Advancement Director

Part-Time or Full-Time | Reports to the Executive Director

Harambee Christian School has served the South Linden neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio for more than 25 years as a tuition-free, Christ-centered K–8 school. Rooted in the Swahili concept of “pulling together,” we exist to provide an excellent education and cultivate thriving families in one of Columbus’s most underserved communities. Our work is made possible by the generosity of donors, foundations, and committed community partners.

Harambee is seeking a mission-driven Advancement Director to lead fundraising, donor relations, grant writing, communications, and student recruitment. This person will be both a strategic leader and a relational presence — as comfortable in a foundation meeting as they are in the hallway with a student. This position is open to part-time or full-time candidates, and title and compensation are commensurate with experience and hours.

Fundraising & Donor Relations

•        Build and steward a portfolio of individual donors through visits, calls, and personal correspondence

•        Write compelling grant proposals and funder reports; maintain an organized grants calendar

•        Develop and execute giving campaigns and donor acknowledgment strategies

•        Plan and coordinate fundraising and community cultivation events

•        Manage the donor database (Neon One CRM) and report key metrics to leadership

Communications & Marketing

•        Lead external communications including newsletters, social media, donor appeals, and the annual report

•        Craft stories that translate the school’s mission and student outcomes into donor-facing content

•        Help manage the school’s digital presence in partnership with leadership

Student Recruitment & Enrollment

•        Serve as a primary driver of Harambee’s enrollment growth strategy, helping the school reach and sustain full capacity

•        Develop and execute multi-channel recruitment campaigns targeting prospective families in South Linden and the broader Columbus community — including digital, print, and in-person outreach

•        Build and maintain relationships with neighborhood churches, community organizations, and referral networks that can connect families to Harambee

•        Represent the school at community events, fairs, and outreach opportunities as a compelling, mission-fluent ambassador

•        Create family-facing materials and experiences that communicate the value of a Harambee education with clarity and warmth

•        Support prospective families through the inquiry and enrollment process, ensuring every touchpoint reflects the school’s culture of welcome

•        Track enrollment funnel data, identify drop-off points, and recommend strategies to improve conversion from inquiry to enrolled student

•        Collaborate with staff to equip current families and alumni as word-of-mouth advocates for the school

Community Presence

•        Be a genuine, visible presence in the life of the school — known by students, trusted by families, and connected to staff

•        Engage the broader South Linden community as a neighbor and advocate, not just a representative

•        Committed Christian with alignment to Harambee’s mission and values

•        Strong communicator — written and verbal — with the ability to connect across diverse audiences

•        Experience in nonprofit development, communications, education, or a related field (experience level will inform title and compensation)

•        Relational, self-motivated, and able to manage multiple priorities with excellence

•        Familiarity with the Columbus philanthropic and/or faith community a plus

•        Experience with CRM software, grant writing, or enrollment/recruitment a plus

•        Salary commensurate with experience

•        Health insurance and retirement matching available for full-time candidates

•        Paid time off

•        Meaningful work in a close-knit, faith-centered school community

Send your resume and cover letter to:

Michael Larson

larsonm@harambeechristian.org

Applications reviewed on a rolling basis. Position open until filled.

Harambee Christian School is an equal opportunity employer committed to reflecting the diversity of the community we serve.