Director of Advancement

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School
Fort Myers, FL
Director of Advancement

Position Description

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School’s Mission and History

For over 85 years, St. Francis Xavier Catholic School has been a beacon of academic excellence and spiritual formation in Fort Myers, Florida.  The school has educated generations of students since its founding in 1938. St. Francis Xavier was the first Catholic elementary school within the Diocese of Venice to be recognized as a “Blue Ribbon School” by the U.S. Department of Education.

From humble beginnings with 68 students to a vibrant community of over 600 students today, the school has steadfastly committed to providing a Christ-centered education that prepares children for lives of purpose and impact.  The mission of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is “To Be Like Christ” in all that they think, do, and say while experiencing the joy of learning.  This mission is demonstrated daily and drives leadership’s commitment to growing the St. Francis Xavier family.

Purpose and Scope of the Position

The last five years have blessed St. Francis Xavier with unprecedented growth, and the school is now presented with many exciting opportunities that will shape its future.  As a result, they are seeking a mission-driven, passionate, experienced Director of Advancement to join the leadership team as they embark on their next chapter.

The individual selected for this role will build and establish a comprehensive Advancement program based on industry standards and proven fundraising methods.  They will actively institute best practices for donor stewardship and instill a culture of philanthropy throughout the school.  The Director will collaborate with the Principal and the Advisory Board to develop new relationships, re-engage alumni, and implement the systems necessary to build the school’s visibility, impact, and philanthropic resources.  This position will also help plan and implement any future Capital Campaigns.

The Director of Advancement will create and implement strategies for major and planned gifts, stewardship, events, alumni relations, volunteer engagement, corporate philanthropic support, and constituent communications.  This position will build an Advancement Program for the school The Director of Advancement will report directly to the Principal.

Ideal Candidate

The successful candidate will bring proven leadership experience and a strategic mindset necessary to create an Advancement infrastructure, cultivate the donor community, and establish the foundation for long-term success.  This leader should possess a proven ability to identify, nurture, and secure major gifts while establishing productive and lasting relationships with constituents.  They will excel at engaging diverse stakeholders such as donors, alumni, staff, volunteers, and community leaders.  Experience building or significantly growing Advancement Programs in schools is highly valued.

Overview:

  • Develop and lead a results-focused Advancement Program that centers on building financial support for St. Francis Xavier Catholic School from individuals, foundations, and corporations
  • Collaborate closely with the Principal and Advisory Board to identify opportunities for support
  • Craft an impact-driven communication strategy, including but not limited to print, digital, and social channels, to articulate Advancement messaging and inspire support

Specific Responsibilities:

  • Major and Planned Gift Development
  • Identify, qualify, and cultivate prospects for solicitation of major gifts
  • Strategically cultivate St. Francis Xavier parents, alumni parents and alumni to garner support
  • Implement and maintain a Moves Management system to create the pathway for prospective major donors
  • Launch a planned gift initiative for capturing legacy support
  • Lead the research, application, and follow-up strategy for foundation and corporation support

Leadership Team, Board, and Committee Engagement

  • Focus on deepening existing relationships, re-engaging distant constituents, and developing new supporters by partnering closely with the Principal and Board  
  • Support Volunteer Committees in their efforts as advocates for St. Francis Xavier
  • Represent St. Francis Xavier in the community by participating in and attending community events

Infrastructure, Internal Management, and Data Administration

  • Responsible for the seamless management of the Advancement Office’s day-to-day operations and annual goals
  • Collaborate with various departments at St. Francis Xavier to build the foundation for, and appreciation of, the Advancement department; Foster an internal culture of philanthropy
  • Ensure the accuracy of the donor database and gift records by implementing policies, procedures, and controls
  • Conduct donor research, build fundraising pipeline based on capacity and gift potential, prepare prospect summaries, and advancement reports
  • Process gift records, prepare gift acknowledgment letters, and work closely with Finance for accurate and transparent financial tracking and reporting processes
  • Train, manage, and mentor volunteers as needed in donor cultivation and fundraising techniques
  • Ensure consistent messaging and branding in all print and digital donor communication

Event Management

  • Strategically design and manage the seamless execution of formal and informal events, receptions & meetings for prospects and donors
  • Lead special event logistics, including, but not limited to, event budget, vendor management, solicitation of sponsors, guest details, and event-related communications
  • Support committee efforts with tools for event success

Perform other position-related duties as necessary and/or as assigned by the Principal

Attributes:

  • Innovative, independent thinker with a strategic mindset, unafraid to start from scratch and create new systems
  • Self-motivated project manager with a track record of successfully handling multiple tasks and meeting deadlines
  • Proactive in networking and building meaningful relationships to enhance partnership
  • Proven ability to inspire and empower diverse groups, including staff, faculty, and volunteers, at all levels
  • Exceptional organizational skills with a focus on goal setting and prioritization
  • Passion for furthering a cohesive and collaborative environment
  • Outstanding communication and influencing abilities: persuasive, credible, and articulate in both verbal and written forms
  • A commitment to supporting the mission and Catholic values of St. Francis Xavier Catholic School

Qualifications:

  • BA (required); MA, a plus
  • Professional certification (CFRE), a plus
  • A minimum of three to five years in planning and administering Advancement programs
  • Demonstrated fundraising success within a comprehensive Advancement program
  • Previous engagement and collaboration with both staff and Board members
  • Excellent computer skills, including Microsoft Office and CRM software
  • Proven writing skills
  • Evening/weekend work is occasionally required, as well as travel for prospect meetings
  • Valid driver’s license

Salary and Benefits:

  • Full complement of competitive benefits 
  • Salary commensurate with experience

To Apply

This search is being conducted by the Executive Search Division of Ruotolo Associates Inc.  Inquiries regarding this position are strictly confidential and should be directed to [email protected].  Interested applicants must submit a resume and cover letter with a salary range.  References will be requested of all finalists but may be submitted along with a resume and cover letter.

St. Francis Xavier Catholic School is an equal opportunity employer.