Director of Development

Saint Peter's Prep; Jersey City (NJ); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint Peter’s Prep seeks a Director of Development to lead leadership gift strategies, cultivate donors, and steward a large prospect portfolio. The role collaborates closely with the VP of Advancement and supervises a Leadership Giving Officer to drive major gifts and donor engagement in support of the school’s mission.

The Director will participate in events, manage fundraising campaigns, and travel as needed, reporting to the Vice President of Advancement and contributing to strategic

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience with major gift strategy and donor engagement.
• Proven ability to cultivate, close, administer, and steward significant gifts.
• Proven management skills to direct staff and volunteers; strong organizational and budgeting abilities.

Responsibilities

• Develops leadership gift strategies for 175–200 prospects through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Makes 10–12 in-person visits per month to move prospects toward philanthropy.
• Supervises and mentors one Leadership Giving Officer; provides coaching and performance oversight.
• Collaborates with Annual Giving to achieve the annual fund goal.
• Hosts events and cultivation programs to engage prospects and networks.
• Identifies new leadership benefactors and represents the school at campus and community events.

Skills

Major gift strategy

Prospect management

Donor engagement

Leadership & mentoring

Budgeting

Project management

Communication (oral & written)

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Founded in 1872, Saint Peter’s Prep is a Catholic, Jesuit high school and has stood proudly as one of New Jersey’s premier educational institutions. Prep is located in the historic Paulus Hook neighborhood on the Jersey City waterfront and serves a diverse and high-achieving student body of 900 young men who represent 117 different communities in 13 New Jersey counties, plus New York City and Long Island.

Summary Description:

The Director of Development is a key member of the Advancement team, focused on securing leadership gifts from Saint Peter's Prep's alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends. This role is responsible for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of donors whose philanthropic interests align with the strategic priorities of the school.

Working closely with the Vice President of Advancement and the Senior Director of Advancement and Engagement, the Director develops and implements comprehensive fundraising strategies to strengthen donor relationships, expand philanthropic support, and advance the mission of Saint Peter's Prep.

The Director also supervises one Leadership Giving Officer, providing mentorship, strategic guidance, and accountability to ensure coordinated prospect management and successful fundraising outcomes.

The Director of Development reports to the Vice President of Advancement.

Responsibilities

• Develops, implements, and executes leadership gift strategies for a portfolio of 175-200 prospects through the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individuals.
• Responsible for making 10–12 in-person visits each month designed to move prospects toward making a philanthropic commitment to Saint Peter's Prep.
• Responsible for raising a minimum dollar goal established annually.
• Supervises and mentors one Leadership Giving Officer, providing coaching, strategic direction, and performance oversight to help achieve individual and team fundraising goals.
• In collaboration with the Annual Giving Team, responsible for helping to achieve the annual fund goal yearly.
• Creates meaningful opportunities for alumni, parents, grandparents, and friends to connect with the school and its mission.
• Hosts salon events and other similar cultivation programs throughout the year to engage prospects and their networks.
• Takes a lead role in the identification, evaluation, and pursuit of new leadership level benefactors.
• Attends a significant number of campus and local events as a representative of the school. Travel as well as evening and weekend activity is routine.
• Develops significant long-term relationships with current and future benefactors whose resources will be integral to support the mission of Saint Peter’s Prep.
• Act as a key advisor and strategic partner to the Vice President of Advancement in crafting donor strategy and campaign efforts.
• Collaborates with the Vice President of Advancement, Senior Director of Advancement and Engagement, President, and school leadership to engage donors in supporting the priorities outlined in Saint Peter's Prep's Strategic Vision.
• Collaborates closely with Advancement Services, Annual Giving, Alumni Engagement, Events, and Communications to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive approach to donor engagement.
• Maintains accurate and timely records of all donor interactions, strategies, proposals, and outcomes in the donor database.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement

Qualification Standards:

Education:

Bachelor’s degree required with a Master’s degree preferred.

Experience:

• Minimum of 7–10 years of progressive fundraising experience with a strong understanding of major gift strategy, prospect management, donor engagement, and the development of comprehensive fundraising initiatives.
• Proven ability of personally cultivating, closing, administering, and stewarding significant major gifts from individuals, corporations and foundations.
• Proven management experience and administrative skills to organize, direct, motivate, and evaluate other professionals, support staff, and volunteers.
• Strong organizational and time management skills and the corresponding analytical skills needed to establish strategic fundraising goals and report on results.
• Skillful at building strong new and lasting relationships, networking, and stewarding a portfolio of contacts.
• Excellent project planning, project management, and budgeting skills.

In addition to these qualifications, because of the nature of the position, certain personal qualities are key to the success of the individual in this role. They include:

• The ability to stay abreast of trends in fundraising, social media, and cutting edge marketing practices.
• Strong oral and written communications skills.
• Outcomes-oriented work style.
• Optimistic and empowered attitude.
• Creativity, joy, and high energy.
• Actively engage in cross-functional collaboration and foster a cohesive team environment to achieve shared goals and objectives.
• Unparalleled personal integrity and respect for confidentiality, prudence, and discretion.
• Ability to inspire and engender a passion for Saint Peter’s Prep and the Jesuit mission.

Licenses:

Driver’s license

Other Considerations:

A personal vehicle is required, as well as a willingness to travel and work outside of normal business hours including nights and weekends. Raiser’s Edge experience is preferred.

Saint Peter’s Prep does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, ethnic origin or sexual orientation in any of its employment policies.