Director of Development

Lowell School; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 120,000 - 148,000; Full time

Job summary

Lowell School in NW Washington, DC seeks a full-time Director of Development to provide strategic leadership for fundraising, donor stewardship, and advancement initiatives reflecting the school’s mission and diversity values.

The ideal candidate has a proven track record in cultivating donor relationships, leading major gifts, and managing advancement operations while collaborating with leadership and boards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in development, fundraising, or advancement.
• Experience working in an independent school, nonprofit organization, or mission-driven institution preferred.

Responsibilities

• Meet regularly with the Head of School to develop, assess, and implement strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Serve as a member of the Leadership Team and Advancement Team to support institutional priorities.
• Partner with the Board of Trustees and Development Committee to establish and achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Prepare and present monthly fundraising reports and advancement updates to the Board and Committee.
• Promote a culture of philanthropy through education, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of supporters.
• Collaborate with Brand Communications and Marketing to develop advancement communications and materials.
• Provide fundraising projections, analysis, and reporting to support the annual budget.
• Assist the Business Manager with annual audit related to development operations.
• Organize and oversee major advancement events.

Skills

Fundraising leadership

Donor cultivation

Strategic planning

Communication

Board collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Donor databases

Fundraising software

Job description

Lowell School, a progressive school serving approximately 300 students in NW Washington, DC, seeks a full-time, dynamic, strategic, and experienced Director of Development. This position provides visionary leadership for fundraising, donor stewardship, and advancement initiatives and promotes a culture of philanthropy that reflects the socioeconomic diversity of the Lowell community.

The ideal candidate is an experienced fundraising professional with a proven record of cultivating meaningful donor relationships, leading successful fundraising initiatives, and managing advancement operations. The Director of Development is an exceptional communicator and relationship builder who demonstrates strategic thinking, sound judgment, and a commitment to collaboration. This individual possesses outstanding organizational and leadership skills, works independently while managing multiple priorities, and embraces Lowell's mission and commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice.

The Director of Development reports directly to the Head of School and serves as a key member of the school's Leadership Team.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Five to seven years of progressively responsible experience in development, fundraising, or advancement
• Experience working in an independent school, nonprofit organization, or mission-driven institution preferred
• Demonstrated success with annual giving, major gifts, donor stewardship, grant fundraising, and special events
• Experience supervising staff and collaborating with boards and volunteer committees
• Experience using donor databases and fundraising technology to manage and report on donor activity

Department Leadership and Institutional Collaboration:

• Meet regularly with the Head of School to develop, assess, and implement strategic fundraising initiatives
• Serve as a member of the school's Leadership Team and Advancement Team to support institutional priorities
• Partner with the Board of Trustees and the Development Committee to establish and achieve annual fundraising goals
• Prepare and present monthly fundraising reports and advancement updates to the Board of Trustees and Development Committee
• Promote a culture of philanthropy through the education, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of current families, alumni families, grandparents, and other supporters
• Collaborate with the Director of Brand Communications and Marketing to develop advancement communications, publications, and campaign materials
• Provide fundraising projections, analysis, and reporting to support the annual operating budget
• Assist the Business Manager with the annual audit as it relates to development operations
• Organize and oversee GrandGuest Day and other signature advancement events
• Participate in ongoing professional development through organizations such as AISGW, CASE/NAIS, AIMS, and other relevant conferences and workshops

Fundraising and Advancement Operations:

• Provide strategic leadership for all fundraising initiatives, including the Annual Fund, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns, special events, and the annual Fundraising Fête for Economic Diversity
• Develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with the school's strategic goals
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospective donors
• Oversee grant identification, acquisition, administration, and stewardship
• Ensure timely gift acknowledgment, pledge management, donor recognition, and stewardship practices
• Monitor fundraising performance and implement strategies to achieve annual revenue goals
• Maintain accurate donor records and ensure compliance with fundraising policies and best practices

Staff Supervision and Volunteer Engagement:

• Supervise and mentor the Assistant Director of Development and Advancement Services and the Assistant Director of Development, Special Events, and Alumni Relations
• Provide leadership, coaching, performance management, and professional development opportunities for development staff
• Oversee alumni engagement strategies, alumni events, reunions, and alumni family programming
• Oversee parent association collaboration for advancement-related initiatives
• Provide oversight of development database management, gift processing, pledge billing, reporting, and data integrity
• Build and maintain productive relationships with trustees, volunteers, parent leaders, alumni, and community partners
• Complete Lowell duties as assigned by the duties coordinator
• Complete other responsibilities as assigned by the Head of School

Physical Requirements:

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:
• Employees must be able to hear and speak to communicate in person, via phone, and see to read materials and communicate in writing
• Employees in this position work with students and will regularly need to stand for extended periods, bend, twist, walk (sometimes over uneven terrain such as the playground), sit in chairs and on the floor, kneel, stoop, and squat
• Occasionally, employees in this position will need to push, pull, move, lift, and carry objects up to 20 lbs.
• Employees will also regularly need to grasp, finger, handle, and manipulate teaching materials
• Employees must also be able to regularly see both close up and at a distance, adjust focus, and use peripheral vision
• Occasionally, employees may need to reach and/or extend their regular range of motion

Expected Salary Range:

• $120,000–148,000
• Lowell School offers a comprehensive compensation and benefits package.

Lowell is an equal opportunity employer. Lowell complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws regarding recruitment and hiring. All qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, disability, protected veteran status, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform a certain duty of the job.