Director, Sponsor a Student Program

Independence Mission Schools; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Independence Mission Schools is seeking a Director for the Sponsor a Student Program in Philadelphia. This full-time role involves building and leading a fundraising initiative to support students from underserved communities. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in donor relations, excellent communication skills, and a passion for Catholic education. Responsibilities include managing donor relationships, executing fundraising strategies, and collaborating with school leaders. A Bachelor's degree and 5–7 years of relevant experience are required.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in fundraising or donor relations.
• Proven ability to build and manage donor pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the Sponsor a Student program.
• Manage a portfolio of current and prospective donors.
• Collaborate with school leaders and advancement colleagues.

Skills

Communication

Project Management

Fundraising

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

DonorPerfect

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Independence Mission Schools (IMS) is seeking a strategic, results-driven, and experienced development professional to serve as the Director, Sponsor a Student Program. This individual will be responsible for building, leading, and scaling IMS’s new Sponsor a Student initiative — a vital and growing pillar of the organization's annual giving strategy. Reporting to the Senior Director of Leadership & Annual Giving, the Director will design and execute a comprehensive program to deepen donor engagement, grow philanthropic support, and advance IMS’s mission of providing students from underserved communities access to a high-quality Catholic school education. This is a full-time role based in Philadelphia, with a flexible hybrid schedule.

Specific Responsibilities:

• Lead the development and execution of a network-wide strategy to grow the Sponsor a Student program, including donor acquisition, retention, upgrades, and stewardship, ensuring program sustainability and year-over-year growth.
• Establish and achieve ambitious, measurable targets related to personal donor visits, solicitation activity, dollars raised, and donor engagement.
• Serve as the primary relationship manager for all Sponsor a Student donors, delivering a high-touch experience through personalized outreach, stewardship touchpoints, and regular impact reporting.
• Create and implement a comprehensive stewardship plan that includes tailored communications, individualized acknowledgments, exclusive events, and student success stories.
• Manage a dynamic portfolio of current and prospective Sponsor a Student donors, including direct solicitation of gifts and cultivation of long-term philanthropic relationships.
• Collaborate closely with school leaders at all 14 schools, Advancement colleagues, and the communications team to identify and share compelling narratives that illustrate the impact of donor support.
• Work with school based program coordinators (14) that will help execute at the local level.
• Develop customized sponsorship proposals, presentations, and other materials to secure new and renewed sponsorship commitments.
• Partner with marketing and communications to increase visibility and promotion of the Sponsor a Student program through digital marketing, print collateral, and donor-focused storytelling.
• Maintain records of donor activity and interactions in Donor Perfect, ensuring data integrity and supporting effective moves management.
• Assist with broader annual giving initiatives and special campaigns as needed to support the overall success of IMS's fundraising goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in fundraising, annual giving, or donor relations, preferably within an educational or nonprofit environment.
• Proven ability to build, manage, and grow fundraising programs and donor pipelines, with a strong record of personally securing and stewarding gifts.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to inspire and engage diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.
• Experience with donor CRM platforms such as DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge, or similar systems.
• Self-starter with the ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and emotional intelligence.
• A passion for the mission of Catholic education and a strong commitment to advancing educational opportunities for students and families in underserved communities.
• Availability for occasional evening or weekend events, as needed.

EOE: IMS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrates staff diversity. We strive to be and build a diverse team that is representative of our students and the communities in which we serve. If you identify as an individual of color, we highly encourage you to apply!

Want to learn more about IMS and our school locations? Please visit: https://independencemissionschools.org/schools/