Job Description

Applicants must be authorized to work for ANY employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time.

CalWest client school in the greater Santa Barbara, CA area seeks a Director of School Development to begin August 7, 2025 or sooner.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree from a four-year college or university
• 5+ years of experience in a fundraising role for a school or nonprofit organization
• Prior leadership responsibility for raising $500,000+ in annual giving with a proven track record of meeting annual development goals
• Strong understanding of the principles and practices of fundraising, including major gifts, annual giving, planned giving and capital campaigns
• Experience delivering strong communications across a diverse community of donors
• Excellent written and oral English communication skills with the ability to create compelling narratives and presentations
• Strong interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships with donors, volunteers and community members
• Highly organized, with strong event management skills and attention to detail
• Proficiency in development software and donor database management

Responsibilities

1. Fundraising Strategy and Execution

• Create and implement a comprehensive fund development plan to meet the school’s financial goals that articulates the case for giving, the user experience of a school family – from admissions to alumni-hood – with respect to giving, and the role of the Board of Trustees in fund development.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors, including current families, alumni families and foundations.
• Lead The Fund for annual giving campaigns and planned giving initiatives.

2. Donor Relations

• Build and maintain strong relationships with current and prospective donors with a particular emphasis on cultivating engagement among alumni families.
• Plan and execute donor recognition and stewardship programs.
• Prepare and deliver compelling proposals, presentations and reports for donors.

3. Events & Community Engagement

• In close collaboration with the school’s Director of Community Engagement and gala committee, plan the school’s annual benefit auction gala, delivering strong financial performance and a great donor experience.
• Engage with the school community to promote a culture of philanthropy.
• Represent the school at community events and networking opportunities.

4. Development Operations

• Manage the development budget and ensure effective allocation of resources.
• Actively manage the donor database and ensure accuracy of records.
• Provide regular reports to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on fundraising progress and initiatives.
• Oversee production of the school’s annual report and other donor engagement communications tools and collateral.

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