Director of Mission Advancement

Job Description

Job Description

The Director of Mission Advancement provides strategic leadership for fundraising, donor relations, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, advancement communications, donor engagement events, and long-term philanthropic sustainability. The ideal candidate is relational, highly organized, entrepreneurial, and passionate about Catholic campus ministry while possessing strong communication, fundraising, and leadership abilities. This role is responsible for developing and implementing advancement strategies that strengthen philanthropic support for the Newman Center while directing the Donor Relations & Marketing Coordinator to ensure communications, stewardship, fundraising initiatives, and donor engagement efforts align with organizational priorities and mission goals. This position requires a practicing Catholic who is able to actively support the mission of the Newman Center and the Catholic Church.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Development & Advancement Leadership

● Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development and fundraising strategy aligned with the Newman Center’s mission, annual operating needs, and long-term priorities.

● Collaborate with pastoral leadership and staff to identify advancement priorities, funding opportunities, and philanthropic strategies that support ministry growth.

● Lead strategic planning efforts related to fundraising, stewardship, donor retention, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and long-term philanthropic sustainability.

● Provide fundraising forecasting, reporting, and recommendations to leadership to support organizational decision-making.

● Identify risks and opportunities related to fundraising performance and donor engagement.

● Collaborate with leadership to support organizational priorities and advancement initiatives that strengthen long-term mission sustainability

Major Gifts & Donor Relations

● Manage a portfolio of 150-250 current and prospective benefactors through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and relationship management.

● Conduct face-to-face donor meetings, including regional and out-of-state travel, to cultivate meaningful philanthropic partnerships and major gifts.

● Develop individualized donor strategies and solicitation plans for annual, major, campaign, planned, and legacy gifts.

● Personally solicit and steward leadership-level gifts and multi-year commitments.

● Build long-term relationships with benefactors, alumni, parishioners, Catholic leaders, business professionals, foundations, and community supporters.

● Coordinate high-level donor stewardship strategies including impact reporting, cultivation opportunities, and relationship touchpoints.

● Represent the Newman Center at diocesan, parish, alumni, donor, and community events in a manner that strengthens mission awareness and philanthropic support.

Leadership & Team Management

● Direct and mentor the Donor Relations & Marketing Coordinator to ensure fundraising, stewardship, communications, and marketing initiatives align with organizational goals and mission priorities.

● Provide leadership, coaching, project oversight, and strategic direction related to donor communications, annual appeals, stewardship efforts, marketing campaigns, events, and donor engagement strategies.

● Establish priorities, workflows, and performance expectations to ensure timely execution of advancement initiatives.

● Collaborate with clergy, staff, volunteers, students, and leadership teams to execute fundraising initiatives and strengthen organizational effectiveness.

● Serve as a mission ambassador and representative of the Newman Center among benefactors, alumni, diocesan leaders, parish communities, and Catholic organizations.

Annual Fund, Campaign Oversight & Advancement Communications

● Provide strategic oversight and direction for annual fundraising campaigns, seasonal appeals, matching challenges, donor communications, and recurring giving initiatives.

● Guide donor messaging, storytelling, and fundraising communications to strengthen mission awareness and philanthropic engagement.

● Direct advancement communications and fundraising messaging through leadership of the Donor Relations & Marketing Coordinator while ensuring consistency with organizational priorities.

● Partner with staff to identify ministry stories, metrics, and outcomes that demonstrate impact and strengthen donor retention.

● Develop donor engagement strategies that increase long-term philanthropic support and stewardship effectiveness.

Event Strategy & Fundraising Events

● Provide strategic leadership and fundraising oversight for donor engagement and fundraising events, including the annual Newman Center Gala, donor cultivation events, and other advancement initiatives.

● Lead sponsorship strategy, donor engagement priorities, fundraising messaging, and event-related advancement initiatives.

● Direct staff coordination, fundraising priorities, sponsorship fulfillment, and donor experience strategy related to fundraising events.

● Collaborate with staff, volunteers, benefactors, and vendors to ensure successful advancement outcomes for fundraising initiatives.

Planned Giving, Grants & Institutional Support

● Develop and promote planned giving, estate gift, endowment, and legacy fund initiatives to strengthen long-term philanthropic sustainability.

● Cultivate relationships with benefactors, professional advisors, foundations, diocesan partners, and stakeholders regarding charitable giving opportunities.

● Identify, evaluate, and pursue grant opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and mission advancement.

● Coordinate grant proposals, stewardship reports, and foundation communications in collaboration with leadership and ministry staff.

● Educate supporters on charitable giving opportunities including estate gifts, donor-advised funds, endowment giving, and other philanthropic strategies.

Database, Stewardship & Advancement Operations

● Maintain oversight of donor database systems, fundraising analytics, donor tracking, stewardship reporting, and advancement systems.

● Ensure donor records, fundraising reporting, pledges, recurring gifts, and stewardship systems are timely and accurate.

● Implement advancement best practices related to donor stewardship, prospect management, fundraising systems, reporting, and donor engagement.

● Collaborate with business administration staff to ensure gift processing and advancement reporting support organizational goals.

Qualifications

● Bachelor’s degree in fundraising, communications, marketing, nonprofit management, business, or related field preferred (flexible based on experience).

● Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, nonprofit leadership, advancement, or related field preferred.

● Experience in major gifts, donor cultivation, stewardship, strategic fundraising, and relationship management preferred.

● Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate mission, impact, and fundraising opportunities.

● Experience with donor databases (e.g., Bloomerang or similar CRM systems) preferred.

● Practicing Catholic able to actively support the mission of the Newman Center and Catholic Church.

Other Skills & Attributes

● Collaborative and mission-driven leader with strong relationship-building and communication skills.

● Strong organizational skills, initiative, discretion, and attention to detail.

● Ability to strategically manage multiple priorities, donor relationships, fundraising initiatives, and organizational goals simultaneously.

● Passion for the mission of the St. Thomas More Catholic Newman Center and the ability to communicate that mission effectively.

● Flexibility to work in a fast-paced environment with occasional evening or weekend responsibilities and donor travel.

Work Environment & Physical Demands

● Ability to lift and carry materials (5-20 lbs), move files, and perform general office tasks.

● Must have reliable transportation and be willing to attend off-site events and meetings as needed.

● Assist with administrative functions related to the position

● Support other organizational projects as needed

Non-Essential Job Responsibilities

● Assist with administrative functions related to the position.

● Support other organizational projects as needed.