundraising team to secure financial support from individuals and other funding sources
– Drafts funding proposals, direct mail letters and emails, event materials, and other fundraising support documents
– Leads prospect wealth screening and biographical research
– Coordinates special fundraising events, as necessary
– Manages for the Development team and organizes partnering staff
– Supervises gift entry, accounting, and reporting functions, ensuring compliance and that donors receive timely gift receipts
– Responsible for the management of donor database, currently Raiser’s Edge
– Prepares fundraising reports for Executive Director, Chief of Operations, and the Board of Directors; staff liaison to Development and Campaign Leadership Committees
Work Schedule
– 9-5 in-office schedule with flextime WFH options