10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in faith-based or educational nonprofit settings
Successful track record in major gifts cultivation and stewardship
Experience in leading and managing high-performing teams
Strategic thinker with the ability to align initiatives with organizational objectives
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Committed Christian supporting The Oaks Academy's Christ-centered mission
Responsibilities
Lead The Oaks Academy's advancement strategy and align it with the school's mission
Oversee fundraising initiatives, including major gifts and capital campaigns
Collaborate with leadership and the Board to foster a culture of giving
Manage a portfolio of major donors, building strong relationships
Develop strategies to enhance philanthropic support and grow the endowment
Ensure ethical stewardship of donor relationships and compliance
Serve as an ambassador, communicating the school's impact and mission
Benefits
Professional development opportunities for team leadership
Engagement in a mission-driven environment
Collaboration with a dedicated advancement team
Support from a committed board and leadership team
Opportunity to contribute to impactful fundraising initiatives
Full Job Description
Responsibilities
Provide leadership for The Oaks Academy's advancement strategy, aligning philanthropic priorities with the school's mission, growth objectives, and long-term financial sustainability
Lead and oversee all fundraising initiatives, including major gifts, annual giving, capital campaigns, planned giving, stewardship, events, and donor engagement
Partner with the CEO, Leadership Team, and Board of Trustees to advance philanthropic goals and cultivate a strong culture of giving across the organization
Manage and grow a portfolio of major donors and prospects, building meaningful relationships with individuals, families, foundations, corporations, and community leaders
Develop and execute strategies to increase philanthropic support and grow The Oaks Academy endowment
Lead efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, foundation, and corporate donors
Provide leadership, coaching, and professional development for a high-performing advancement team of four professionals
Create and manage a comprehensive planned giving program
Ensure ethical stewardship of donor relationships and compliance with all fundraising policies, procedures, and best practices
Oversee advancement operations, including budgeting, donor databases, prospect research, reporting, and supporting systems and processes
Collaborate with the Marketing and Communications team to strengthen fundraising campaigns, donor communications, alumni engagement, events, and annual giving initiatives
Foster strong partnerships across departments to understand organizational priorities and advance school-wide goals
Serve as a visible ambassador for The Oaks Academy, effectively communicating its mission, impact, and value to diverse constituencies
Contribute to strategic planning and organizational leadership as a member of the school's Leadership Team
Requirements
Demonstrates a relationship-first approach to fundraising and donor engagement
Minimum of 10 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in a faith-based, educational, or nonprofit setting
Proven success in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts
Experience leading, developing, and managing high-performing teams
Demonstrated track record of fundraising success, including achieving ambitious philanthropic goals
Strategic thinker with the ability to align advancement initiatives with organizational priorities and long-term objectives
Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills
Committed Christian who actively supports and embraces the Christ-centered mission, values, and culture of The Oaks Academy
