Director for Development

Responsibilities and Management Areas

A passionate, goal-oriented advancement professional is sought to lead ambitious fundraising efforts in support of our premier military college-prep boarding school.

One of the country’s top military boarding schools for young men, Missouri Military Academy (MMA) seeks a dynamic leader to assist the president and Board of Trustees in advancing the Academy through successful fundraising. The chosen candidate will hold responsibility for forging positive relationships with alumni, cadet parents, foundations, local businesses, the community, and friends.

By building these relationships, we bring our Academy family together to achieve our shared vision and build upon more than 135 years of excellence, as we strategically develop and serve the needs of young men and families for the future.

Our goals are creation and sustainment of these relationships, followed closely by donor cultivation and significant increases in annual giving, all leading up to a capital campaign within five years. The best candidates will include those with considerable fundraising experience and exceptional ability in the cultivation of donors,, major gift planning, foundation grant writing, and an understanding of the fundamentals of planned giving and marketing to support all of these efforts.

• Assist the president and board in creating a buzz about the Academy that will cause stakeholders to want to contribute to on-going success.
• Create the vision for and lead all fundraising and development initiatives.
• Visit with and listen to prospective donors and help them envision their potential positive impact on MMA cadets and families through scholarship funding and other Academy support.
• Plan and present naming opportunities based on a prospect’s capacity to give.
• Lead and manage an administrative assistant/event planner and database specialist/fundraising coordinator.
• Support on and off-campus events with Academy staff, seek event sponsorships, and coordinate with Alumni Association Board of Directors.
• Plan, advertise, and execute the annual fund campaign, Maroon & Gold Gala (in coordination with Alumni Association Board), and support business/athletic fund campaign, and in time, a major capital campaign.
• Serve as the president’s liaison with the Board of Trustees Development Committee.
• Work with and seek advice and counsel from the Board of Trustees Development Committee on prospective donors, foundations, community, and other contacts.
• Support president as requested during alumni/parent/donor social events on campus and at the president’s home.
• Work with Alumni Board of Directors to maintain accurate alumni database and coordinate fundraising efforts.
• Periodically work after normal duty hours in the evening and on weekends with frequent travel.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in non-profit management, business or related degree OR five or more years of fundraising experience with demonstrated results
• Three years of experience in a leadership role in non-profit fundraising, grant writing and general finances
• Demonstrated success in cultivating and closing foundation and individual gifts and grant writing
• Experience in planning, organizing, executing, and supervising fundraising campaigns
• Strong written and verbal communications skills
• Familiarity with marketing, social media and best practices in fundraising
• Experience with fundraising software and donor database management

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree
• Five or more years experience working with boards, major donors, foundation leaders, grant writers, alumni associations, and parents in philanthropic endeavors
• Superior leadership ability and communication skills to include presenting/public speaking, grant writing, and hosting events
• Knowledge and experience with Donor Perfect, Raiser’s Edge and Wealth Engine production and analysis
• Bilingual (Spanish) and experience with international fundraising

Compensation

$85,000 to $105,000. Competitive benefits include sick leave, two weeks paid vacation first year that increases based on employment longevity, 403(b) retirement with matching up to 5% after second year of employment, medical and life insurance, and many others.

Key Strategic Goals

The future growth and sustainability of Missouri Military Academy depend on our ability to differentiate ourselves from peer academic institutions through continuous improvement, sound business practices, innovative and competitive programs, exceptional facilities, and unique cadet experiences.

• Maintain strong and sustainable enrollment levels with continued growth through effective marketing and recruiting programs to increase leads best suited to increase our pipeline of prospective cadet families.
• Enhance cadet life, military and athletic programs to strengthen discipline and morale, increase re enrollment and reduce attrition.
• Increase the rigor of our academic curriculum and assessment programs to exceed national standardized testing averages.
• Leverage technology to enhance academic programs and improve Academy operations.
• Address all aspects of risk management in every functional area to improve employee and cadet safety and minimize insurance costs.
• Achieve long-term financial stability and viability through sound business operations and fiscal controls, positive cash-flow management and effective financial modeling.
• Develop and implement strategies to recruit, retain, and support a caring workforce.
• Establish strategic partnerships to enhance our academic, athletic, and summer programs and support the health, welfare, and well-being of our cadets and employees.
• Maintain strong parent partnerships with regular communications and transparency.
• Update our campus master plan to facilitate informed decisions concerning long-term growth and investment in facilities and campus improvement projects, real estate acquisition and overall physical and cyber security.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive plan to improve alumni engagement (domestic and international), annual fundraising, grant writing and long-term giving.
• Investigate the operational, organizational and financial feasibility for, and benefits of, expanding our middle school and post-graduate programs and assimilating females into the Academy.