Title:                            Director of Donor Engagement

Department:                Philanthropy

Reports to:                  Assistant Head of School for Philanthropy

Employee Category:    Full-time, Exempt

Employee Type:          Operations

Schedule:                    Mon-Fri, occasional nights and weekends

Supervisory Duties:     None

Date:                            February 2026

JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Donor Engagement leads efforts to secure major and transformational philanthropic support for the school’s highest priorities. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of the school’s capital campaigns and for directing the donor pipeline work of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from alumni, parents, and other members of the Asheville School community.

The Director will carry their own portfolio and work with other gift officers to build a strong pipeline of philanthropic investment that advances Asheville School’s mission and vision.

SUMMARY OF ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Campaign Coordination

• Serve as the project manager for any active or future capital campaigns, including campaign planning, execution, and reporting.
• Coordinate campaign strategy, materials, timelines, and committee engagement.
• Partner with the Head of School, Assistant Head of School for Philanthropy, and trustees to align campaign goals and progress with institutional priorities.

Major Gift Fundraising

• Manage a personal portfolio of 75–100 prospects and donors with the capacity to make six and seven-figure gifts.
• Identify new prospects and develop customized cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Work collaboratively with the Philanthropy team to ensure seamless donor engagement across all giving levels.

Strategic Engagement & Collaboration

• Collaborate with academic and administrative leaders to develop compelling cases for support aligned with school priorities.
• Provide strategic counsel to the Head of School and Philanthropy staff on major gift opportunities and donor stewardship.
• Ensure consistent, high-level donor communications, proposals, and impact reporting.

Data Management & Reporting

• Ensure accurate and timely records of donor interactions and strategies using the school’s CRM system.

• Manage the pipeline work of the capital campaign, ensuring that prospects are identified, cultivated, and solicited to facilitate their best gift capacity.

• Regularly track progress toward major gift and campaign goals, preparing reports for leadership and the Board of Trustees.

General Responsibilities

• Meet or exceed monthly and annual performance metrics.
• Other duties as assigned.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, or hear.  The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; sit; reach with hands and arms; and stoop, kneel, or crouch.  The employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel, and climb or balance.  The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.

At Asheville School, we believe in intentionally seeking different perspectives and fostering equity. Our community is stronger when each individual’s voice is a valued and respected part of the conversation.

Asheville School is committed to equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, creed, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, pregnancy, protected military veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. All employees and contractors of Asheville School are responsible for maintaining a work culture free from discrimination and harassment by treating others with kindness and respect. 

SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED

• Bachelor’s degree required. CFRE designation preferred.
• 5 years of experience in Major Gift fundraising in a capital campaign.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively cultivate, solicit, and secure a minimum of $1 million annually.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to 50% of the time.

About Asheville School

Asheville School is an intentionally small, coed 9-12 boarding school nestled on a beautiful 300-acre campus in Asheville, North Carolina. Surrounded by woods, our historic grounds feature state-of-the-art academic, athletics, and residential facilities, along with outdoor learning spaces and hiking trails. Guided by our vision, “A global community pursuing lives of meaning and service”, and our core values – Personal Excellence, Inclusive Community, Perseverance, Lifelong Curiosity, and Spiritual Reflection – Asheville School offers an inspiring environment for students, staff, and their families. Located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Asheville is a vibrant city celebrated for its dynamic arts scene, award-winning local cuisine, and endless outdoor adventures. Named one the of the Top Places to Live in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report, Asheville offers a unique blend of cultural and natural attractions, making it an exceptional place to live and work.

Connections working at Asheville School