St. Andrew's School has operated on a simple, radical premise for more than 130 years: every child deserves an exceptional education, regardless of what their family can afford. As one of a small number of tuition-free independent schools in the country, SAS provides a full scholarship to every student it serves, and funds that promise almost entirely through philanthropy. Development is not a supporting function here. It is the engine the school runs on.

The Chief Development Officer is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the Head of School. The right candidate will join SAS at a pivotal moment: the school is entering a strategic planning year, and the development function is ready to be shaped by someone with vision, drive, and a bias toward getting things done. This is a role for a builder, someone energized by the opportunity to strengthen donor relationships, grow a fundraising program, and leave a lasting mark on an institution that changes children's lives.

The CDO leads a small advancement team and carries responsibility for all fundraising activity, including the annual fund, major gifts, grants, special events, and donor communications. This is a hands-on role. The successful candidate will be as comfortable making a donor call as they are setting strategy in a boardroom.

School Overview

St. Andrew's School (SAS) is a tuition-free, independent Episcopal day school serving students in Kindergarten through 5th grade in Richmond, Virginia. Established in 1894, SAS is one of a small number of schools in the country that provides an independent school education to children from families with limited financial resources through a full scholarship for every child. With 96 students across six grade levels, we employ a whole-child approach to education that integrates academics, family engagement, graduate support, social-emotional learning, visual and performing arts, and wellness and nutrition.

St. Andrew's is an equal opportunity employer. Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), immigrants, women, and LGBTQ+ candidates are strongly encouraged to apply.

Essential Functions

The CDO serves as a senior partner to the Head of School, providing strategic guidance and coaching to support their role as a frontline fundraiser and ambassador for the school's mission. The ability to lead collaboratively, build trust across the leadership team, and guide fundraising activity at the executive level is essential.

Strategy, Board and Leadership

• As a member of the Leadership Team, partner closely with senior staff and the Development Board Committee to lead the creation, implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive annual advancement plan that enables sustainable short- and long-term philanthropic growth. This targeted advancement plan and calendar will provide concrete metrics and goals for fundraising, outlining regularly scheduled donor communication and opportunities for cultivation and stewardship.
• Attend board meetings and board committee meetings and report on development activities as needed, in coordination with the Head of School.
• Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the organization and articulate the school's mission to external constituents.
• In partnership with the Head of School, educate, energize, and train board members and senior staff in donor cultivation and professional fundraising techniques and best practices.
• Collaborate with members of the business office to develop and produce regular reports that synthesize the financial progress, impact and trends of fundraising activities.
• Partner with the Head of School and Board members, as appropriate, on solicitation visits.

Fundraising

• Oversee and effectively manage areas including (but not limited to) annual fund, capital fundraising, campaign fundraising, grant writing and reporting, volunteer management, gift processing, donor database management, special events, and marketing efforts tied to fundraising activities, as appropriate.
• Lead efforts to meet and grow the current fundraising budget of $1.9 million annually, with a clear mandate to increase revenue year-over-year through individuals, foundations, and corporate funding.
• Identify and implement new revenue streams, with a focus on increasing sustainable unrestricted revenue.
• Lead the creation and growth of a new framework for individual giving to include planned giving.

Internal Management and Infrastructure

• Manage departmental resources (human and financial) in a way that efficiently produces optimal results, and achieves stated financial objectives for revenue and expense management.
• Ensure that accurate and thorough records are maintained, including timely gift processing, donor records, mailing lists, contact and call reports, giving history, biographical data, etc.
• Manage and mentor a small advancement team, with the opportunity to shape and grow the department over time.
• Effectively manage the development department's day-to-day operations, budget and income forecasts.
• Inform and provide oversight to all donor materials to ensure consistent messaging and branding of donor and external stakeholder communications.
• Partner with the business office to sustain efficient, effective and transparent financial tracking and reporting processes.
• Develop clear processes and collaborate within the organization to create an understanding of and appreciation for the impact of the advancement function. Foster an environment of cohesiveness, transparency and collaboration.

Year-One Priorities

In the first year, the CDO will focus on three priorities. In the first 90 days: learn the donor base, build the CDO-HOS partnership, assess the development infrastructure, and meet key board members and stakeholders. Between days 90 and 180: leverage CRM data and knowledge of fundraising cycles to develop periodic waypoints for tracking progress against annual revenue goals, begin major gift cultivation, and identify the top 20-25 donor prospects. By end of year one: present a fundraising roadmap to the Head of School and board that includes a three-year revenue growth target, a prioritized major gift pipeline, and a concrete assessment of opportunities to develop new giving streams, including planned giving, bequests, and other vehicles appropriate to SAS's donor base. This roadmap will inform and align with the school's broader strategic planning process and will be refined as that process develops.

To Apply

To apply, please email resume and cover letter to headofschool@st-andrews-school.org. No phone calls please.

The strongest candidates will bring a combination of the following. No single candidate will likely meet every requirement, but a demonstrated commitment to growth in areas of relative inexperience is valued.

Required:

• Bachelor's degree
• Minimum 5 years operating an annual giving program, including personally soliciting funds and motivating others to solicit
• Demonstrated fundraising success across multiple giving streams
• Leadership experience representing an organization to external audiences and developing successful partnerships
• Experience partnering with board and staff leadership on engagement and development activities
• Strong strategic planning and project and budget management skills
• Strong data fluency, including donor segmentation, trend analysis, and CRM platform proficiency
• Ability to communicate and present effectively both verbally and in writing
• Passion for social justice and the values of St. Andrew's School

Preferred:

• Master's degree
• Experience with Bloomerang
• CFRE or equivalent credential

About St Andrew's School

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