Director of Advancement

Director of Advancement

Schlarman Academy is a Christian institution within the Roman Catholic tradition, serving students from preschool through twelfth grade across two campuses in Danville, Illinois. The school operates under the Diocese of Peoria and exists to assist the bishop and pastors in the transmission of the Catholic faith to the young of the diocese, while welcoming families of all faith backgrounds who wish to take advantage of the opportunities a Catholic education provides. The school's mission and philosophy affirm the unique worth of each person as created by God and called to a particular end or destiny, recognize parents as the primary educators of their children, and commit the school to excellence in education, formation, and personal development consistent with its Catholic identity. The school strives to maintain an environment characterized by the Roman Catholic expression of Christian faith, human dignity, and responsible freedom, and pursues three goals: helping the development of Christian faith and its Roman Catholic expression, promoting the development of each student's abilities and interests, and promoting lifelong learning and decision-making rooted in Gospel values.

The Director of Advancement owns the school's philanthropic relationships and the revenue those relationships produce, complementing tuition income and supporting the substantial financial aid the school extends to families. In a Catholic school, advancement is a relational ministry as much as a fundraising function, and the Director invites donors, alumni, and parishes into the work of Christian education as partners and witnesses.

Position Summary

The Director of Advancement owns the school's philanthropic relationships (donors, alumni, parents of alumni, parishes, and the broader community of supporters) and the revenue those relationships produce. Advancement complements tuition revenue and provides the margin that sustains mission, supports the substantial financial aid the school extends, and funds investments the operating budget cannot cover. In a Catholic school, advancement is a relational ministry as much as a fundraising function; the Director invites others into the work of Christian education as partners and witnesses, not merely donors.

Primary Accountabilities

Annual giving. Owns the annual fund: the predictable, recurring philanthropic revenue that supports operations and tuition assistance.

Major gifts and capital initiatives. Identifies, cultivates, solicits, and stewards individual donors capable of meaningful gifts; leads capital efforts when initiated by the Head and diocese.

Alumni relations. Builds and sustains the alumni network as a community of Schlarman graduates who carry the school's formation into their adult lives and remain connected to its mission.

Donor stewardship. Ensures every donor is thanked, recognized, and kept connected to the impact of their giving, particularly the impact on students whose education is made possible by tuition assistance.

Grants and foundation giving. Pursues institutional funding from foundations, corporate partners, and grant programs aligned with the school's mission, including Catholic and diocesan philanthropic resources.

Events and visibility. Designs the events and touchpoints (galas, reunions, parish appearances, public moments) that build the school's philanthropic and community presence and witness to its Catholic identity.

Partnership with the Head of School. Prepares the Head for donor conversations and ensures the Head's time is spent on the relationships where it most matters.

Qualifications and Dispositions

Clearly understands and can communicate the school's Catholic identity, mission and culture and serves as a visible role model of faith, in keeping with the diocesan standard. Bachelor's degree required; CFRE or other fundraising credential valued. Experience in advancement, development, fundraising, or comparable relationship-driven work; Catholic school, diocesan, or parish context strongly preferred. Strong writing and storytelling skills; ability to articulate the school's mission and the dignity of its students in ways that move people to give. Discretion, integrity, and the relational warmth that donors trust.