Associate Director of Development

Associate Director of Development

The Associate Director of Development (ADOD) plays a key role in advancing Epiphany School's fundraising strategy, with primary responsibility for leading the Annual Fund and special events that raise operating support, the alumni program and philanthropy analytics. The ADOD will carry a portfolio and engage prospects for leadership gifts to the Annual Fund and select major gift and capital campaign initiatives. The ADOD is a critical partner to the Director of Development (DOD) and Head of School in all philanthropy work, overseeing comprehensive annual giving programs and building strong, long-term relationships with donors, volunteers, and school leadership to support the school's mission and strategic priorities.

The ideal candidate brings a passion for education, a proven ability to build trust and rapport with donors, parents, alumni, and community members, and is a strategic, hands-on fundraiser with a demonstrated ability to effectively set strategy and execute plans, grow revenue, manage teams, and deliver exceptional donor experiences. The ADOD leverages data, analytics, and best practices in donor engagement to meet annual fundraising goals and strengthen Epiphany School's culture of philanthropy across admissions, families, donors, and stewardship efforts.

This is a full-time, exempt, year-round, administrator position reporting to the Director of Development and will supervise the Events & Community Engagement Manager, Annual Giving & Alumni Manager, partner closely with the Development Services Manager.

Location & Schedule

This is an on-campus position located in the Madrona neighborhood of Seattle, Washington. Evening and weekend work is required, including local travel for donor meetings and fundraising events.

Standard school operating hours are Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Weekly staff meetings are held on Wednesdays from 4:00–5:00 p.m.

What you'll do

Annual Giving & Alumni Initiatives

• Primary responsibility for leading the team and reaching revenue targets totaling $1 Million+ per year.

• Lead a data-driven strategy for the Annual Fund campaign and spring fundraising event, including direct mail, digital fundraising, and year-end appeals.

• Partner with the Director of Development to develop and execute annual and long-range fundraising goals for Epiphany School.

• Recruit, train, and support the Annual Fund Committee and Spring Fundraiser Committee, engaging 20+ volunteers across multiple constituencies.

• Develop and implement strategies for donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship related to the Annual Fund, spring fundraiser, and capital campaign.

• Create solicitation materials, appeal letters, and donor acknowledgements in partnership with the Development Services Manager.

• Build an operating plan to grow a comprehensive alumni engagement program, strengthening long-term relationships.

• Plan and execute alumni programs, events (including reunions), and communications, including a biannual alumni newsletter.

• Collaborate with the Director of Development, Major Gift Officer, and Campaign Manager to ensure donor outreach is coordinated, strategic, and effective.

Events & Donor Engagement

• Provide strategic oversight of annual fundraising and donor engagement events, including the Annual Fund, Spring Fundraiser, Alumni Reunion, donor recognition events, and Epiphany Parent Community initiatives.

• Partner with the Events & Community Engagement Manager to ensure effective planning, execution, and post-event follow-up.

• Lead strategy for the spring fundraising event, including pre-solicitation planning, ticket promotion, procurement, and day-of-event philanthropic execution.

• Plan and execute donor recognition and stewardship events throughout the year.

• Support additional development-related events as needed, including registration, RSVP management, donor follow-up, and stewardship activities.

Stewardship, Communications & Reporting

• Design and implement a tiered stewardship program for Annual Fund donors in collaboration with the Development team.

• Lead messaging and production of print and digital materials for the Annual Fund and spring fundraiser event.

• Draft development-related content for school publications and correspondence with parents, donors, alumni, and other stakeholders.

• Assist DOD in developing and executing a comprehensive marketing and communications plan for development initiatives.

• Partner with the Development Services Manager on the Annual Impact Report, working closely with the Director of Development and Director of Marketing & Communications.

• Collaborate with the Director of Marketing & Communications to ensure all fundraising materials are developed within brand guidelines, clearly written, and delivered on time.

Data, Analytics & Reporting

• Supervise and collaborate with the Development Services Manager to oversee data services and analytics using Raiser's Edge.

• Ensure timely tracking and acknowledgement of gifts and pledges, including corporate matching and in-kind gifts.

• Co-manage dashboards, donor pipeline reports, and key performance metrics for internal use, the Development Committee, Board of Trustees, and Annual Impact Report.

• Participate in occasional committee meetings and school-wide events, which may occur in the evenings or on weekends.

Typical Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of seven years of experience with 3-5 years of a track record of success in fundraising with increasing responsibility.

• Annual Fund leadership and major gift solicitation at the $10,000+ level.

• Demonstrated success in growing revenue within a defined fundraising program.

• Experience with both individual donor cultivation and broad-based solicitation strategies.

• At least two years of experience supervising Development staff, including performance management and professional development.

• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to engage diverse audiences persuasively.

• Strong project management skills and ability to manage complex relationships across multiple stakeholders.

• Solid understanding of philanthropic trends and best practices in nonprofit fundraising.

• Strong database management skills, including experience with donor databases and event platforms (e.g., Greater Giving).

• Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT strongly preferred.

• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.

• Self-starter with demonstrated initiative, adaptability, and sensitivity when working in a fast-paced environment.

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain attention to detail.

• High energy and a strong sense of urgency.

• Ability to dress in professional attire appropriate for a school environment and represent Epiphany School with professionalism at events and meetings.

• Demonstrated ability to handle highly confidential information with discretion.

• Commitment to Epiphany School's values of inclusiveness, respect, and diversity.

• Experience working in Independent Schools is preferred, but not required.

Compensation & Benefits

The salary range for this role is between $100,000 and $120,000 based on years of experience, education, and internal equity.

Alongside salary, Epiphany School offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Benefits stipend to put towards employee benefits including medical, dental, vision coverage, voluntary employee, spousal, and child life and critical illness insurance, accident insurance, voluntary short-term disability, and flexible health savings accounts

• Employer-paid monthly premiums for employee assistance program and long-term disability coverage

• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution

• 13 paid holidays