Director of Philanthropy & Growth

Church of the Heavenly Rest (CHR) is a vibrant, inclusive Episcopal parish located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Serving as a welcoming spiritual and cultural home for an intergenerational community, CHR pairs a rich tradition of worship and the arts with a deep commitment to neighborhood outreach. The parish is currently navigating an inspiring period of strategic growth as it prepares to celebrate its historic Centennial anniversary in 2029, positioning the church for transformative, milestone-driven philanthropic expansion. About the Organization Church of the Heavenly Rest provides a broad range of programming structured around worship, spiritual development, and community service. The parish offers comprehensive ministries for children, youth, and families, alongside acclaimed arts programming and impactful social outreach, including dedicated prison and re-entry ministries. As a civic and community hub, the fully accessible facility hosts public visiting hours, art exhibits, reception areas, and dedicated meeting spaces. The church also actively manages bookings for private life events, building rentals, and theatrical or musical productions. These robust community programs represent opportunities for targeted funding and institutional support. Governance and organizational operations follow a highly collaborative leadership model where laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels.. Operating with a $5M annual budget and a dedicated core of 200 pledging households, Church of the Heavenly Rest is primed to grow its philanthropy program. While core annual pledge income has held steady at $1.3M, a highly successful $8M capital campaign in 2021 demonstrates the extraordinary capacity and generosity of our community. Recognized nationally within The Episcopal Church, CHR is entering an ambitious new era, having celebrated former rector Matt Heyd's election as bishop of the Diocese of New York and welcoming new rector Kate Malin in 2024. About the Role What You'll Do The Director of Development will serve as a dynamic, front-line fundraiser to lead all philanthropic fundraising activities for the Church of the Heavenly Rest, operating as a key member of the professional leadership team reporting to the Rector. This newly elevated role is responsible for ensuring sustained annual growth in operating income to support CHR's $5 million annual budget while designing and executing the strategy for the upcoming 2029 Centennial. By setting strategic goals, assessing donor capacity, and cultivating existing and new donor relationships, the Director will expand CHR's reach. Working in close partnership with the Rector and Vestry, this leader will creatively drive the annual pledge campaign, formalize planned giving, and help architect periodic capital campaigns, while effectively modernizing our constituent management systems. As fundraising milestones are achieved, the Director will have the exciting opportunity to structurally expand and build out the development team. This role is well-suited for someone with a builder's mindset who thrives on connectivity with others. The incoming Director of Development will have a unique launchpad to mobilize proven donor loyalty, scale annual giving, and directly fund vital, high-profile initiatives, including historic landmark preservation, congregation growth, and expanded community ministries. Key Responsibilities Philanthropic Fundraising Research and develop comprehensive, creative strategies for annual Stewardship Campaigns, the systematic build-out of a formal planned giving program, and the upcoming 2029 Centennial celebration. Selectively identify, pursue, and secure foundation and government grant opportunities to directly support CHR's programming initiatives. Design and execute plans to steward existing donors, deepen their engagement, and strategically transition mid-level supporters into major gift portfolios. Conceptualize and create all online pledge and giving forms across various fundraising opportunities, including Stewardship, Capital Campaign, Events, and the Flower Fund. External Relations and Relationship Building Act as the primary, front-line solicitor for the parish, driving independent major donor portfolios and appropriately determining when and how to strategically leverage the Rector in high-level cultivation and solicitation activities. Deeply engage with the CHR parish community, actively participating in Sunday services, social gatherings, and fundraising functions to naturally increase CHR's reach in the philanthropic community. Act as the primary point of contact for all giving inquiries and network actively with donors at social and fundraising functions to increase the Church's reach in the philanthropic community. Support, leverage, and empower lay leadership within the highly skilled volunteer Stewardship and Capital Campaign Committees. Operational Leadership Select, implement, and oversee a new donor database and constituent management system, ensuring its seamless integration into CHR's financial operations. Supervise and support the part-time Database Manager, with the long-term opportunity to hire and manage additional development staff as fundraising revenue grows. Oversee all direct processes and procedures so that records for gifts and pledges are properly accounted for, and accurate giving reports are produced in a timely manner. Participate actively in setting and managing the overarching development budget to achieve annual fundraising goals established by the Rector and Vestry. Who You'll Work With You will report to the Rector. You will supervise the part-time Database Manager and external consultants. You will frequently collaborate with Vestry, functional leaders, and highly skilled volunteer lay leadership committees to implement stewardship initiatives and broaden the church's reach. Required Skills and Experience Core Qualifications Minimum of eight years of proven success in nonprofit development and fundraising, with a strong track record as an active front-line fundraiser. Bachelor's Degree or higher required. Excellent verbal and written communication skills (note: a writing sample may be required). Strong analytical, organizational, and delegation skills are a must. Friendly and welcoming demeanor with an enthusiasm for working collaboratively within an intelligent and engaged community of leaders. Technical Expertise and Industry Knowledge Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Products (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with AI tools like Copilot and ChatGPT. Demonstrated expertise in donor management platforms, the use of social media channels, and the Adobe Creative Suite. Experience in the design and implementation of nonprofit fundraising, with an emphasis on donor strategy development. Familiarity with the Episcopal Church and/or parish life is considered a strong asset. Additional Details This is a 100% on-site, full-time position with primary office hours Monday through Friday. Because the Director of Development attends occasional evening programs and weekend parish events, we offer a flexible schedule. Equity at Church of the Heavenly Rest Church of the Heavenly Rest is committed to being an inclusive home for all people. We are an open community experiencing God together, regardless of sexual identity or orientation. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God's love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church. Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God, and can be expressed by all people in our church. #J-18808-Ljbffr