Director of Development

Director Of Development

Spartanburg Day School is seeking a Director of Development to provide leadership for all of the School's philanthropic and constituent engagement efforts.

Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development is responsible for building strong partnerships with alumni, parents, trustees, faculty and staff, and friends of the school to create a culture of giving and engagement. The Director of Development oversees all fundraising initiatives, alumni and parent relations, stewardship, and development events and operations. The Director will be a highly visible representative of the school, building upon Spartanburg Day School's many strengths to galvanize others in support of its mission, ensuring its immediate success and securing its position for future generations.

Essential Functions

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with the Head of School, Chief Financial Officer, and Development Committee of the Board on innovative fundraising and financing strategies.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive development strategy aligned with the school's mission and strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a key collaborator with the Head of School on fundraising strategy, donor relations, and constituent engagement.
• Partner closely with the Board of Trustees and the Board's Development Committee to establish fundraising goals and encourage leadership-level philanthropy.
• Facilitate the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees.
• Collaborate with the Leadership Team on strategic planning, initiatives, and other school activities.
• In partnership with the communications and marketing team, contribute to and strengthen the SDS brand.

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Spearhead, develop, and implement a diverse and multifaceted fundraising plan, including major gifts, annual giving, events, corporate and foundation grants, and special campaigns related to capital and endowment programs.
• Solicit major gifts in collaboration with the Board of Trustees and Head of School.
• Develop and cultivate key donor relationships with high net worth individuals, foundations, and corporate partners.
• Research, establish, and cultivate relationships with foundation and corporate donors.
• In collaboration with the Head of School and Director of Finance and Operations, develop annual fundraising goals to preserve the school's financial strength.
• Provide regular updates to the Head of School, the Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders on fundraising progress.
• Help create and manage fundraising materials, including grant proposals, donor communications, and campaign collateral.

Parent, Alumni, and Community Engagement

• Oversee and facilitate appropriate support and leadership for parent fundraising initiatives through the SDS Parent Association, as well as any parent volunteer efforts.
• Supervise the Development department, including alumni relations, the Annual Fund, and related data management.
• Create and oversee engagement opportunities for each constituent group, informed by their unique interests and relationships with the school.
• Maintain and develop key community relationships, including with community, city, political, and/or government officials.
• Oversee fundraising community activities and events, including alumni events and other signature gatherings.
• Develop and maintain a list of prospective board members in conjunction with the Head of School and Director of Finance and Operations.

Operations

• Lead and support the Development Office staff, fostering collaboration, accountability, and professional growth.
• Establish strong annual planning practices, including setting clearly defined and measurable goals as well as metrics to assess performance.
• Oversee development systems and operations, including database management, prospect research, gift processing, and reporting.
• Oversee tracking, reporting, and processing of contributions in concert with the Finance Department.
• Use data analytics and software tools to measure the efficacy of current fundraising and engagement efforts and to plan for the future.
• Maintain best practices in gift acknowledgement, stewardship, and data integrity.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of School.

Education And Experience

The successful candidate will bring a track record of leadership, innovation, and results in advancement, along with the personal qualities needed to inspire confidence and trust. Candidates are expected to demonstrate most, if not all, of the following:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (e.g., M.A., MBA, M.Ed.) strongly preferred.
• At least 7–10 years of senior-level experience in advancement/fundraising, institutional advancement, or development — preferably in independent schools, higher education, or nonprofit educational institutions.
• Demonstrated success with solicitation, stewardship, major gift fundraising, annual funds, planned giving, and campaign management.
• Strong strategic planning, financial acumen, and operational management skills.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills — ability to engage with a wide array of stakeholders, including alumni, parents, students, faculty, trustees, donors, and community partners.
• Leadership style characterized by collaboration, integrity, diplomacy, and a commitment to mission-driven work.
• Deep appreciation for Spartanburg Day School's core values of excellence, individuality, leadership, curiosity, and passion.
• An orientation toward innovation, but sensitive to the culture of a close-knit school community.
• Mission-driven, student-centered, community-oriented, and equity-minded.
• Entrepreneurial and strategic — able to envision and develop new programs while balancing mission and financial sustainability.
• Highly organized and flexible, demonstrating strong initiative and the ability to juggle competing priorities in a dynamic school setting.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, Google Apps, and advancement database software (Raiser's Edge NXT or similar preferred).

Compensation And Benefits

Spartanburg Day School offers a competitive compensation and benefits package, including:

• Competitive annual salary, commensurate with experience
• Generous paid time off (PTO)
• Shared-cost, high-quality medical, dental, and vision insurance
• School-paid short-term and long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance
• Retirement plan with employer match
• Supplemental insurance options
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA) / Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tuition remission and program discounts for children enrolled at the school

To Apply

Qualified applicants should submit the following via email to David Skeen, Head of School, at View email address on click.appcast.io:

• Cover letter
• Résumé
• Personal statement
• A list of three references with email addresses and telephone numbers

Spartanburg Day School is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability or veteran status.