Carney, Sandoe & Associates, an educational recruitment organization partnered with a JK-8 school to find their next Director of Development, in the San Francsico Bay Area.
The Director of Development is a key member of the Forward Facing Leadership Team, responsible for creating and executing a strategic development plan that aligns with school’s mission and culture. This role oversees all aspects of fundraising, donor relations, grant writing, and community outreach, while also managing development-focused messaging, including social media. The Director of Development works closely with the Head of School and Director of Marketing and Communications to support school events and ensure cohesive messaging.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Serve as an advocate for the school’s mission, acting as a highly visible and positive ambassador to all constituencies.
- Collaborate with the Head of School (HOS) to develop and implement long- and short-term fundraising strategies.
- Lead the creation and execution of the school’s annual development plan, including fundraising campaigns, capital campaigns, and planned giving initiatives.
- Provide timely and transparent updates on development activities to the HOS and Board of Trustees.
- Manage the advancement calendar, ensuring all development activities align with broader institutional goals.
Fundraising and Donor Relations
- Oversee key fundraising efforts, including the Annual Fund, Ginger Girvin Run for Flexible Tuition, the Dream Event (spring auction), major giving, endowments, and special events.
- Cultivate and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, and corporations. Lead all stages of the donor lifecycle: identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship.
- Write compelling grant applications and reports to secure foundation and corporate support.
- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations related to fundraising.
- Maintain the school’s development database (Raiser’s Edge NXT), track donations, and generate acknowledgment letters.
Collaboration and Reporting
- Work closely with the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to align the development budget with the school’s financial plan.
- Prepare and present development progress reports to the HOS and Board of Trustees.
- Serve on committees and take on special projects as assigned.
- Actively engage with the school’s community, maintaining close relationships with students, families, alumni, and faculty to inform development efforts.
Desired Qualities and Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or equivalent experience preferred.
- Minimum three years of development experience, with a focus on major gifts and grant writing.
- Experience in non-profit or independent school settings is highly preferred.
- Proficiency with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge NXT or a similar fundraising platform.
- First Aid, AED, and CPR certification, along with a valid California Driver’s License.
- Demonstrated success in developing and executing comprehensive fundraising programs.
- Expertise in the principles of development, including major and planned giving, annual funds, event planning, and grant writing.
- Superior communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to inspire and engage a range of stakeholders.
- Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar donor databases.
- A collaborative team player with strong leadership skills and the ability to work well under pressure.
Potential Benefits: Compensation and benefit packages are competitive but will differ by school and will typically depend on geographic location, your experience, and your level of degree.
💵 Competitive pay
🧠 Professional Development Opportunities
✏️ Classroom Resources
🏥 Medical, dental and vision insurance
😃 401(k) plan – Employer match
⛱️ Paid holidays, vacation and personal time
🏠 Housing (boarding schools only)
About CS&A:
Our job placement service is free to job seekers. By getting to know you personally -- beyond just your resume -- we connect you directly with hiring schools whose open positions match your specific requirements (location, school type, position type, etc.) and skills, saving you the time of sorting through hundreds of job postings and getting lost in a pile of resumes. More importantly, as an educator you deserve to have someone on your side who can help you find a position in a school community where you'll thrive. That's our mission.
We have positions available throughout the United States and abroad including but not limited to: Boston, New York City, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charlotte, Atlanta, Miami, Houston, Dallas, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Denver, Phoenix, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
Carney Sandoe does not discriminate on the basis of physical handicap, sex, race, creed, color, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national or ethnic origin in administration of its services, consulting, events, professional development, or other programs.
- Industry
- Primary/Secondary Education
- Employment Type
- Full-time
- Job Functions
