Chief Development Officer

Oak Hall School, a private independent school in Gainesville, Florida, is seeking a Chief Development Officer to manage all aspects of the school’s philanthropic efforts, including visioning, implementing strategic direction for annual and capital giving, and stewarding family and alumni engagement.

Essential Functions:

• Authentically and enthusiastically support the mission of Oak Hall School

• Develop, cultivate, and steward authentic relationships with all stakeholders, including families, donors, prospects, business partners, and alumni, by nurturing a culture of giving and sense of belonging within the greater Oak Hall community

• Develop action plans and creative strategies to maximize all fundraising opportunities in collaboration with the Head of School and Associate Head of School

• Work collaboratively with members of the One School Senior Leadership Team and the Advancement Team to design and implement initiatives that support the school’s strategic priorities and institutional advancement goals

• Collaborate with the Business Office to manage and oversee all gift processing, donor database management, acknowledgment tracking, and financial reporting related to fundraising efforts, ensuring accuracy, confidentiality, and timelines

• Develop and implement recognition strategies and personalized expressions of gratitude to donors, including follow-up communications that demonstrate the impact of philanthropic support

• Coordinate the development, production, and distribution of the School’s annual Impact Report of Giving, highlighting donor generosity and the outcomes of philanthropic investment

• Oversee the full scope of fundraising opportunities at the School, including but not limited to:

  • Annual Fund - Develop and execute a strategically focused, goal-oriented Annual Fund campaign plan designed to increase both participation and total giving, with initiatives that engage all segments of the school community

  • Capital Campaign - Support all aspects of donor cultivation, solicitation, communication, and recognition related to capital-campaign initiatives

  • Grants and Foundations – Research, identify, and develop strategically aligned grant proposals and reports to secure funding from mission-appropriate foundations and organizations

  • Business Partners – Collaborate with the Director of Operations to cultivate and steward relationships with mission-aligned business partners and manage all aspects of the School’s business partnership program, including outreach, benefits fulfillment, and recognition

  • Alumni Giving - Cultivate and steward relationships with alumni and help to develop and implement a multiyear strategy to increase alumni engagement and philanthropic participation in all giving levels

  • Planned Giving – Support the development and promotion of planned giving opportunities, working collaboratively to educate constituents and steward legacy donors

  • Endowment Giving – Assist in the cultivation and stewardship of endowment donors and support strategies that grow long-term financial sustainability

  • Fundraising Events - Plan, coordinate, and support fundraising events (such as galas, donor receptions, and cultivation events) that strengthen community engagement and advance fundraising goals

• Meet key performance indicators of achieving annual and long-term fundraising goals, increasing the donor pipeline, increasing alumni engagement, and successfully executing fundraising campaign events

• Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to ensure that all development materials adhere to and enhance the school’s brand and standards, and that all communications are clear, timely, effective, and mission-appropriate

• Collaborate with the Enrollment Management team to create a plan for onboarding families with a clear understanding of the philanthropic needs of the school and identifying new potential donors

• Utilize data analytics to assess and evaluate the effectiveness of advancement activities, adjusting strategies and implementation as needed

• Meet regular and predictable attendance requirements, including attending division and other school meetings, professional days, graduation, and other required events

• Be a role model of integrity and professionalism

• Support and adhere to School policies as described in the Employee Handbook and other materials

• Other duties as assigned

•    Genuine enthusiasm and commitment to the vision and mission of the School
•    Five years of fundraising and/or solicitation experience preferred, with the ability to manage, inspire, and mentor a diverse staff 
•    Experience within an independent school community is strongly preferred
•    Bachelor’s degree required, master’s degree, IAP, CFRE, or other fundraising credentials preferred
•    Must be experienced and confident working with and relating to high net-worth individuals
•    Demonstrated ability to cultivate and close significant gifts
•    A compelling storyteller who inspires confidence in the school’s mission with clarity and enthusiasm 
•    An optimistic, engaging, authentic and caring demeanor, coupled with a goal-oriented drive to succeed
•    Demonstrated success with growing a culture of philanthropy 
•    Demonstrated success with capital campaigns
•    Regularly attend sporting events, music and theater productions, art shows, and other school events; be a known presence and active participant in the greater Oak Hall School community 
•    Superb ability to communicate effectively with all constituents in a school environment, both verbally and in writing, and possess strong listening skills 
•    Ability to forecast, collect, evaluate, and analyze data  
•    Demonstrated planning, organizational, and project management skills to effectively prioritize multiple initiatives simultaneously and achieve desired goals and successful outcomes within defined periods of time 
•    Working knowledge of development best practices, including trends in (independent school) education and development, fundraising tools and technology, including e-mail and online campaigns, and donor research
•    Strong computer skills, particularly with relational databases, presentation software, and analytical software, Raiser’s Edge experience preferred
•    Extreme tact and discretion, acute attention to detail, and a commitment to excellence
•    A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and an acceptable driving record
•    The ability to work positively and professionally with students, parents, and faculty
•    A high degree of professionalism, collegiality, and personal conduct both in and outside of school
 

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

•    Works in a stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts
•    Regularly uses close and distance vision
•    May work at a desk and computer screen for extended periods of time
•    May stand for extended periods of time
•    May work for extended periods of time 
•    Turns, bends, reaches, and may occasionally use a ladder
•    Ability to actively circulate throughout the diverse campus environment
•    Works primarily in a traditional climate controlled environment
•    Work intermittently in outside weather conditions, including extreme heat and cold
•    Ability to occasionally lift, push or pull up to 30 lbs.
 

Oak Hall is proud to offer a comprehensive employee compensation package, including a competitive salary, health and wellness benefits, paid time off, and generous retirement plan options to benefits- eligible employees.

Oak Hall School is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment. It is Oak Hall’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities and administer terms and conditions of employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, marital status, or other legally-protected characteristic in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

This employer participates in E-verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the US. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed the Form I-9.