Director of Appeals

POSITION SUMMARY

The Office of Development serves as the primary service and fundraising arm of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington. It collaborates closely with the Bishop, senior diocesan staff, pastors, parishioners, and community members to enhance financial giving to support the Diocese, its ministries, programs, and affiliated entities, including parishes, schools, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Arlington, the Catholic Foundation of Arlington, and the Diocese of Arlington Scholarship Foundation. The Office provides professional fundraising consultation and technical support to these entities to meet operational, capital, and programmatic needs.

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer, the Director of Appeals leads the development, organization, and execution of the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal, Increased Offertory Program, and other giving programs at both diocesan and parish levels.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES

Parish Offertory and Support

• Spearheads programs to enhance parish fundraising initiatives within the Diocese of Arlington.
• Acts as the primary liaison between the Office of Development and parishes to ensure the successful implementation of the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal and other fundraising initiatives.
• Conducts a minimum of 36 one-on-one pastor meetings annually, ensuring every pastor is visited within a two-year period.
• Collaborates with pastors to strengthen parish offertory, appeals, campaigns, endowments, and the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal.
• Oversees and coordinates the Parish Offertory Program to increase diocesan offertory through consultations with pastors and parish leaders.
• Reviews and refines parish offertory program materials.
• Works with staff to develop a comprehensive plan to raise funds for parish endowments at the Catholic Foundation of Arlington, ensuring sustainable operational support.

Bishop’s Lenten Appeal

• Leads the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal to provide critical financial support to the Diocese of Arlington.
• Oversees planning, implementation, evaluation, and reporting for the Appeal, including:
• Bishop’s Leadership Gifts: Solicits and stewards annual gifts of $20,000 or more.
• Lumen Christi Society: Manages solicitation and stewardship of annual gifts between $1,200 and $20,000.
• Monthly Gifts: Oversees solicitation and stewardship of annual gifts under $1,200.
• Develops Appeal strategy, including:
• Collaborating with the Bishop and others to select the Appeal’s theme and imagery.
• Creating a detailed plan encompassing personal visits, Bishop events, deanery events, mail appeals, email, social media, digital engagement, and in-pew parish appeals.
• Managing production of collateral materials, including copywriting, graphic design, translation, printing, and distribution.
• Partnering with the Chief Development Officer and Chief Financial Officer to set parish-specific Bishop’s Lenten Appeal goals.
• Coordinating donor events, meetings, and training sessions.
• Working with the Office of Communications to ensure a robust Appeal presence on social media and to produce related videos.

Moves Management

• Major Gifts:
• Identifies, qualifies, and solicits major gift prospects to support diocesan ministry initiatives.
• Manages a portfolio of 75–125 prospective donors, developing tailored solicitation strategies and proposals to secure significant investments in Catholic ministries.
• Conducts at least five personal discovery, cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship meetings with benefactors monthly.
• Builds relationships with volunteers and donors to maximize long-term giving potential.
• Coordinates cultivation and solicitation efforts with diocesan representatives, including clergy, staff, and volunteers.
• Ensures preparation of appropriate donor stewardship reports for major gift donors.
• Provides timely written reports on cultivation and solicitation outcomes.
• Supports donor cultivation and recognition events and activities.
• Performs additional duties as assigned.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND AUTHORITY

Management

• Supervises one Annual Appeal Program Associate.
• Manages diocesan relationships with vendors related to appeals.

Supervision Received

• Operates with significant autonomy under the general direction of the Chief Development Officer.

Budgets and Financials

• Manages budgets for the Bishop’s Lenten Appeal and parish offertory programs.

Physical Demands/Working Environment

• Requires ordinary ambulatory skills to visit various locations and the ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or move 10–50 pounds.
• Demands good hand-eye coordination, arm, hand, and finger dexterity, including the ability to grasp and use a keyboard, operate equipment, and read.
• Frequently involves sitting, hearing, talking, and repetitive hand/wrist motions.
• Involves work both in and out of the office, including travel to parishes and schools throughout the diocese.
• Requires occasional evening and/or weekend work.
• Performed in a well-lit, wheelchair-accessible office with low noise levels.

QUALIFICATIONS

Knowledge/Skills

• Demonstrates strong interpersonal communication, project facilitation, presentation, and writing skills.
• Proficient in creating intermediate to advanced documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and emails using Microsoft Office Suite.
• Applies critical thinking to solve problems in daily work settings.
• Exhibits active listening skills and articulates ideas clearly, concisely, and professionally, both orally and in writing.
• Fosters collaboration, promotes teamwork, and addresses conflicts effectively.
• Develops, manages, evaluates, and enhances programs to align with strategic goals.
• Works independently and follows through on tasks.
• Actively seeks and incorporates feedback for improvement.
• Possesses thorough knowledge of philanthropic principles and practices within parish and diocesan contexts.
• Skilled in organizing and implementing fundraising efforts using strategic marketing techniques.
• Demonstrates strong interpersonal skills to engage with diocesan officials, pastors, and parishioners.
• Preferably has experience with print and email appeals, social media, production schedules, and vendor coordination.
• Holds in-depth knowledge of Catholic Church organizational and operational procedures.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, philanthropy, nonprofit management, marketing, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Licenses/Certifications

• Valid driver’s license, maintained at all times.

Experience

• Requires eight – ten years of experience at least five- eight years of professional development and fundraising experience in a faith-based non-profit organization.