Director of Annual Appeals

Job Description

The Diocese of Saint Petersburg seeks a faith-filled, mission-driven Director of Annual Appeals to lead diocesan-wide fundraising initiatives that support the mission and ministries of the Church. Rooted in the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church and guided by our vision Courageously Living the Gospel, this role advances stewardship and development in the spirit of the USCCB's pastoral letter Stewardship: A Disciple's Response.

The Director provides vision and leadership for the Catholic Ministry Appeal, the largest fundraising effort of the Diocese, as well as other annual giving initiatives, including #GivingTuesday, the Giving Challenge, Gulf Coast Catholic Magazine Reader Appeal, and support for Spirit FM campaigns. This leader will collaborate closely with pastors, parish staff, diocesan leadership, vendors, and donors to ensure appeals are well-coordinated, mission-focused, and effective.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES-

+ Lead the Catholic Ministry Appeal (CMA): Provide vision, leadership, and hands-on management of the Diocese's largest fundraising campaign. Develop the annual theme and design campaign materials (letters, brochures, posters, videos, pledge forms, social media content, and training guides). Ensure timely distribution, consistent messaging, and high-quality execution across all platforms.

+ Build strong parish partnerships: Serve as the primary liaison between the Development Office and parishes. Regularly visit parishes and deaneries, meeting with pastors and parish staff to foster trust, provide training, and support campaign planning. By the end of the second year, maintain active relationships with all parishes across the Diocese.

+ Cultivate and steward donors: Manage a portfolio of 50-75 major donors in coordination with the Senior Director of Development.

+ Personally solicit gifts, secure annual and matching challenge contributions, and provide personalized stewardship. Grow and manage the St. Joseph Sustaining Giver Society ($100+/month donors) through creative communications, touchpoints, and events.

+ Advance donor acquisition and retention: Develop strategies to acquire new donors, retain current supporters, and re-engage lapsed donors. Innovate recurring giving programs, enhance donor engagement efforts, and analyze giving trends to strengthen long-term sustainability.

+ Coordinate donor recognition and events: Organize and manage events for the Mater Dei Giving Society and other donor groups, including prayer services, receptions, and appreciation gatherings.

+ Partner with diocesan leadership to host donor-related events at the
Bishop's office. Solicit event sponsorships and ensure meaningful experiences that highlight impact and deepen donor relationships.

+ Oversee additional annual appeals: Direct other diocesan fundraising initiatives such as the Gulf Coast Catholic Magazine Reader Appeal, Giving Challenge, and #GivingTuesday. Collaborate with Spirit FM on donor drives by providing input for on-air promotions, calendars, and solicitation scripts.

+ Manage operations and reporting: Collaborate with development systems staff to ensure accurate gift processing, data tracking, reporting, and recordkeeping. Provide weekly campaign progress reports and analysis to diocesan leadership, including the Bishop and Chancellor for Administration.

+ Budget and administration: Develop, manage, and monitor the appeals budget in compliance with diocesan policies. Contribute to overall development planning and represent the Development Office at diocesan and parish meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS-

Catholic Identity

+ Practicing Catholic in good standing who embraces and models the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

+ Ability to articulate the mission of the Diocese and integrate Gospel values into all aspects of work.

+ Commitment to stewardship as a way of life and to advancing the mission of the Church through development and fundraising.
Education and Experience

+ Bachelor's degree in fundraising, nonprofit management, marketing, communications, business, finance, or a related field required.

+ Minimum of 3 years of successful experience managing annual appeals or large-scale fundraising campaigns, preferably in a diocesan or faith-based nonprofit setting.

+ At least 4 years of management or leadership experience in development, including supervision of staff or volunteers, program oversight, and cross-departmental collaboration.

+ Certified Fund-Raising Executive (CFRE) credential or other professional fundraising certifications preferred.

+ Spanish language fluency (written and verbal) is highly desirable to serve the diverse Catholic community of the Diocese.

Knowledge and Skills

+ Strong knowledge of fundraising principles and best practices, including direct mail, digital campaigns, donor stewardship, and major gift cultivation.

+ Ability to think strategically and creatively to design effective appeals that attract, retain, and re-engage donors.

+ Proven success in building and maintaining positive donor relationships, with the ability to clearly communicate the diocesan mission and case for support.

+ Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills, with the ability to prepare compelling communications and present to parish groups, donors, and diocesan leadership.

+ Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, build consensus, and balance multiple priorities under tight deadlines.

+ Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to work collaboratively with pastors, parish staff, donors, volunteers, and colleagues at all levels.

+ High level of organizational and project management skills with strong attention to detail and follow-through.

+ Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and familiarity with relational donor databases. Experience with Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar CRM systems preferred.

+Ability to maintain confidentiality, handle sensitive information, and work with integrity in all matters of stewardship and donor relations.

WORKING CONDITIONS-

Full-time exempt role; some evening and weekend work required.
Regular travel within the Diocese; occasional national travel encouraged (e.g., International Catholic Stewardship Council events).

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYMENT-

The Diocese of Saint Petersburg is an equal opportunity employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, age, disability, or other legally protected categories. As a Catholic institution, the Diocese reserves the right to prefer applicants who are practicing Catholics in good standing and who can fully support and promote the mission, teachings, and values of the Roman Catholic Church.

About the Employer

Our Mission

The people of God, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Saint Petersburg, in union with our bishop, are transformed by Baptism, sealed with the Holy Spirit and nourished by the Word and Eucharist to promote the incarnation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.