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 can be 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 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.

To Apply:

To apply for the position of Director of Development, please submit your resume, cover letter, and professional references to Katherine Whitney at [email protected] 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 Christchurch 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.

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.

About Christchurch School

Christchurch School: we combine strong community with innovation to deliver our mission to meet students where they are and help them to find their infinite value in a rapidly changing world. Our traditions encompass being a coeducational Episcopal boarding and day school with an academically diverse student population of 220 college-bound students in grades 9 - 12. We believe strongly in being a mission-driven community. Our teachers know our mission and believe in it, and try to live it everyday. Prospective faculty members should embrace the mission, values and aspirations of our school, and want to live and work with students of many different kinds. Prospective teachers should also be committed to our progressive approach to education, which uses a highly relational, mastery, and place-based approach to build competencies and make meaningful connections so that learning is relevant. More details about our innovative curriculum--as well as our co-curricular programs, which include successful athletics and place-based outdoor immersion programs--are available on our website. Situated on the banks of the Rappahannock River in rural Tidewater, Virginia, Christchurch is near ...to the village of Urbanna and the towns of Gloucester and Kilmarnock. We are forty-five minutes from Williamsburg (home of the College of William and Mary), and one hour from both Richmond and the Hampton Roads area. With a student population of 220 and a teaching faculty of 30, the atmosphere on campus is collegial, friendly, personal, and above all, community-oriented. 80% of faculty members and their families live on campus, where housing includes utilities. Faculty families are welcome for all regular meals when school is in session. Resident and non-resident members of the faculty participate in the full life of the school-from morning assembly and chapel to classroom and after-school activities, athletics, residential life oversight and weekend activities, as well as special events and awards ceremonies. The standard load carried by faculty members is 4 classes, 2 co-curricular seasons or the equivalent, and rotating dorm duty. All positions include competitive salary commensurate with experience and education, as well as benefits (major medical insurance, dental, and vision, TIAA-CREF, disability insurance, life insurance, meals, and professional development) and may include housing and utilities. One of six schools in the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia, Christchurch is also a member of the National Association of Independent Schools, the National Association of Episcopal Schools, and the Virginia Association of Independent Schools. We are accredited by VAIS through the Virginia Council for Higher Education, the Commonwealth of Virginia's authorized accrediting agency for independent schools. We subscribe to the principles of good practice of these organizations. The School is an equal opportunity employer. The School provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and job applicants without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, veteran status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions including lactation, age, disability, genetic information or any other factor prohibited by applicable law. Check out our website and our mission, values, and aspirations: we believe in fostering the infinite value of each student, and we try to live that everyday. Great Journeys Begin at the River!

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