Director of Development and Donor Relations Erie Prep Academy Erie, PA Job Details Part-time | Full-time | Contract $40,000 - $60,000 a year 10 hours ago Qualifications Program development Professional ethics Client relationship development Business development Bachelor's degree Sales management systems proficiency Organizational skills Prospecting CRM system proficiency Fundraising prospect research Donor and alumni database management Full Job Description Position Summary Erie Preparatory Academy seeks a mission-driven Director of Development and Donor Relations to lead fundraising, donor engagement, community partnerships, and philanthropic growth. The Director will build relationships with individuals, families, alumni, foundations, businesses, and community partners who want to invest in Erie Preparatory Academy students and programs. This person will develop a sustainable fundraising program that supports scholarships, academics, athletics, student life, technology, facilities, and other Academy priorities. The successful candidate is an ethical, relationship-centered professional who can communicate the Academy's mission with conviction, make direct asks for support, and deliver measurable fundraising results. Key Responsibilities Develop and implement an annual fundraising and donor-development plan with clear goals for gifts, grants, sponsorships, donor retention, and new-donor acquisition. Identify, research, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, foundations, corporations, alumni, parents, and community supporters. Manage an active donor and prospect portfolio; conduct meetings, school tours, calls, presentations, and follow-up communication. Personally solicit charitable gifts, pledges, sponsorships, grants, and in-kind contributions. Develop fundraising opportunities for scholarships, financial aid, academics, athletics, student programs, technology, facilities, and unrestricted support. Build relationships with local and regional businesses, foundations, civic groups, and philanthropic leaders. Create sponsorship packages and pursue corporate partnerships that benefit Academy students and programs. Prepare gift proposals, donor communications, campaign materials, grant applications, stewardship reports, and impact updates. Maintain accurate donor records, gift documentation, prospect activity, acknowledgments, pledge schedules, and reports in the Academy's donor database or CRM. Ensure donors receive prompt acknowledgments, appropriate recognition, and meaningful information about the impact of their support. Support fundraising events, donor receptions, campaigns, school showcases, and community-engagement activities with clear revenue, cultivation, or stewardship objectives. Collaborate with Academy leadership, the board, staff, families, alumni, coaches, and volunteers to identify prospects and strengthen donor relationships. Provide regular reports on gifts raised, new donors, donor retention, active prospects, sponsorships, grants, fundraising activity, and projected revenue. Maintain confidentiality, ethical fundraising standards, donor intent, and compliance with Academy policies and applicable requirements. Required Qualifications Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience. At least 3 years of experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, nonprofit advancement, grant development, sponsorship sales, business development, or relationship-based revenue generation. Demonstrated success building relationships and producing measurable financial results through donations, grants, sponsorships, partnerships, sales, or campaigns. Experience researching prospects, managing contacts and follow-up activity, and using a CRM, donor database, sales database, or comparable system. Excellent written and verbal communication, presentation, organization, and relationship-management skills. Ability to represent Erie Preparatory Academy professionally and persuasively to donors, families, businesses, foundations, and community partners. Strong judgment, discretion, professionalism, and commitment to ethical fundraising practices. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for meetings, events, and Academy activities. Successful completion of required background checks and clearances. Preferred Qualifications Experience in independent schools, education, youth-serving organizations, nonprofit organizations, or community development. Experience with major gifts, annual giving, grants, corporate partnerships, sponsorships, or capital and facility campaigns. Experience working with boards, alumni, parents, volunteers, and community leaders. Familiarity with fundraising CRMs such as Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Blackbaud/Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Neon CRM, HubSpot, or similar platforms. CFRE certification or progress toward fundraising certification. Performance Expectations Success in this role will be measured by progress toward monthly goals, including: Total charitable gifts, grants, sponsorships, and in-kind support secured. New donors acquired and current donors retained, renewed, or upgraded. Qualified donor prospects identified and moved through the cultivation pipeline. Donor meetings, school visits, gift proposals, direct solicitations, and stewardship contacts completed. Major gifts, multi-year commitments, grants, and corporate partnerships secured. Quality, accuracy, and timeliness of donor records, acknowledgments, reports, and stewardship activity. Growth of a sustainable development program that expands resources and opportunities for Erie Preparatory Academy students.

Pay:

$40,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year

Work Location:

Hybrid remote in Erie, PA 16509