Director of Development

Ursuline Academy of Dallas is an independent Catholic college preparatory school for young women in grades 9-12. Educating students for 152 years, the Academy is the oldest continuously operating school in Dallas. With a distinguished tradition of academic excellence, innovation, and service, Ursuline educates young women for leadership in a global society. Ursuline seeks a collaborative, experienced frontline fundraiser for the role of Director of Development. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), The Director of Development serves as a key member of the Development team, responsible for driving a comprehensive fundraising strategy that integrates major gifts, annual giving, planned giving, and engagement opportunities. The role manages a portfolio of leadership and major gift prospects while also contributing to the success of annual fundraising initiatives and select events. The Director of Development plays a critical role in strengthening a portfolio-driven culture, helping to guide prospect strategy to ensure coordinated, data-informed fundraising efforts across the team. Key Responsibilities Major Gift and Portfolio Management Manage and grow a dynamic portfolio of 125-150 major gift prospects, leadership annual donors, and planned giving prospects Lead all stages of the donor cycle: identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship Develop and execute individualized strategies to increase giving and deepen engagement Conduct regular donor visits and engage in meaningful touchpoints to advance relationships Work closely with the CDO on initiatives such as special mini campaigns, planned giving program, private foundation relationships, corporate fundraising, and grant applications Annual Giving and Pipeline Development Contribute to strategy and execution of annual giving efforts, including The Ursuline Fund and UA Giving Day Help build and strengthen the pipeline from annual donors to leadership and major gift prospects Collaborate with Development colleagues to grow and strengthen reunion giving programs Partner with the CDO to help build a long-term culture of philanthropy in preparation for future campaigns Team Leadership and Prospect Management Lead and facilitate regular prospect management meetings for the Development team Guide team members in developing and refining portfolio strategies Work with the CDO to ensure clear assignment of prospects, next steps, and accountability across the team Help implement and reinforce a portfolio-driven culture, with defined goals, moves management, and performance metrics Serve as a coach and resource for colleagues in professional fundraising best practices Events and Donor Engagement Support and participate in key fundraising and engagement events (e.g., donor cultivation events, campaign events, Gala as needed) Leverage events as opportunities for donor identification, cultivation, and stewardship Partner with events staff to align donor strategy with event experiences Serve as a visible and engaged member of the Development team and broader Ursuline community Collaboration and Strategy Partner closely with Development colleagues to ensure coordinated donor outreach and messaging Collaborate with Marketing & Communications on donor communications and storytelling Maintain accurate and timely documentation of all donor interactions in the database Use data and reporting tools to track progress, measure effectiveness, and adjust strategies Support and help refine broader donor stewardship strategies, including recognition societies and impact reporting Qualifications Collaborative mindset with a willingness to lead and support team initiatives Demonstrated success in fundraising, with 5-7 years of experience in major gifts and/or annual giving preferably in an academic setting Excellent written and verbal communication skills Highly organized with strong attention to detail and discretion Experience managing a donor portfolio and achieving fundraising goals Proficiency in Raisers Edge NXT and Microsoft Office preferred Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed for school events A deep appreciation for and commitment to the mission and values of Catholic, independent education for girls Compensation commensurate with experience. #J-18808-Ljbffr