Director of Development

Posted: 03/06/2026

Education

Employment Status: Full Time

FLSA: Exempt

Department: Staff

Reports To: Head of School

Supervises: None

Relates To: Administration, Board of Directors, Community Members, Faculty, Parents, Students

Position Description: Bracken Christian School partners with Christian families through the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit to provide an excellent education within the context of a biblical worldview, equipping students to impact their communities for Christ.

In this role, the Director of Development will drive philanthropic revenue growth through major gifts, capital campaigns, strategic partnerships, grants, and alumni engagement while providing strategic oversight to fundraising initiatives. Adhering to a results-driven time structure, this individual will achieve success by focusing on activites that generate the highest philanthropic return for the organization.

Core Responsibilities:

Major Gift Development (Primary Focus)

Manage initial portfolio of 30-50 major donor prospects.
Conduct donor meetings and cultivate transformational gifts.
Lead solicitation strategies with Head of School and Board.
Build long-term donor pipeline.
Manage Donor Database software.

Strategic Planning & Partnerships

Develop multi-year advancement strategy.
Build relationships with churches, businesses, and philanthropic leaders.
Secure sponsorships and strategic investments.

Capital Campaign Leadership

Assist with capital campaign strategy and donor engagement.
Identify leadership gift prospects.
Inconjunction with the Head of School, Board and capital campaign committee, Guide volunteer campaign

Alumni Initiative Leadership

Create strategic alumni engagement plan.
Identify alumni major donor prospects.
Increase alumni engagement and contactability annually.
Launch or expand alumni giving participation through the development of a giving pipeline.

Grants & Institutional Funding

Oversee grant strategy and proposal development.
Maintain relationships with foundations.
End of Year Giving Campaign

Bracken Fundraising Committees (Strategic Oversight Only): Boots & Ballgowns Gala, Clay Shoot, Bracken Backers (as it pertains to fundraising only)

Set financial goals.
Guide volunteer leadership.
Ensure events support donor cultivation strategy.

Performance Metrics

Major gifts represent 60–80% of total fundraising revenue.
10–20 new major donors annually.
Growth in average gift size.
Success of fundraising committees.
Capital campaign milestone achievement.
Secure annual philanthropic support as outlined/determined by the Head of School and Board.
Major gifts representing 60–80% of total fundraising revenue.
Maintain active portfolio of 30-50 major donor prospects.
Secure 10–20 new major donors annually.
Ensure fundraising events meet or exceed net revenue goals.
Convert event participants into long-term donor pipeline.
Submit 5-10 grant proposals annually.
Establish new strategic partnerships annually.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or CFRE preferred.
Proven success in nonprofit fundraising or advancement leadership.
Demonstrated ability to secure major gifts and cultivate long-term donor relationships.
Experience with capital campaigns strongly preferred.
Strong strategic thinking and relationship-building skills.
Experience within Christian education or faith-based nonprofit environments preferred.

Personal Characteristics

Christ-centered servant leader.
Highly relational and persuasive communicator.
Strategic thinker with strong execution skills.
Entrepreneurial mindset with growth orientation.
Collaborative and mission-focused.

This is a summary of the Job Description, a full Job description is available upon request.

This is a great way to be a part of the Bracken community. If you or someone you know is interested, please complete the application process at: https://www.brackenchristian.com/about-bracken/work-with-us