Director of Development
Maimonides School seeks a Director of Development who is highly-motivated, mission-driven, experienced, and a strategic fundraiser and non-profit leader. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development is responsible for planning and implementing the school’s fund development activities, including the annual fund, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, and special events.
The new Director of Development will join the school at a pivotal time, as the five-year strategic plan approaches its halfway mark, and the community engages a new Head of School. The Director of Development will work closely with the Interim Head of School, Board of Directors, Director of Finance, Director of Communications, and Director of Alumni Relations in inspiring sustained and increased philanthropic support.
The ideal candidate will have high emotional intelligence, coupled with strong fundraising and managerial skills and an appreciation for Jewish life. The new Director of Development will be a stellar communicator and be able to articulate the vision and values of Maimonides to internal and external stakeholders.
Ambitious and entrepreneurial, the Director of Development will have the opportunity to advance a sophisticated culture of philanthropy, enhance the structure of the Development Department, and build a pipeline for the next generation of major donors, including, but not limited to, alumni and community leaders.
The Position
Maimonides School seeks a Director of Development who is highly-motivated, mission-driven, experienced, and a strategic fundraiser and non-profit leader. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development is responsible for planning and implementing the school’s fund development activities, including the annual fund, major gifts, corporate and foundation relations, grant writing, and special events.
The new Director of Development will join the school at a pivotal time, as the five-year strategic plan approaches its halfway mark, and the community engages a new Head of School. The Director of Development will work closely with the Interim Head of School, Board of Directors, Director of Finance, Director of Communications, and Director of Alumni Relations in inspiring sustained and increased philanthropic support.
The ideal candidate will have high emotional intelligence, coupled with strong fundraising and managerial skills and an appreciation for Jewish life. The new Director of Development will be a stellar communicator and be able to articulate the vision and values of Maimonides to internal and external stakeholders.
Ambitious and entrepreneurial, the Director of Development will have the opportunity to advance a sophisticated culture of philanthropy, enhance the structure of the Development Department, and build a pipeline for the next generation of major donors, including, but not limited to, alumni and community leaders.
Responsibilities
Strategic
- Develop and implement short- and long-term development plans to meet established fundraising goals and objectives.
- Be an active player on the school’s leadership team and participate in high-level decisions as needed.
- Define strategies and priorities for different donor constituency groups.
- Manage and collaborate with Development Committee members on creating fundraising opportunities throughout the year.
- Participate in community engagement by serving as a Maimonides ambassador to constituents, community partners, and others.
Annual Fund
- Oversee continuous growth and management of the annual campaign, which includes different communication vehicles such as digital, print, and micro-campaigns (giving days).
- Strategize and create appeals, both print and digital, and maintain an annual calendar of solicitations for unrestricted giving through the annual campaign.
- Leverage giving through donor recognition societies.
- Work with the Director of Communications and Communications Committee to promote annual campaign messaging throughout the year.
Major Gifts
- Proactively communicate with donors, steward prospects, solicit gifts, and build relationships for the school.
- Identify and qualify pipeline of major donors.
- Create opportunities for donor engagement with school leadership, including Head of School and Board of Directors.
- Manage major donor-funded projects, including, but not limited to, campus beautification, appreciation gifts, and speaker engagement.
Grants Management
- Develop grants program and manage all aspects of the process; strategize on approach, track opportunities, manage timelines, and provide follow-up, including all reporting functions.
- Explore and implement strategies to optimize grant research, including the development of online resources, joining organizations to assist with identifying prospects, and networking.
- Draft and edit proposals and assist other faculty or consultants in the creation of grant proposals.
- Work with Maimonides faculty and staff to create program budgets for proposals and applications.
Special Events
- Strategize and implement annual fundraising events (when held) and set goals, engage volunteers, and work closely with internal partners and external vendors.
- Collaborate with Director of Communications to provide support and management to various institutional events, including, but not limited to, alumni and schoolwide gatherings.
Office Management and Administrative Tasks
- Supervise Development Associate on gift entry processes, acknowledgment letter management, reporting, and filing.
- Prepare regular reports for the Board, Development Committee, and Head of School as needed.
Experience & Qualifications
- BA or BS degree required
- Seven years or more of fundraising experience
- Proven success in identifying, engaging, soliciting, and stewarding major donors
- Track record of achieving fundraising goals
- Experience in partnering with internal leadership on donor engagement, grant applications, and fund development activities
- Highly motivated self-starter who can work independently with minimum direction, while driving deadlines with internal and external colleagues to maximize the effectiveness of projects and programs
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, flexible and collaborative, with an ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously
- Excellent written and oral communication and proofreading skills and an ability to communicate effectively and persuasively to articulate the mission of Maimonides
- Proficiency in donor database CRMs and Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and Sundays when needed
Maimonides School is an equal opportunity employer committed to hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive culture. Maimonides does not discriminate based on disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected under federal, state, or local laws.
Please send resume, cover letter or referrals to Wendy Wilsker, Managing Partner, wwilsker@boyden.com