Development Specialist

The Covenant School; Carmel (IN); On-site; USD 42,000 - 66,000; Part time

Job summary

Carmel Latin School in Indiana is seeking a mission-driven Development Specialist to lead annual giving, major gifts, and the upcoming capital campaign for the school’s permanent campus. This part-time role serves on our leadership team, with potential to grow into full-time as the advancement program expands.

You will build relationships with donors, manage cultivation pipelines, coordinate with the Board and campaign chairs, and partner with Finance and Communications to craft compelling

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Three or more years of professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success managing an annual giving program.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individual donors.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual giving and major gifts program.
• Create measurable fundraising goals and strategies aligned with the long-term vision.
• Build and sustain relationships with donors, alumni, and community partners.
• Oversee donor cultivation pipeline from identification to solicitation and stewardship.
• Lead the planning and implementation of a capital campaign for the permanent campus.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Relationship building

Communication skills

Grant writing

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM systems

Donor management software

Microsoft Office

Job description

Carmel Latin School Development Specialist

Position Type: Part-Time (Approx 24 – 32 hours/week) with the potential to grow into a full-time role as the school's advancement efforts continue to grow.

Reports to: CLS Principal

Location: Must reside in Central Indiana; position is on-site majority of time

Help Build Something That Endures

For more than 15 years, Carmel Latin School has faithfully formed students in both mind and character through a Christ-centered, classical education. Our mission is to cultivate wisdom, virtue, and academic excellence, preparing students to glorify Christ and serve others.

CLS now stands at a pivotal moment in its history. As we strengthen our faculty, expand our impact,and prepare to build our permanent campus, we are looking for an experienced and mission-drivenDevelopment Specialist to help lead this exciting season of growth. If you are drawn to meaningfulwork and want your efforts to have a lasting impact, this is an opportunity to help secure the future ofa school that is investing not only in today's students, but in generations to come.

In this role, you will help shape a growing advancement program by leading annual giving efforts,cultivating major donors, and helping launch the school's upcoming capital campaign for itspermanent campus. You will have the opportunity to build relationships with people who care deeplyabout the mission of classical Christian education and to help them see how their generosity canmake that mission possible. More than raising funds, this work is about inviting people into something meaningful, sharing the story of CLS, and building lasting partnerships.

As a key member of our leadership team, you will have significant responsibility for shaping the school's advancement efforts, with the potential for the role to grow into a full-time position. If you are energized by meaningful relationships, motivated by mission, and excited by the opportunity to help build something that will endure, we would love for you to consider joining us in this important season for Carmel Latin School.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Development Strategy & Fundraising

• As the primary advancement professional for Carmel Latin School, you will work closely withthe Principal, Board of Directors, administrative leadership, and volunteers to develop andimplement the school's advancement efforts.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive annual giving and major gifts program for individuals,corporations, foundations, and fundraising events.
• Create measurable fundraising goals and strategies that align with the school's long-termvision.
• Build and sustain meaningful relationships with donors, prospective supporters, alumni,grandparents, parents, and friends of CLS.
• Oversee annual giving efforts, including multiple annual appeals and donor stewardshipinitiatives.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive donor cultivation pipeline from identification andqualification through solicitation, stewardship, and long-term engagement.
• Research and cultivate prospective individual, corporate, and foundation supporters.
• Develop personalized cultivation strategies and funding proposals for major donor prospects.
• Identify corporate giving opportunities and manage proposal development, submissions,reporting, and stewardship.
• Research foundation funding opportunities, prepare letters of inquiry and grant proposals,manage submission timelines, reporting requirements, and renewal strategies.
• Promote all aspects of charitable giving, including Scholarship Granting Organizations whereCLS is the beneficiary.
• Help lead the planning and implementation of CLS's upcoming Capital Campaign to support the construction of the school's permanent campus.
• Work closely with the Campaign Chair, Campaign Committee, Board of Directors, and schoolleadership to execute successful capital campaign strategies.

Donor Engagement & Mission Advancement

• Become a compelling ambassador for Carmel Latin School and confidently communicate theschool's mission, vision, and impact.
• Inspire philanthropic investment by sharing stories of student formation, academic excellence,faithful teachers, and the lasting influence of classical Christian education.
• Build authentic relationships with parents, grandparents, alumni, churches, foundations,businesses, and community partners.
• Develop engagement strategies that deepen long-term involvement with the CLS community.
• Partner with school leadership to identify meaningful opportunities for donor engagement andstewardship.
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team to create compelling fundraisingmaterials, campaign messaging, donor communications, and capital campaign collateral.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Attend Board of Directors meetings and provide regular development reports.
• Establish fundraising performance metrics and evaluate program effectiveness.
• Partner with the Director of Finance to ensure timely and accurate gift processing, donorrecords, pledge tracking, reporting and grants management.
• Recommend improvements to development systems, processes, and donor engagementstrategies.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the school community by helping faculty, staff,board members, and volunteers understand and participate in advancement efforts.

Qualifications

Required

• A personal commitment to the mission, faith, and educational philosophy of Carmel Latin School.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.
• Three or more years of professional experience in development, advancement, fundraising, ora related field.
• Demonstrated success managing an annual giving program.
• Experience cultivating and soliciting major gifts from individual donors.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Experience with fundraising databases, donor management software, CRM systems, projectmanagement tools, and Microsoft Office.
• Proven ability to build meaningful relationships with individuals, businesses, foundations, andcommunity organizations.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments while also working independently.
• Passion for classical Christian education and the mission of Carmel Latin School.

Preferred

• Five or more years of advancement leadership experience.
• Experience creating or expanding a successful major gifts program.
• Demonstrated success participating in or leading a capital campaign.
• Experience researching, writing, and securing grants from private foundations.
• Experience in independent schools, higher education, ministries, or nonprofit organizations.

Desired

We're looking for someone who is:

• Passionate about helping others invest in a mission that matters.
• A gifted relationship builder who enjoys connecting people with opportunities to make a lastingimpact.
• Highly organized, self-directed, and dependable.
• Strategic, collaborative, and goal-oriented.
• An excellent listener who can understand donors' interests and connect them with meaningfulopportunities to support CLS.
• Comfortable engaging with school leadership, volunteers, board members, and major donors.
• Energized by building new systems, strengthening relationships, and creating long-termgrowth.
• Willing to serve wherever needed in support of the school's mission.

Carmel Latin School is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, or national and ethnic origin.