Director of Advancement

Job Description

Position Summary
We are seeking a warm, mission-driven Director of Advancement to lead our fundraising and donor
development efforts. This person will help secure the resources that allow our school to flourish and grow -
both by cultivating major benefactors whose generosity will shape our long-term future, and by building a
broad, faithful base of monthly supporters who sustain our daily work.
At the heart of this role is the joyful task of inviting others into the mission. Fundraising here is not merely
transactional; it is the work of connecting generous people - parents, parishioners, alumni, and friends - to a
vision worth investing in, and stewarding those relationships with gratitude and care.
This role is well-suited to someone who loves people, believes deeply in Catholic classical education, and is
confident asking others to give to a cause that matters. Whether your background is in development, sales,
relationship management, parish life, or a related field, we are eager to support the right person in growing into
this work.
Key Responsibilities
• Develop and lead the school's overall advancement strategy in close coordination with the Headmaster
and board
• Identify, cultivate, and steward major benefactors whose gifts will have a transformational, long-term
impact - supporting capital needs, program growth, and the school's future
• Design, launch, and grow a recurring monthly giving program that invites families, parishioners, alumni,
and friends to give faithfully at every level
• Personally make the invitation to give - through face-to-face visits, phone calls, and written appeals -
approaching each ask as an invitation into the mission rather than an imposition
• Plan and run the annual giving campaign, setting and tracking clear goals throughout the year
• Steward donors with excellence: timely, personal thank-yous; clear reporting on the impact of their
generosity; and ongoing, genuine relationship
• Tell the school's story compellingly through appeals, newsletters, giving materials, and events, in
partnership with school communications
• Plan and host cultivation and fundraising events that draw new friends toward the school
• Research and write grant proposals to foundations and Catholic funding sources
• Maintain accurate, well-organized donor records; track pledges, gifts, and progress toward goals in the
school's database
• Build and deepen relationships within the Cathedral parish and the wider Sioux Falls community

Preferred Skills
• A sincere love for the mission of Catholic classical education and the ability to speak about it naturally,
joyfully, and persuasively
• Comfort and confidence in asking for gifts - someone who sees the ask as an invitation, not an
imposition
• Warm relational instincts and genuine enjoyment of people; a gift for building trust and long-term
relationships
• Strong writing and storytelling skills, with the ability to make a compelling case for support
• Excellent organization, follow-through, and attention to detail in tracking donors, gifts, and stewardship
• A personal witness and manner of life consistent with, and supportive of, the Catholic mission of the
school
• Prior experience in development, fundraising, sales, or relationship management is welcome; experience
in a classical school is a plus but not required - we are glad to help a capable, mission-aligned person
grow into the classical approach

To Apply
Please send a resume, a brief letter of interest (including a few words on why this mission resonates with you),
and any relevant examples of past fundraising or relationship-building work to
shofflander@stjosephclassicalacademy.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

About the Employer

Our Mission
Rooted in the Heart of Jesus, St. Joseph Academy cooperates richly with parents in order to develop a robust community of learners who contemplate together the truth, goodness, and beauty of our Catholic Tradition.

Our Vision
We aim to raise up young people in wisdom and virtue who worship God as their highest Good so that they may thrive in this life and become saints in the next.