Director of Development

Bishop McNamara High School is a co-ed independent, Catholic day school founded in 1961 by the Brothers of the Holy Cross. The school is located minutes from Washington, DC, serves 850 students, and seeks a Director of Development reporting to the President / CEO of the school who will be a member of the school’s senior leadership team, and start on July 1, 2021 (or earlier by mutual agreement). This role is responsible for managing a development team of four, the school’s annual fund, the last year of a capital campaign, and our ongoing alumni and donor relations. The school is actively constructing a campaign supported Science and Innovation Center with expected construction completion in the fall of 2022. The school seeks a well-rounded leader and innovator in the field with proven results as a fundraising manager in a school setting. Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will be in the range of $100,000 annually.

POSITION DESCRIPTION:

An integral member of the Bishop McNamara High School (BMHS) senior leadership team, The Director of Development provides leadership for all communications, fundraising, advancement services, and alumni relations.

The school’s annual budget is approximately $16M. While most of this revenue comes from tuition, our goal is to raise $1M from annual giving, grants, and sponsorships. In addition, we are nearing the completion of a successful capital campaign to build an innovative new science and technology center on campus with $2.5M remaining on our campaign goal. It is an exciting time for a new development pro to take the helm of our fundraising efforts and to help position our next initiatives.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES

Leading the team: 

Managing the development team which includes 5 team members focusing on donor relations, mission advancement, advancement services, grant writing, and external communications. Supervising, setting direction, and supporting the goals of each function of the team. Providing regular performance feedback, including annual performance appraisals, for the purpose of supporting the professional growth and talents of each team member.  Creating a culture and environment that encourages inclusiveness and teamwork. Representing the program at the senior administrative level. 

Fundraising:

Leading the effort to raise approximately $1M annually with the goal of increasing overall giving each year. Setting the direction of the school’s fundraising efforts, including annual fund, capital campaigns, endowment, grants, special projects, state and federal grants, and planned giving.  Becoming a part of the BMHS community and establishing relationships with long term donors and supporters. Identifying and building a prospect pipeline to include high net worth individuals, corporate partners, foundations, and government grant opportunities. Actively finding connections and reaching out to build new relationships with future funders and donors.  Supporting a grant writer with funding applications, as needed.  Ensuring annual fund goal completion annually. Supporting the School President in developing key relationships and making solicitations. Bringing understanding and new ideas in the areas of technology to advance the capabilities of the development function  Overseeing the gift reporting, acknowledgments, accounting, and data management of the office. Representing the school and being an active participant in the community through membership in civic groups, such as Rotary, city chambers of commerce, and economic development organizations. 

Works with the school’s board advancement committee to set fundraising agendas, provide data, and coordinate all fundraising efforts.

Skills & Knowledge 

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Experience 

5 years management experience is required. Successful fundraising experience with cultivating, engaging, and expanding donor relationships with a wide variety of donors. Experience in institutional advancement, preferably at a non-profit institution with an educational component. Experience working with and connecting to a large and diverse community of people. Demonstrated strengths in interpersonal skills and collaboration. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to oversee a department and motivate and manage people while also acting as a professional mentor to build on the skill and strengths of direct reports.  Comfort with and the skills to effectively use a variety of programs and software, including database programs.

Education 

Bachelor’s degree is required, advanced degree preferred.

CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR LICENSES:

None

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: Must have the ability to sit and stand for extended periods of time; exhibit manual dexterity to enter data into a computer; to see and read a computer screen and printed material with or without vision aids; hear and understand speech at normal classroom levels, outdoors, and on the telephone; speak in audible tones so that others may understand clearly in normal classrooms, outdoors, and on the telephone; physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds; to bend, stoop, climb stairs, and reach overhead.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: 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. Duties are normally performed in a school/classroom environment. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

LOCATION/TRAVEL: While Bishop McNamara High School is located in Forestville, MD, you may live anywhere in the surrounding region, but be willing to make any commute to the school. Once a month overnight travel may be required to support the cultivation and solicitation of gifts.

DISABILITY SPECIFICATIONS: Bishop McNamara High School will make reasonable accommodations in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Bishop McNamara High School is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

The essential functions and basic skills have been included. This is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Supervisors as deemed appropriate may assign additional functions and requirements.