Epiphany School, a private, non-sectarian, independent PreK-5 school, is currently seeking a Director of Development. This role will oversee all aspects of development, including annual and capital fundraising, donor cultivation and stewardship, alumni relations, development events, and development-related publications. You will work in one of the premier elementary schools in Seattle on a beautiful campus in a quiet setting with a rich history for attracting excellent students.
What you will enjoy about this role:
As the Director of Development, you will be directly involved in short- and long-range plans for the development department, consistent with the School’s goals, as defined in the strategic plan.
You will create and implement major and planned gift programs, including being responsible for:
identifying (new) major gift and planned gift prospects;
developing a major gift and planned gift solicitation strategy leading to a portfolio of approximately 150 donor prospects per year
cultivating major gift donors and leading to asks to support Annual Fund, Spring Fundraiser, endowments and other school needs ($15,000+ asks)
writing major and planned gift proposals
stewarding relationships with major gift donors and prospects to grow the major/planned gifts program
You will oversee the department’s annual budget.
You will serve as staff liaison to the Development Committee and Leadership Team.
You will supervise and collaborate with other as you oversee:
the Annual Fund campaign;
the Spring fundraising event’s financial goals and major gift asks;
all solicitation brochures, appeal letters, and acknowledgements;
maintenance of accurate donor records in database(s) and paper files;
processes for gift receipt, acknowledgements and reporting;
creation of recurring and ad hoc reports of department activity for leadership, Board of Trustees, publications, regulatory bodies, auditors, and other interested parties;
content for the relevant sections of the School’s website and social media efforts.
How to apply: Interested candidates should send a resume to Dianne Puls, Brigham Hill Consultancy, at puls@brighamhill.com. No phone calls please.
A Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communication, or another relevant field;
Five years’ experience in non-profit or independent school advancement;
Superior written and oral communication skills;
Experience in major and planned giving programs;
Ability to drive and travel, spending 50% of time out of office;
Computer literacy with MS Office applications, donor database applications, special event (i.e., auction) applications, and relationship management tracking software. Knowledge of Ascendance Alumni Development module by Senior Systems a plus;
Ease in working with donors, parents, board members and other stakeholders;
Ability to work in a hands-on, dynamic environment with limited resources;
Prior experience managing staff and a departmental budget;
Ability to deal with emergencies;
Commitment to student and family confidentiality a must;
Must be smart, warm, motivated, organized, process- and detail-oriented.
About Epiphany School
Epiphany School, a NWAIS Accredited School Pre-K through 5th grade, prides itself in offering a strong academic program, set in traditional classrooms with inspiring teaching and a spirit that fosters family involvement in the education of children.
Epiphany teaches its children mastery of fundamental skills and concepts, especially in language arts and mathematics. Small classes are enriched by specialists working in the following areas: language arts, math, science, technology, drama, French, Latin, music, visual arts, library/information skills, and physical education. Epiphany School's Learning Skills Specialists seek to support the differentiation of instruction and ensure that children with diverse learning needs succeed in a rigorous academic environment.
