Description
Director of Development
The Opportunity
Durham Nativity School (DNS) seeks a sophisticated, high-energy advancement professional to serve as Director of Development. This individual will lead a comprehensive program that includes major gifts, annual giving, foundation relations, and alumni engagement. This role is a vital partner to the Head of School in ensuring that DNS becomes a national leader in boys' education.
About Durham Nativity School
Everything we do breaks down barriers, creates opportunities, and fosters belonging to ensure all our young men reach their full potential. We are a tuition-free, all-boys, independent college preparatory middle school. Durham Nativity School empowers students from underserved families to achieve academic excellence and fulfill their leadership potential by providing access to opportunities that they would not otherwise experience.
By integrating community service, visits to partner schools, regular guest speaker sessions, and interactions with local businesses, organizations, and universities into their weekly routine, students become active agents of change, transforming both themselves and their community. The school is intentionally designed to be learner-centered; therefore, the school and class sizes are both small. Class sizes average around 14 students, and the student body at capacity is 56. To educate the whole child, time will be divided as needed between academic, social-emotional, physical, and spiritual development.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Institutional Advancement
Executive Leadership: Serve on the Head of School’s Leadership Team, contributing to school-wide strategic planning and institutional decision-making.
Campaign Management: Lead the strategy for the school’s upcoming 25th Anniversary and potential capital initiatives, ensuring the growth of the school’s endowment and scholarship funds.
CASE Standards: Maintain absolute adherence to the CASE Global Ethics and Reporting Standards, ensuring the highest level of transparency and data integrity.
2. High-Level Philanthropy & Moves Management
Portfolio Ownership: Proactively manage a high-level portfolio of 60–80 individuals, corporations, and foundations, moving them through the qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship cycle.
Principal Gifts: Orchestrate the involvement of the Head of School and Board Chair in the solicitation of transformational six- and seven-figure gifts.
Planned Giving: Formalize a legacy giving program to secure the school’s future through bequests and deferred gifts.
3. Team Management & Mentorship
Staff Supervision: Direct and mentor the Assistant Director of Community Engagement, providing clear KPIs and professional growth opportunities.
Internship Program: Lead and oversee development interns, who will implement development, marketing and communications plans.
4. Board & Volunteer Engagement
Board Liaison: Act as the primary staff liaison to the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees, empowering them to meet their personal and collective giving goals.
Special Events: Provide strategic oversight for annual, ensuring these events serve as high-level cultivation touchpoints for new and existing major donors, with the ability to make adjust.
5. Flexible Institutional Support
Adaptable Non-Profit Leadership: Act as a collaborative partner within a small school ecosystem. This includes actively participating in school-wide events and initiatives, showcasing a "no task too small" team spirit, and performing additional responsibilities as assigned by the Head of School to meet evolving institutional needs.
Key Competencies
Collaborative Team Player: Thrives in a tight-knit, small non-profit environment; possesses a genuine willingness to cross departmental lines to support colleagues and overall school success.
Strategic Thinker & Executive Mindset: Ability to see the big picture and align fundraising strategies with the overarching vision and strategic plan of Durham Nativity School.
High-Impact Communication: Exceptional interpersonal, writing, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage authentically and build trust with a diverse range of stakeholders, from community leaders to student families.
Data-Driven & Detail-Oriented: Strong analytical skills with the ability to leverage donor data, predictive modeling, and CRM insights to drive fundraising strategies.
Resourceful & Self-Directed: Highly organized and proactive, with the capability to manage multiple high-level priorities and moving pieces simultaneously in a lean nonprofit setting.
Next steps
Join Our Mission: If you are a dynamic, mission-driven leader ready to shape the future of our young men and elevate Durham Nativity School to its next chapter of growth, we want to hear from you! If your interests, experience, and leadership competencies align with this vision, please reach out to Tiffany Alrefae at talrefae@durhamnativity.org to submit your resume and cover letter.
Requirements
Professional Qualifications & Requirements
Experience: 7–10 years of progressive advancement experience, ideally within a private secondary school or higher education environment.
Proven Track Record: Demonstrated success in personally soliciting and closing six-figure gifts and managing complex fundraising events.
Technical Expertise: Advanced proficiency in Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar sophisticated CRM, including the ability to generate predictive modeling and longitudinal giving reports.
Education & Certification: Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree preferred). CFRE (Certified Fundraising Executive) or ACRE certification is highly desirable.
Commitment to the Mission: A profound commitment to the mission of Durham Nativity School and the ability to engage authentically with a diverse range of stakeholders, from community leaders to student families.
Compensation & Benefits
Salary: $75,000 – $100,000 (Commensurate with experience).
Benefits: Full medical/dental/vision, retirement matching, and a generous holiday schedule aligned with the academic calendar.
