Director of Development

 
 
Position: Director of Development
FLSA:     Exempt                       
Employment Type:  Full Time
Reports to:    Principal, Morning Star School

General Summary: The Development Director, reporting to the Principal, serves as a key leadership team member, charged with advancing the school’s mission by securing philanthropic support. This role requires a mission-driven professional who cultivates a culture of philanthropy, champions inclusive Catholic education, and connects the unique needs of special education students with generous benefactors and community partners.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Fundraising & Donor Development
* Design and implement a comprehensive annual development plan focusing on annual funds, major gifts, and planned giving.
* Cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of major donors, including parents, alumni, foundations, and local organizations.
* Partner with the Principal and Board of Directors to identify and solicit leadership gifts for capital improvements and endowment funds.

2. Special Education Advocacy & Grant Writing
* Prepare compelling, mission-focused case statements that clearly articulate the importance of Catholic special education and inclusive learning environments.
* Identify, write, and manage grant proposals targeted at philanthropic foundations, corporate sponsors, and government programs that support special needs education.

3. Events & Community Engagement
* Plan and execute signature fundraising events, such as an annual gala, golf tournament, or giving drives.
* Build strategic partnerships with local businesses, community leaders, and Catholic organizations to expand the school’s visibility and resource network.

4. Communications & Marketing
* Lead marketing and social media campaigns to highlight student achievements, school programs, and community impact.
* Oversee the creation of development collateral, including newsletters, annual reports, and donor appeals.

5. Database & Operations
* Maintain accurate records of all donor interactions and funds using constituent management software.
* Ensure timely and meaningful donor acknowledgments, reporting, and tax compliance.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required
* Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, Business Administration or Non- Profit Administration or related field. Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CRFE) credential or equivalent preferred.
* Minimum of three (3) years of development experience with verifiable successful fundraising programs and personal track record of integrity in fundraising.
* Demonstrated ability to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, businesses, and organizations.
* Familiarity and fluency with the use of technology and the ability to know how to team with others to creatively use technology in ease-of-donation/giving, development and stewardship, marketing, and media relations. 
* Candidate must be a practicing Roman Catholic possessing the ability to respect, promote, accommodate, and not conflict with the mission, moral and social teachings, doctrines, and laws of the Roman Catholic faith and must be a Catholic in good standing with the Church.
* Must have a collaborative style; proven team builder with effective employee-relations skills.  Proven ability to lead and motivate teams through recognition, participation, and delegation.  A leadership style that is approachable, engaging, as well as results and action-oriented
* Pursues this ministry with energy, drive, and a need to produce results, especially in the face of resistance or setbacks. Must be flexible, self-confident, assertive, and persuasive.
* Required to have excellent presentation, verbal and written communication skills, skilled at public speaking.  Ability to produce concise reports and recommendations, make presentations to varied groups, and articulate and inspire commitment to a shared vision. 
* Must be a goal oriented and self-motivated individual who can demonstrate accountability, initiative, creativity and focus in a rapidly changing and intellectually stimulating environment. Must be able to organize and prioritize work, be proactive, resolve complex problems, follow through, and simultaneously manage multiple priorities.
* Ability to respect and value the cultural richness that makes up the Church and society and strives to celebrate commonalities and differences among various groups.
* Exercises considerable independence and judgment with a high level of confidentiality.
* Must successfully pass the required criminal background check prior to employment and maintain this clearance throughout employment.
* Proficient with information technology including Microsoft Office Suite, social media usage, web site contributor level, database maintenance.

LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations. Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, vendors, employees, and the public.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent and to draw and interpret bar graphs.
 
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables.
 
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and ability to adjust focus.
 
WORKING CONDITIONS
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, when necessary, and ability to travel and drive one’s own vehicle to various diocesan locations and events.