CAPITOL HILL DAY SCHOOL
WASHINGTON, D.C.
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
POSITION SPECIFICATION
Capitol Hill Day School, a pre-Kindergarten through Grade 8 independent school,
seeks a director of development to lead the development staff. This is an
exciting time for the School, as it will celebrate its 40th
anniversary in 2009 with groundbreaking for a beautifully designed addition to
the historic Dent Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. The School is
completing the silent phase of a $2 million capital campaign with the public
phase scheduled for November 2008. About $1.2 million is in hand; the campaign
is scheduled to finish mid 2009. The school’s annual budget is about $6
million.
This position affords exposure and leadership in all aspects of fundraising and alumni relations.
The director of development will work closely with the head
of school, director of finance and advancement, development staff,
communications staff, volunteer leaders, and volunteers in assuming
responsibility for coordinating all aspects of the annual and capital
campaigns.
Attractions
CHDS has an outstanding work environment with dedicated and high-functioning colleagues.
Martha Shepardson-Killam is beginning her second year as head of school. She is experienced and focused on the school’s future development. She is pursuing a clear work plan that generates a commitment from the staff, and she understands and is engaged in the development process.
CHDS has an active, dedicated, and supportive parent community that is involved in many ways that strengthen the school. Alumni are also supportive.
The director of development position offers an opportunity to work in the public phase of a capital campaign grow a department that is crucial to the school’s future.
CHDS is a lively school environment, which comes from a creative curriculum that engages students in experiential learning outside the classroom. One person in a leadership position described CHDS as “the most intellectual, K-8 independent school I have ever seen.” Teachers help students get excited about learning.
The school’s goals are believable and achievable.
Applications for admissions are strong.
Subsidized Metropass.
Critical Issues
The school is on strong financial footing with cash reserves as it enters a new building phase. Nonetheless, assets must be managed carefully so as to maintain stability and not strain the families who are paying tuition.
In fundraising, capital and annual campaigns need
coordination, and outreach to alumni and friends of CHDS need to be expanded.
Major gift and planned giving programs have room to grow.
The Position
Duties and Responsibilities
Reports to director of finance and advancement, who in turn reports to the head of school. The director of finance and advancement is described as “good at development and knows what needs to be done.” Since the director of finance and advancement has heavy responsibility for the school’s finances, business, and building program, the director of development should grow into more external responsibilities.
Capital Campaign
Organize strategic plan for campaign, including strategy and tactics, manage the steps, and prioritize prospects and events in the campaign.
Assist with planning the public phase of the capital campaign such as volunteer recruitment and training, campaign strategies, timeline, organizing prospective donor information, and suggesting content for publications and materials.
Also coordinate the public phase of the campaign to include campaign materials, public relations, events, publications, outreach initiatives, and donor recognition. Serve as primary point person for day-to-day contact with campaign steering committee and subcommittee chairs.
Assume primary responsibility for donor information for the capital campaign using Donor Perfect as database management software.
Maintain campaign donor records (paper and database files), thank donors, track and report solicitation and campaign progress, disseminate information, and periodically update the capital campaign website.
Provide administrative support for the capital campaign to include scheduling appointments, meeting, attending to details of meeting setup and follow-up, and handling campaign paperwork.
Major Gifts
Identify potential major gift donors. Assist the head of school and director of finance and advancement in preparing cultivation plans to solicit lead gifts.
Planned Giving
Identify donors for whom planned giving options may be appropriate. Develop expertise in aspects of planned giving.
Annual Fund
Direct this part of the development office, with special attention to donor records, mailings, annual fund publications and writing skills.
Other Responsibilities
Provide leadership to and manage the development office and its three part-time staff. Manage other activities in the development office such as the annual fund, the annual auction, and fund and friend raising events. Look for opportunities to improve annual auction.
Develop content for and regularly update the development section of the Capitol Hill Day School website. Coordinate with virtualgiving.com to keep the planned giving section of the website informative and of interest to potential donors.
Desired Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree with relevant work experience in fundraising, sales/marketing, or public relations.
Track record of success in a core area of fundraising.
Project enthusiasm and support for the school.
Demonstrated skill to successfully motivate volunteers.
Strong computer skills in Windows, Microsoft Office, and database management.
Must be able to work outside of normal office hours to support activities including early morning meetings, evening engagements and occasional weekend obligations.
A commitment to ethical fundraising, collegiality, and teamwork is essential.
All donor, parent, and constituency information must be handled accurately, with sensitivity, and in a confidential manner.
Independent school experience and experience with an annual fund are pluses.
Candidates should like the process of identifying and
researching new donors, respect the confidentiality of personal data, and have a
system for following up information passed to others in prospect cultivation and
solicitation.
Candidates and sources, please communicate with:
Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com or sellery@sellery.com
FAX 202.772.3101
Telephone: 202.331.0090
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
