Director of Major Gifts & Campaigns bei Siena Catholic Schools of Racine

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine is seeking a highly relational fund development professional to lead the organization's major gift and campaign initiatives in the role of Director of Major Gifts & Campaigns. As a key player reporting directly to the Chief Advancement Officer, you'll be instrumental in advancing philanthropy efforts and fortifying our educational mission. Siena Catholic Schools of Racine  comprises of six elementary/middle schools and one high school that serve more than 1,600 students. Sharing your skills will guide the organization toward its goal of ensuring excellence in academics, nurturing faith formation, and developing healthy students.

Position Highlights:

• Fundraising Leadership: Take the lead in spearheading comprehensive campaigns, planned giving, direct solicitations, and major initiatives for Siena Catholic Schools of Racine and St. Catherine’s High School Foundation.

• Strategic Collaboration: Collaborate with Chief Advancement and Chief Financial Officers to foster a results-driven, collaborative work environment, emphasizing planning and process improvement.

• Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of major giving/planned giving prospects, with a focus on securing gifts exceeding $10,000.

• Campaign Oversight: Lead the charge in implementing capital and comprehensive campaigns, including estate planning/planned giving.

Position Summary:

The Director of Major Gifts & Campaigns retains primary responsibility for raising funds through comprehensive capital and planned giving campaigns and direct solicitations. In this role, s/he will focus on cultivating relationships with individuals and institutions on the system’s behalf, and will work closely with staff to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward donors and prospects.  Additionally, s/he will act as the key liaison and staff support person for the St. Catherine’s High School Foundation.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Schools & Foundation Fund Development:

• Develops, leads and coordinates all Siena Catholic Schools of Racine capital fundraising practices, including strategy and solicitations for direct mail, corporate sponsorships, events, major and planned giving and donor stewardship.

• Collaborates to cultivate a results-driven, collaborative work environment focused on planning and process improvement within functional and financial areas in partnership with the CAO and CFO.

• Develops, leads and oversees the implementation of all capital and comprehensive campaigns, as well as estate planning/planned giving and scholarships.

• Develops and manages a portfolio of major giving/planned giving prospects, with an emphasis on building the principal gift pipeline and responsible for securing gifts of over $10,000.

• Plays an active role in annual fund initiatives, partnering with the Director of Annual Fund & Grant Writing on asks that encompass both major gifts and annual fund.

• Identifies and works with donors whose gifts may be transitioned from scholarship to other areas of need. 

• Develops, leads and executes plans to establish and ensure success towards goals for the fundraising team, including weekly, monthly, or quarterly metrics to track progress against goals, including revenue goals for special, major, campaign, and planned giving functions in collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer.

• Identifies, cultivates, solicits and stewards current and prospective capital campaign donors to the system, maintaining an adequate personal portfolio of prospects to meet and exceed goals in collaboration with the President and the Chief Advancement Officer. Works with staff and key volunteers to facilitate solicitations as appropriate.  

• Develops standards and executes Siena giving practices, policies, donor stewardship and acknowledgement procedures between the Foundation, School and – when appropriate – the Alumni Association to align with broadly-accepted best practices.

• Provides input into the development of the department’s fundraising goals and budget.

• Provides training to staff and volunteer solicitors, as necessary.

• Grows the culture of giving internally with staff and school parents.

• Facilitates a collaborative work environment that encourages knowledge of, respect for, and ability to engage with those of other skills and/or backgrounds.

• Develops and delivers presentations, communications and materials on development topics to diverse audiences.

• Assists with events as instructed by the Director of Annual Giving & Grants.

• Ensures Siena meets or exceeds its fundraising goals and remains within budget in collaboration with team members. 

• Leads and supports other Advancement team members. 

• Perform other duties, as needed. 

Institutional Leadership & Departmental Administration:

• Establishes and monitors the capital campaign budgets.  Participates in system-wide and foundation budget conversations as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field. 

• A minimum of five (5) years of relevant work experience, including at least three (3) years of development and personal solicitation (or directly transferable) experience.

• Experience securing donations of $1M+

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Willingness to uphold and promote the mission, goals, and vision of Siena Catholic Schools

• Experience in budget development & oversight, data analysis, and projections. 

• Demonstrated acumen and success in program management within the context of fundraising.

• Dynamic, authentic and experienced communicator with exceptional interpersonal, writing and storytelling skills with a particular focus on “selling” the idea of the importance of Catholic education in our community as well as knowing how to say “thank you” in meaningful ways.

• Must have strong relationship-building skills using judgment that is consistent with Siena’s values, standards, practices, policies and procedures, and government regulation, compliance, or law.

• Past experience successfully managing multiple responsibilities simultaneously with competing deadlines. Ability to effectively identify and resolve problems in a timely manner and proactively develop alternative solutions.

• Ability to work occasional evening and weekend hours. Must have full use of a personal car with necessary insurance.

• High level of personal integrity. 

• Adept with Microsoft Office applications and experience with donor management software (specifically Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge) a plus.

Work Relationships & Scope

Reports to the Chief Advancement Officer. Frequent contact with Siena President; advancement,  development, and communications staff; and donors. Occasional interaction with other Siena colleagues, Foundation staff & volunteers, and third-party providers. Expected to exhibit sound judgment in making decisions, remembering that Siena's interests may be directly affected by their actions and decisions. Secures the approval of the Chief Advancement Officer  in making decisions when answers are not clear and further guidance or input is needed.

Apply Now:

If you have a proven track record in program management within the fundraising and development realm and possess outstanding interpersonal, writing, and storytelling skills—particularly in championing the importance of Catholic education—we are ready to connect with you.

Siena Catholic Schools of Racine provides a competitive compensation, time off and benefit package. If you are a mission driven person looking for a career that provides opportunity to directly impact the lives of thousands of students, please apply today!