Charleston Day School | Director Of Philanthropy & Engagement

Job Description
Charleston Day School is seeking a Director of Philanthropy and Engagement to play a critical role in the school’s success and advancing CDS’s culture of philanthropy. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director will provide visionary leadership, day-to-day administration, and active execution for Charleston Day School’s comprehensive advancement program, including annual giving, major gifts,, planned giving, constituent relations, stewardship, and database management. The Director is responsible for integrating the school’s mission — to foster scholarship, integrity, respect, and responsibility— into all parts of the advancement program. The ideal candidate will demonstrate maturity in the industry through proven experience, strong leadership and management skills, and high-level volunteer engagement. Additionally, with the recent purchase of a key piece of property adjacent to the downtown campus, Charleston Day School anticipates an exciting and transformative campaign and chapter in the school’s 86-year history. The Director will play a central leader in planning, organizing, and executing this campaign effort.
Primary Duties and Responsibilities:
Visionary Leadership and Strategy:
Collaborate with the Head of School and Director of Finance to establish, pursue, and monitor annual and multi-year fundraising goals that are both ambitious and achievable.
Incorporate industry best practices to develop a comprehensive fundraising plan encompassing annual, major, and planned giving programs, as well as strategies for securing support from foundations, corporations, and the community.
Engage with the school’s Leadership Team, Board of Trustees, and Development Committee, and volunteers to foster their involvement in philanthropy and stakeholder engagement, leveraging their roles as ambassadors, fundraisers, and stewards. This includes leading, coordinating, staffing, and empowering volunteers.
Serve as a prominent figure in the Charleston Day community, representing philanthropy in ways that appropriately inform and advance the school’s priorities, mission, and vision.
Collaborate with the Director of Communications, Director of Admissions, and Leadership Team to develop cohesive advancement-related messaging and marketing that inspire and encourage giving and involvement through various print and digital materials.
Define and execute events that support the strategic direction of the advancement program, achieve established metrics, and further the short and long-term goals of the school.
Foster integration of all Charleston Day School programs and initiatives to leverage the entire organization in achieving philanthropic and engagement objectives.
Fundraising and Engagement Programs:

Design, develop, and implement a major giving and legacy giving program, managing relationships with existing donors and prospects, as well as identifying new potential contributors.
Maintain a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects, utilizing moves management to secure one-time and multi-year commitments in support of organizational fundraising priorities.
Leverage leaders within the Charleston Day School community to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and prospects, including foundations and corporations, and provide clear and consistent direction, support, and mentorship.
Implement best practices to establish and maintain structures, processes, and metrics that collectively propel major, annual, and legacy philanthropy.
Integrate thoughtful, tiered stewardship strategies into the overall fundraising plan to renew and increase philanthropic support from both individuals and identified groups, such as loyal donors, for example.
Operational Oversight and Execution:
Lead, manage and mentor the Assistant/Associate Director of Annual Philanthropy and Manager of Data Operations and Gift Services by encouraging independence and ingenuity while ultimately maintaining responsibility for all aspects of the advancement program.
Oversee all department operations, including managing the donor database and related technologies, developing and maintaining sound systems and processes, evaluating progress and performance, identifying opportunities for growth, and providing data-driven reports and metrics.
Collaborate with the Head of School and Director of Finance to ensure alignment of the fiscal needs and fundraising practices of the organization, including adherence to donor intent in the accurate, appropriate, and timely processing and recognition of gifts.
Create, review, and analyze departmental budgets to align resources with goals and strategies.