Job Title: Director of Advancement Department: Advancement Reports To: Head of School*This position is exempt
Notre Dame Belmont (NDB) is an independent Catholic college preparatory school for young women, sponsored by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN), dedicated to the educational mission of St. Julie Billiart. The School was founded in 1851, and the first students were enrolled at the Belmont campus in 1923. NDB is located in the heart of Silicon Valley, on over 10 acres of land in Belmont, California, a professional suburban community between San Francisco and San Jose. Dedicated to advancing its mission and values, NDB seeks to appoint a dynamic and committed Head of School to partner with the faculty and board of directors to accelerate the advancement of the School. The successful candidate will clearly articulate the importance of a 21st-century all-girls Catholic education, prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion while leading and inspiring the NDB community. POSITION OVERVIEW We seek a dynamic and experienced Director of Advancement to lead our efforts in cultivating and stewarding relationships with donors, alumnae, and community partners. The successful candidate will be crucial in advancing Notre Dame High School's mission by overseeing fundraising initiatives, donor engagement programs, and strategic partnerships.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Fundraising Leadership: Develop, direct, and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies for the school’s annual fund campaign, capital campaign, alumnae giving, planned giving, major gifts, and fundraising events. Collaborate with the Capital Campaign team to create a strategic plan for engaging top donors. Attend meetings regularly to support the capital campaign. Cultivate relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate sponsors. Oversee the planning and execution of fundraising events and campaigns.
2. Alumnae Engagement: Lay the groundwork for creating a robust alumnae-giving program Develop and maintain strong relationships with alumnae, fostering community and pride in the school. Implement initiatives to involve alumnae in mentoring, volunteering, and supporting fundraising efforts.
3. Communication and Marketing: Collaborate with the marketing and communications manager to create compelling materials communicating the school's mission and fundraising priorities. Develop and implement a comprehensive communication plan to keep donors and stakeholders informed and engaged.
4. Strategic Partnerships: Identify and cultivate strategic partnerships with local businesses, organizations, and community leaders to support the school's mission and programs. Collaborate with the Board of Directors and school leadership to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities. Report updates and progress reports on fundraising and other initiatives to the Board of Directors and Advancement Committee.
5. Donor Stewardship: Ensure timely and personalized acknowledgment of donations. Implement stewardship initiatives to maintain strong relationships with donors, keeping them engaged and informed. Manage a portfolio of major donors and help steward top donors.
6. Parent Relations Oversee and manage the Dads Club and Moms Club Provide support for the Athletic Director in terms of fundraising for the Boosters Club.
7. Other: Ensure productive working relationships with other school administrators, aligning and integrating advancement work with different areas of the school. Prepare, oversee, and manage the department budget. Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School. Work with our third-party consultant to ensure all donor record keeping is recorded and acknowledged in a timely manner and that the recording is in accordance with accounting requirements.
QUALIFICATIONS Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience. Minimum of five-years of successful experience in fundraising and development. Knowledge of and commitment to Catholic education and values. Proven track record of securing major gifts and meeting fundraising goals. Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain relationships with diverse stakeholders. Experience in managing fundraising events and campaigns. Strategic thinking and ability to develop and implement effective fundraising strategies. Experience with foundation research and grant writing. High-energy, self starter with an ability to successfully prioritize and multi-task in an atmosphere in which time sensitive deadlines are the norm. Able to work some evenings and weekends. Proficient in using Raisers Edge NXT.