Portland Christian Schools is seeking a dynamic Christian leader to fill our Development Director position. 

Rooted in a Christ-centered mission, the Portland Christian Development Director champions the transformative impact of Christian education by cultivating relationships and resources that advance PC’s vision. Through servant leadership, strategic outreach, and a firm faith, this role inspires generosity that equips the next generation of leaders to grow in faith, excel in learning, and impact the world for Christ.

Responsibilities

The PC Development Director oversees the fund development and alumni relations of the school and is responsible for developing and executing a strategic long-term development plan to advance the school’s institutional goals and promote a culture of philanthropy within the school community. A mature believer, the Development Director reflects the purpose of the school to honor Christ at all times.  

As a member of the PC Leadership Team, the Development Director plays a key role in carrying out the mission of Portland Christian Schools. A Christian role model for students, parents, and employees, they actively hold forth the mission, vision, core values, philosophy, and goals of Portland Christian Schools, communicating the interests of the school above personal opinions. 

The Development Director will be responsible for building and leading a comprehensive fundraising strategy that grows annual giving, major gifts, and community partnerships. Success will be measured by both immediate fundraising results (targeting a 3–5x return on salary within the first 1–2 years) and the creation of sustainable systems for long-term growth.

This position reports directly to the Superintendent. 

Strategic Planning and Reporting

• Design, develop, organize, and implement all development programs and activities for the school, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, corporate support, grants, endowment giving, and fundraising events, guided by biblical principles of stewardship and fundraising.
• In conjunction with the administration, prepare an annual development plan and budget.
• Maintain accountability to ensure compliance with all regulations, laws, and codes of ethics for fundraising professionals.
• Report progress regularly to the Superintendent and/or Board.
• Target: Develop and implement a 3-year fundraising strategy, including measurable benchmarks.

Team Leadership

• Liaison with other school departments, including parent committees and student groups, to coordinate fundraisers and ensure compliance with policy. 
• Enlist key volunteer leaders to assist in development efforts.
• Train board members, key volunteers, and select staff in fundraising strategies and techniques.
• Serve as a professional development resource to the school board and administration.
• Serve as a member of the Board’s Development Committee.
• Represent the school internally and externally when necessary and beneficial to the school.
• Cultivate appropriate media attention for the school.
• Target: Recruit and train new parent and/or alumni volunteers annually for development and event support.

Fundraising Leadership

•  Plan and implement campaigns to promote giving to the school, including but not limited to annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, planned giving, corporate support, grants, endowment giving, and fundraising events.
• Plan, organize, and execute fundraising events to maximize engagement and financial support.
• Manage the school’s CRM database to track relationships, gifts, pledges, and other pertinent information.
• Oversee the stewardship of all gifts, including cash, appreciated assets, in-kind gifts, and other contributions, ensuring that donors receive appropriate acknowledgment, receipting, and recognition.
•  Work collaboratively with the Marketing and Communications and Admissions departments to design fundraising collateral and ensure integrated communications and consistent strategies.
• Assist the administration in promoting a comprehensive brand for the school.
• Provide spiritual leadership to elicit prayer support.
• Target: Secure new gifts and pledges to meet goals set in coordination with the administration per the Development Strategic plan. 

Donor and Alumni Relations

• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with prospective and current donors, including parents, alumni, foundations, churches, businesses, and other community partners. 
• Cultivate and maintain strong alumni relationships through communications and activities. 
• Maintain donor and alumni data via the school’s CRM database.
• Develop and implement a plan to increase alumni support of and involvement in the school.
• Manage the creation and distribution of all development publications and communications to achieve donor cultivation goals.
• Target: Host or coordinate new donor/alumni cultivation/stewardship events each year.

Other Requirements

• Must pass a background check.
• Maintain excellent attendance and punctuality.
• Possess computer skills in internet navigation and usage, word processing, spreadsheet software, and computer software applications to create, manipulate, and edit programs as appropriate for the department.
• Possess the ability to speak and write clearly and informatively in positive or negative situations, as well as edit work for content, spelling, grammar, and visual impact. 
• Be adept at problem-solving, time management, critical thinking, active listening, interaction, and cooperation. 
• Log and approve monthly time and attendance.
• Some travel may be required.

Work Week and Hours

Full-time, may require some evening and weekend hours

Year-round

Required Professional Qualities 

• Hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited postsecondary institution; a Master’s degree and/or CFRE credential preferred.
• Have knowledge and understanding of funding for nonprofit organizations and the organizational skills and ability to work with people, projects, and resources.
• Have proven experience in successful fundraising for a Christian school or another nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrate strong computer skills with the ability to navigate MS Office Suite, Google Suite, Mailchimp, and other programs as needed.
• Be able to effectively manage the school’s CRM system.
• Have basic knowledge of proper accounting practices and knowledge of IRS regulations for charitable contributions.
• Seek continuous professional development.
• Maintain active membership in one or more development-oriented professional associations.
• Maintain professional ethics as reflected in Scripture and in the fund-development profession, integrating the Christian worldview into all tasks.
• Provide spiritual leadership in garnering all resources (including prayer, volunteers, and contributed support) for the advancement of the school’s mission.
• All PC employees are expected to fully engage in the stated mission of the school, "In partnership with the home and church, Portland Christian Schools equips the next generation to grow in faith, excel in learning, and impact the world for Christ." 
• Must be willing to sign the PC Statement of Faith and Lifestyle Statement. 
• A background check will be run after a preliminary offer of employment is made.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear.  The employee is daily required to stand and walk. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.  While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally exposed to outside weather conditions.  The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate but can be loud. 

Pay 

$75,198 - $79,800 annual salary, commensurate with education, experience, and credentials. 

Benefits

• Health, Dental, Life, Vision, LTD
• Retirement Benefit with employer match
• Sick, Personal, Holiday, and Vacation days
• Tuition Benefit, ECE - 12