Job Description

About Cristo Rey Charleston High School

Cristo Rey Charleston High School (CRCHS) is a college preparatory, Catholic high school for

students of all faiths, that will educate young people of limited resources to become persons of

faith, purpose, and service. CRCHS is the 42nd Cristo Rey high school model in the United

States and will welcome the founding class of students in August of 2027.

The school will be in North Charleston, SC and will serve approximately 400 students in grades

9-12 from across the greater Charleston area. Each student will participate in the Corporate

Work Study Program, an integral part of the Cristo Rey model in which every student works one

day a week throughout their four years at the school. The one day per week students are at

work, teachers have extended planning and collaboration opportunities.

CRCHS will prepare students to excel in college, in career, and in character. Our college prep

curriculum, Corporate Work Study Program, and faith-based education combine to give students

a unique experience and an affordable option for high-quality education. Our aspiration is that

all our students graduate from high school and college and become the future leaders in our

churches, institutions, businesses, nonprofits, and the community at large.

Cristo Rey Charleston High School’s Mission and Vision Statements

Mission: Cristo Rey Charleston High School, a Catholic college preparatory school open to

students of all faiths, delivers rigorous academics and real-world work experience to students

from families with limited resources. Our goal is clear: to ensure every student is accepted

into college and supported through graduation and beyond.

Vision: Cristo Rey Charleston strives for a world where our students, guided by God’s love and

grace, use their talents to create positive change and serve others.

Position Summary

Working closely with the school President and CEO, Board of Directors, and Director of the

Corporate Work Study Program, the Founding Advancement Director helps develop the

strategic vision to foster generous, broad-based philanthropic support for the school and its

mission. They are responsible for the successful implementation of that vision, by cultivating and

stewarding relationships with individual, corporate and foundation donors, designing and

directing distinctive events, and generating excitement about a range of ways to contribute to

the growth and success of the school.

The Founding Advancement Director is expected to spend a significant amount of time in the

field meeting existing and prospective benefactors. When not doing so, they will spend their

work hours on site or remotely as circumstances permit and as agreed to with the President.

Primary Responsibilities

As a member of the founding leadership team, the Founding Advancement Director reports to

the President & CEO and will have primary day-to-day responsibility for planning, implementing,

managing and controlling all resource development efforts.

The Founding Advancement Director is responsible for the creation and implementation of the

first-ever CRCHS Advancement department. This includes direct responsibility for prospect

research, grant writing, database management, fundraising (annual giving, capital campaign,

endowment, etc.), marketing, donor acknowledgements, social media, and special events.

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Develop and execute donor acquisition strategies for annual gifts, major gifts,

endowment gifts, planned gifts, government grants, and donor cultivation and

stewardship programs.

• Work closely with the President to set fundraising goals that are approved by the

Board of Directors and accomplish goals against monitored expenses.

• Develops an annual strategic advancement (i.e., fundraising, marketing,

communications) plan for approval by the President. Works with the President,

board and staff to implement the approved plan.

• Works closely with President and members of the Leadership Team to develop

and successfully execute the school’s overall advancement strategy across

various disciplines and target audiences.

• Implement and lead multiple collaborative and complex projects, directing work of

staff, managing budget, setting deadlines, and ensuring accountability.

• Build annual expense budget for all development functions and monitor expenses

throughout the year.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Design and implement fundraising programs, including cultivation, solicitation and

recognition strategies to meet funding needs.

• Maintains responsibility for the school’s fundraising campaigns, including annual

giving, any capital campaigns and other fundraising programs.

• Organizes and manages fundraising events to bring together potential and existing

donors with the President, Board, staff, faculty, students and, eventually, alumni.

• Coordinates and develops fundraising strategies, focusing on the school’s growth

in accordance with the mission and overall marketing strategy of the school.

• Coordinates volunteer committees that support fundraising events.

• Develops, fosters, and maintains strong relationships with the foundation

community. Designs, implements, and manages grant application strategy and

process.

Team Leadership & Management

• Hire and lead a small advancement team responsible for the calendar of appeals,

individual, corporate, and foundation proposals, scholarship management,

relationship building, stewardship, communications, and special event fundraising.

• Provide guidance, leadership, and direction, including clearly defined performance

expectations, and encourage professional development for the advancement

team.

CRM & Data Management

• Select and utilize CRM system to track and plan all donor interactions and file

correspondence as appropriate.

• Ensure CRM system is properly maintained, and gift acknowledgements are

timely.

• Develops, designs, and manages a contact management database and contact

management process pursuant to the goals of the Advancement Office and the

school.

• Maintains regular coordination of contact database process with the office of

Corporate Work Study.

• Collaborate with the Business/Finance Office to ensure accurate record keeping

for audit and reporting purposes.

Marketing, Communications & Branding

• Provide leadership and direction in communications and marketing strategies

geared toward advancement, admissions and alumni to advance CRCHS’s

mission and vision and goals among internal and external groups.

• Manages design, production and distribution of Advancement-related digital and

print media sites/publications, including website, social media, collateral materials,

Annual Report, quarterly newsletter, press releases and others.

• Oversee for the integrity, consistency and proper use of the Cristo Rey Brand.

• Insure consistent and clear communication about the mission and programs of the

school to current and potential donors. Represents the school at public functions

and develops community relations.

Qualifications

● Bachelor’s Degree required, Master’s Degree preferred.

● 5 - 7 years of professional fundraising experience, including 3 years of management

experience.

● Strong written and communication skills; detail oriented; team player; ability to multitask

in a fast-paced environment.

● Not for Profit fundraising experience in a social or education environment preferred.

● Extensive knowledge of fundraising software/Salesforce preferred and Google Suites.

● Fluency in Spanish preferred

● Relentless focus on results and a high level of personal accountability.

● Strong written and communication skills; detail oriented; team player; ability to multitask

in a fast-paced environment.

● Understands and applies complex principles of developing donor strategies.

● Experience setting and meeting fundraising objectives, evaluating results, and developing

corrective strategies

● Demonstrated success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual gifts,

foundation grants, and gifts of $100,000 and above.

● Demonstrated ability in planning and implementing goals and initiatives with a high

degree of flexibility and initiative.

● Strong written and communication skills; detail oriented; team player; ability to multitask

in a fast-paced environment.

● Experience in managing and tracking multiple donors and fundraising initiatives.

● Strong prospecting expertise.

● Excellent written and public speaking communication skills.

● Strong relationship-building capacity and relationship management.

● Proven ability to develop and maintain effective relationships with all institutional

stakeholders.

● Some nights and weekends are required.

Compensation

This is a full-time, year-round position with competitive salary, benefits, and paid vacation.

Salary range is $110,000 - $130,000.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Regularly interact with donors, corporations, students, parents, staff and visitors.

• Work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time.

• Be able to occasionally lift up to 30 lbs.

How to Apply

If you have the requested background and a passion for the mission, we invite you to apply.

Applications will be accepted until the successful candidate is found. This position will start as

soon as possible. Please email your Cover Letter, Resume and at least three references (will

not be contacted without permission) as an attached PDF to careers@cristoreycharleston.org

and include the position title in the email subject line.

Job Tags

Similar Jobs