Director Of Development Services

The Director of Development Services (Director) provides administrative support services to St. Albans School’s Development Office for management, identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of constituents capable of, or who have already made, major gifts and/or planned gift intentions.

Specifically, the Director is responsible for the following:

1. Provide strategic direction and devise an annual operating plan for meeting Development Services objectives;
2. Lead the development and regular review (no less frequently than every three years) of gift acceptance, gift/campaign counting, recognition, naming, and other policies that guide the work of the Development program;
3. Hire, supervise, mentor, and evaluate the Assistant Director of Development Services;
4. Oversee management of prospects for major and planned gifts:
   • Schedule, coordinate, and lead pipeline, portfolio review, and prospect strategy meetings;
   • Generate and analyze pipeline and prospect manager reports;
   • Support prospect managers and provide information to the Director of Leadership and Legacy Giving to assist in accountability for meeting established metrics;
   • Record and maintain purpose, ask amount, ask date, solicitors, and expected gift for major gift solicitations;
   • Manage gift acknowledgement and pledge reminder letter generation process for endowment, term fund, and capital gifts;
   • Write and maintain prospect profiles;
   • Conduct both proactive and on-demand prospect research.
5. In partnership with the Executive Director:
   • Create a portfolio of reports for the purposes of Campaign gift progress, tracking, and prospect moves management;
   • Help prepare the Headmaster, fundraising volunteers, and Development staff colleagues for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits with research and visit briefings.
6. In partnership with the Director of Leadership and Legacy Giving:
   • Develop and ensure appropriate and effective use, in alignment with best practices, of major gift fundraising and management protocols;
   • Prepare and analyze regular reports on major gift fundraising activity and use them to inform and/or adapt strategy and tactics.
7. In partnership with the Director of Annual Giving:
   • Oversee the recording and tracking of annual giving appeals;
   • Ensure the timely and accurate entry and acknowledgement of annual giving contributions;
   • Prepare and analyze regular reports on progress toward annual giving goals and use them to inform and/or adapt strategy and tactics.
8. In partnership with the Director of Alumni Relations:
   • Ensure the consistent recording of alumni engagement activities and events;
   • Prepare and analyze regular reports on engagement and use them to inform and/or adapt strategy and tactics.
9. In partnership with the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship:
   • Run all reports for the purpose of the annual report of giving;
   • Orchestrate annual stewardship reporting for endowed funds, term funds, and named facilities;
   • Manage stewardship of constituents connected to student and faculty awards, including invitations to awards ceremonies and follow-up correspondence about award recipients.
10. Collaborate with Development staff colleagues to ensure the effective development of strong relationships between constituents and the School; educate constituents about why philanthropic support is necessary and warranted; and communicate the School’s appreciation for and impact of contributions made by donors;
11. Partner effectively as needed with the School’s Admissions, Communications, and Finance teams to achieve Development and institutional success;
12. In partnership with the Finance Office:
    • Ensure proper documentation and reconciliation of gifts and pledges to comply with required accounting standards and financial reporting;
    • Provide support to Finance Office for gift auditing requirements;
    • Implement best practices and internal controls for safeguarding of assets received.
13. Exhibit an ability to learn and grow in becoming an articulate champion of St. Albans School’s philanthropic endeavors as well as skilled in issuing expressions of appreciation to donors.

The position may perform other related duties as assigned. The omission of specific duties does not preclude the school leadership and/or direct supervisor from assigning duties that are logically related to the position/responsive to the emergent needs of the school.

Minimum Experience: Five years of work experience in a similar role in a school, university or nonprofit organization

Education: A completed 4-year Bachelors’ Degree

Certifications: N/A

Position Qualifications:

1. Understand and promote best practices in independent school fundraising, including CASE’s Statement of Ethics and Principles of Practice for Fundraising Professionals at Educational Institutions and AFP’s Code of Ethics and Donor Bill of Rights
2. Endorse the School’s mission and values and understand its history and culture
3. Possess the ability to lead, supervise, delegate to, and hold accountable direct reports
4. Exhibit personal and professional integrity as well as respect for the confidentiality of colleagues and constituents
5. Demonstrate self-motivation, flexibility, problem-solving, and commitment to innovation
6. Model cooperation, collegiality, and teamwork
7. Use excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills and be comfortable and proficient in presentation-making
8. Exhibit excellent planning, prioritization, organization, multitasking, efficiency, and follow-through in execution of responsibilities
9. Show dependability, punctuality, and high quantity, quality, accuracy, and timeliness of work produced
10. Maintain a professional appearance and demeanor
11. Demonstrate commitment to professional development and self-improvement
12. Willingness to work mornings, evenings and weekends as requested

Preferred Qualifications:

1. Administrative and/or development experience within an independent school setting
2. Have, or be willing and able to develop proficiency in the use of technology: Raiser’s Edge database, Microsoft Office, etc.
3. Understand accounting principles for monetary and non-monetary gifts and pledges