Director of Stewardship and Development

Job Description

Diocese of Sioux City
Position Description

Job Title: Director of Stewardship & Development FLSA Status: Exempt

Department: Administration & Finance Hours/Week: 40+ Hrs

Reports to: Director of Administration and Finance Date Revised: 5-2025

Primary Purpose:
Direct and manage all fundraising and development efforts for the Diocese of Sioux City.

Essential Functions:

1. Direct and manages fundraising and development efforts for Catholic School Foundation, Priest's Pension Fund, Seminarian Appeal, St. Joseph Education Society, Together as One: Our Diocesan Annual Appeal, Monsignor Lafferty Tuition Foundation, Bishop's Circle, and Planned Giving.

2. Identifies and cultivates donors, securing gifts to support the work of the Church, with a major emphasis on annual giving, including the annual appeal, Together As One, and Bishop's Circle membership.

3. Trains and educates leadership (clergy, religious, lay) in planned giving and related stewardship programs. Conducts wills awareness seminars and charitable gift annuity programs.

4. Cultivates a network of development directors in the parishes/schools and acts as a liaison for Diocesan stewardship programs.

5. Serves as Diocesan liaison to the Catholic School Foundation. Prepares for and conducts semi-annual Foundation meetings.

6. Coordinates all activities for annual Bishop's Dinner for Catholic Schools, including selection of chair couple, recruitment of planning committee members, banquet arrangements, securing speaker, major donor calls, etc.

7. Assists with the fund-raising efforts for the Msgr. Lafferty Tuition Foundation, the Priests' Pension Fund and special collections sponsored by the Central Catholic Offices.

8. Serves as member of The Lumen Media Group Board of Directors.

9. Prepares promotional materials, presentations, and special mailings as needed for promotion and solicitation purposes.

10. Acts as an advisor to the Director of Communications on press and media communications.

11. Develops and manages the annual budget for the department of Stewardship and Development.

12. Assumes related duties as assigned - special projects, balancing of department's work load, or assisting in the absence of other employees.

Collaborative Relationships: Interacts extensively with the following positions:
• Parish Development Officers and Pastors
• Major donors and members of Bishop's Circle
• Director of Finance
• Director of Communications / Editor of The Lumen

Supervisory Relationships:
Responsible for the assignment of work and delegation of responsibilities to other employees. Authorized to interview, hire and fire employees; establish standards and evaluate employee performance; and initiate disciplinary procedures. Positions Supervised:
Title Number of Employees
Development & Research Coordinator 1
Development Specialist 1

Knowledge, Skills, Experience Required or Preferred:
Business-related Bachelor's degree and/or an equal amount of training and education. Must be a Catholic in good standing with knowledge of and commitment to Christian teaching on stewardship. Minimum of 5 years of combined experience and demonstrated success in directing fund-raising and development programs, sales and marketing efforts. Must possess proven leadership, organizational and collaborative skills with emphasis on planning and managing a variety of functions in both individual and team settings. Strong communication skills, able to communicate with staff, parishioners, and administrative boards and committees. Previous public speaking experience preferred.

Physical and Cognitive Requirements:
Light physical work including sitting, standing and occasional walking. Duties require extensive travel including evening and weekend meetings. Although work is performed primarily under inside environmental conditions, the required travel may result in temporary exposure to outside environmental conditions. Regular driving and valid driver's license are required. Excellent listening and communication abilities needed. Duties require a wide range of intellectual and practical problem-solving skills and comprehension of complex concepts.

About the Employer

We, the Bishop and ministers of the Diocese of Sioux City, declare our mission to nurture the body of Christ through our Baptismal call to proclaim, celebrate, serve and teach the Gospel of Jesus Christ.