Development Director

Heritage Christian School; Indianapolis (IN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Heritage Christian School is seeking a Development Director to lead fundraising campaigns and manage donor relationships. The role includes strategic planning for the Heritage Fund and future capital campaigns, alongside building strong donor relationships.

Qualified candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree and 5+ years of relevant experience. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential. The position offers a dynamic work environment with opportunities for community engagement and fundraising events.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or campaign leadership.
• Demonstrated success securing major gifts.
• Comfortable with asking for gifts.

Responsibilities

• Lead fundraising campaigns with a focus on relationship building.
• Develop campaign frameworks and strategies.
• Manage major gift prospects and conduct solicitation visits.

Skills

Strong written communication skills

Strong verbal communication skills

Interpersonal communication

Relationship building

Analytical thinking

Project management

Organizational skills

Ability to ask for gifts

Education

Bachelor's degree in business or related field

Tools

Donor CRM systems

Job description

Campus Location 1
6401 EAST 75TH ST
Indianapolis, IN 46250, USA

DIRECT REPORTS: Indirectly, campaign-related staff, contractors, and volunteers

POSITION OBJECTIVE: The Develpment Directorserves as the lead strategist and driver of fundraising campaigns at Heritage Christian School, with primary responsibility for directing the annual Heritage Fund, the current two-year $6 million comprehensive campaign, and future capital campaigns supporting campus expansion and strategic priorities.

This role provides frontline major gift leadership, campaign architecture, donor portfolio management, and executional oversight across all phases of fundraising: planning, quiet phase, public phase, and closeout.

Working in close partnership with the Director of Advancement, Head of School, and key volunteer leaders, the Heritage Fund Manager builds strong donor relationships, advances solicitations, manages campaign pipelines, and ensures disciplined movement of prospects through the gift cycle.

The Development Directorplays a critical role in advancing a culture of generosity and positioning Heritage Christian School for long-term philanthropic sustainability.

QUALIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: The employee must be a Christian with an authentic and a mature personal relationship with Jesus Christ, who agrees to the HCS Statement of Faith, Charter of Core Values and Employee Covenant in both their professional conduct and personal lifestyle. The employee is committed to incorporating these qualities and standards in carrying out the calling to Christian education. In addition, the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships, representing Christ and HCS professionally and positively with the HCS community-at-large, including faculty and staff, Board members, parents, volunteers and others is crucial to the success of this role.

EDUCATIONAL AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS: Bachelor’s in business or related field of study. 5+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or campaign leadership. Demonstrated success securing major gifts. Experience with annual funds and capital campaigns. Proficiency with donor CRM systems

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Relationship builder
• Strategic and analytical thinker
• Results-oriented and disciplined
• Comfortable with asking for gifts
• Organized project manager
• Collaborative team player
• Ability to attend evening and weekend events
• Ability to use computer and standard office equipment

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES :

Campaign Strategy & Architecture

Design and manage overall strategy for the Heritage Fund, current $6M campaign, and future capital campaigns

Develop campaign frameworks including case for support, gift range charts, pyramids, naming opportunities, and phased timelines

Establish solicitation strategies for lead, principal, major, and leadership annual gifts

Partner with Director of Advancement to align campaign priorities with institutional strategic plans

Major Gift & Leadership Annual Giving

Manage a portfolio of major and leadership annual gift prospects and donors

Conduct qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits

Personally solicit major gifts and campaign commitments

Prepare tailored proposals and gift conversations in partnership with the Director of Advancement and Head of School

Advance donors toward multi-year commitments and stretch giving

Recruit, train, and support campaign cabinet members and key volunteers

Prepare volunteers for peer-to-peer cultivation and solicitation

Coordinate solicitation assignments and track outcomes

Provide clear briefing materials, talking points, and follow-up support

Campaign Management & Execution

Manage day-to-day execution of campaign plans

Maintain campaign prospect pipelines and stage movement

Monitor progress toward goals and adjust strategies as needed

Ensure timely production of proposals, pledge agreements, and acknowledgments

Oversee campaign calendar and milestone tracking

Work closely with Director of Advancement on strategy, forecasting, and reporting

Collaborate with Advancement Manager on operational execution, reporting, and materials

Partner with Communications/Marketing to ensure strong campaign messaging and visibility

Coordinate with Finance on pledge recording, receipting, and reconciliation

Reporting & Analytics

Produce regular campaign progress reports and dashboards

Track solicitation activity, close rates, average gift size, and pipeline health

Use data to inform strategy and resource allocation

Stewardship & Donor Experience

Ensure timely and meaningful acknowledgment of gifts

Participate in design of stewardship touches and recognition programs

Support donor events and engagement opportunities

Promote strong retention and long-term relationships

Supervisory & Leadership

Provides functional leadership for campaign-related staff, contractors, and volunteers

May supervise campaign support personnel as the department scales

The above description covers the most significant duties performed but does not restrict the administration’s right to assign or reassign other reasonable duties, responsibilities, or expectations to this job at any time, with or without advance notice. The information contained in the job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individual currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS: Ability to work in a standard office environment with frequent use of a computer, telephone, and other office equipment for extended periods of time. Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through written and electronic communication. Ability to remain stationary for extended periods.

Ability to move throughout the school campus and event venues. Ability to occasionally lift, carry, move, and transport materials weighing up to 25 pounds. Ability to travel locally and occasionally regionally. Ability to maintain focus and productivity in a fast-paced environment with frequent interruptions, multiple deadlines, and shifting priorities. Visual ability to read printed and digital materials, analyze reports and donor data, and prepare presentations and communications. Manual dexterity sufficient to operate computers, mobile devices, presentation equipment, and standard office technology.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: Work is primarily performed in a professional office and school environment, both indoors and outdoors. Position requires frequent participation in meetings, fundraising events, donor visits, school functions, and community engagement activities both on and off campus. The environment may include moderate noise levels associated with school operations, events, and large gatherings. Evening and weekend work is periodically required to support fundraising initiatives, donor cultivation activities, campaign events, and school programs. May involve local and occasional regional travel.

WORK SCHEDULE: Position works the calendar year (does not follow the academic calendar). Schedule: Monday-Friday, typical hours 7:30am - 4:30pm, but may flex depending on meetings and events.

Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.