Director of Development

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT JOB DESCRIPTION: 

Job Summary

The Director of Development plans and implements comprehensive giving programs and events that increase operating, scholarship and capital support for the School. The Director has the ability to establish and maintain good working relationships with faculty, alumni, donors, students, volunteers, businesses, and the general public. Reporting to the Head of Advancement & Admission and working closely with the administrative team and board of trustees, the Director is responsible for creating a strong culture of philanthropy throughout the School.

Charleston Collegiate School (CCS) is an independent day school which strives to recognize, nurture, and challenge each of its students. Located on Johns Island, SC twenty minutes from Charleston’s historic district, CCS is the only co-educational, non-sectarian, preschool through 12th grade, independent school in Charleston’s metropolitan area.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Director of Development will:

• Establish and execute forward-thinking, goal-driven development plans, events, and programs that optimally grow the annual, major, and scholarship campaigns. 
• Work with the Head of School, Board Development Committee, and Head of Advancement & Admission to evaluate each year’s giving programs and develop goals and objectives for the following year.

• Oversee all aspects of the development program, including; annual giving, scholarship giving, grants, alumni, special events, and donor database management. Coordinate planning for upcoming capital campaign.

• Partner with the Head of Advancement & Admission to develop a plan for the cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors and the stewardship of donors with specialized plans for leadership prospects and donors.

• Personally solicit major donors after developing relationships through outreach.

• Think strategically and formulate new ways to educate the CCS community (parents, faculty/staff, alumni) about philanthropy at CCS.

• Identify, recruit, and train the volunteers necessary to help with fundraising efforts while establishing strong working relationships with these individuals.

• Maintain the fundraising calendar, ensuring that it is coordinated with the Development, Admissions, PTO, Boosters and School calendars

• Design and implement targeted fundraising, community building, and stewardship events. Traditional CCS fundraising events and campaigns include Annual Fund, Fall Festival and Run Like the Devil 5K, Giving Tuesday, McNair Invitational golf tournament, Annual Gala/Auction, and more.

• Strengthen relationships with the School’s alumni both locally and nationally, and continuously improve alumni programming. Develop an alumni association.

• Maintain a database of all contributors and provide development reports as required.

• Identify corporate and foundation funding opportunities and help draft grant applications. Write grants to grow our educational programs.

• Work with the Head of Advancement & Admission to manage the development budget, forecasting needs and meeting budget targets.

• Prepare and arrange production for solicitation materials (direct mailings, volunteer packets, verbal script materials) that align with branding standards in conjunction with the Marketing & Communications Director

• Develop and maintain a highly collaborative relationship with the Head of School, the Board of Trustees, Head of Advancement & Admission, the Director of Marketing & Communications, supporting them in all their fundraising responsibilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree

• 5+ years of fundraising experience in the nonprofit sector, including management of fundraising campaigns

• Appreciation for and commitment to independent school education and culture

• A track record of success in a major gift or capital campaign environment, along with demonstrated ability to develop and implement 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-figure gift strategies

• Ability to develop and execute a high-level, multi-tiered fundraising strategy across multiple constituencies

• Strong interpersonal skills, including the ability to work graciously with all the School’s constituents while maintaining discretion and confidentiality

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; strong data analysis and public speaking abilities

• Strategic thinker with a “can-do” style, able to convey CCS’s mission and vision, while taking the practical decisions needed to make programs run well

• Passionate about working with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds

• Proficiency using database management software (Veracross, Raiser’s Edge or similar) to coordinate fundraising campaign activities.
• Proficiency with Google Suite, Microsoft, Adobe, etc.

• Practical experience working with and motivating volunteers and staff members
• Event planning and management experience

• Excellent attention to detail, ability to multitask, strong organizational skills

• Familiarity with the Greater Charleston community

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k) and 6% employer matching 
• Dental, Health, and Vision insurance
• Paid time off in addition to breaks that align with the school calendar 
• Tuition remission for children of employees 
  

Starting Salary - from $85,000

Ability to commute/relocate: Johns Island, SC 29455: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person