SUMMARY: The Director of Development (DoD) works with the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) to lead the creation, implementation, and evaluation of a strategic development plan for Catholic schools within the Diocese of Syracuse. The plan will enable sustainable short- and long-term philanthropic growth by providing metrics and goals for fundraising, donor communication, and opportunities for cultivation and stewardship.
The Director of Development plays a pivotal role in the creation, implementation and evaluation of individual Catholic schools’ development plans. The DoD will serve as a mentor to school staff to ensure fundraising goals and activities are aligned with the school’s strategic direction. The DoD will develop a strong school community and culture of stewardship, working in tandem with school staff to facilitate and strengthen parent and alumni engagement.
This position is funded by the Heritage grant.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: Includes the following. Other duties may be assigned.
• Serve as ambassador for Catholic schools; articulate the schools’ missions to external constituents.
• Educate, energize, and train staff, board members, and volunteers in donor cultivation, professional fundraising techniques, and leading practices.
• Develop and produce regular reports synthesizing financial progress, impact, and trends of fundraising activities.
• Partner with school staff and volunteers to identify prospective donors for annual and major gifts.
• Serve as mentor and support individual schools’ development activities including annual fund, capital fundraising, campaign fundraising, volunteer management, gift processing, donor database management, special events, and marketing efforts tied to fundraising activities, as appropriate.
• Identify and implement new revenue streams, with a focus on increasing sustainable unrestricted revenue.
• Lead the growth of individual giving to include planned giving.
• Inform and provide support for all donor materials to ensure consistent messaging and branding in communications.
• Partner with the finance staff to sustain efficient, effective, and transparent financial tracking and reporting processes.
• Develop, coordinate and refine schools’ database management systems to ensure the effective and productive management of major gift prospects.
• Work collaboratively with the Communications Department to design fundraising collateral and ensure integrated communications and consistent strategies.
• Establish and/or update development policies, systems, and procedures, with a special emphasis on professionalism and ethical standards.
• Guide and consult on alumni relations. Create and promote activities designed to ensure alumni are engaged and contacted for further giving and connection.
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
● Experience (minimum 5 years) operating an annual giving program to include personally soliciting funds and motivating others to solicit funds.
● Leadership experience representing an organization to external audiences and developing successful partnerships.
● Demonstrated fundraising success with individuals, corporations and organizations.
● Ability to communicate and present effectively, both orally and in writing.
● Ability to personally cultivate, secure, administer, and steward significant major gifts.
● Experience in providing strategic direction, leadership, and operational management of a development program.
● Experience organizing, directing, motivating, and evaluating other professionals, support staff, and volunteers.
● Strong organizational and time management skills, and the corresponding analytical skills needed to establish strategic fundraising goals and report on results.
● Ability to exercise leadership skills while engaging in collaborative, team-based work; high capacity to inspire cooperation and work well with teams.
● Demonstrated commitment to inclusion; culturally competent in addressing complex issues.
● High level of integrity, initiative, creativity, and energy.
● Ability to maintain confidentiality.
● Ability and willingness to travel throughout the diocese to meet regularly on-site with schools.
Supervisor: Amy Sansone
Exempt: Yes
The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with qualified disabilities under the Americans with Disabilities Act to perform the essential functions of this position.
How to apply: Please submit resumes to humanresources@syrdio.org