Development Director at Church Rest

Church of the Heavenly Rest (CHR) is a vibrant, inclusive Episcopal parish located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Serving as a welcoming spiritual and cultural home for an intergenerational community, CHR pairs a rich tradition of worship and the arts with a deep commitment to neighborhood outreach. The parish is currently navigating an inspiring period of strategic growth as it prepares to celebrate its historic Centennial anniversary in 2029, positioning the church for transformative, milestone-driven philanthropic expansion.

Church of the Heavenly Rest provides a broad range of programming structured around worship, spiritual development, and community service. The parish offers comprehensive ministries for children, youth, and families, alongside acclaimed arts programming and impactful social outreach, including dedicated prison and re‑entry ministries. As a civic and community hub, the fully accessible facility hosts public visiting hours, art exhibits, reception areas, and dedicated meeting spaces.

The church also actively manages bookings for private life events, building rentals, and theatrical or musical productions. These robust community programs represent opportunities for targeted funding and institutional support. Governance and organizational operations follow a highly collaborative leadership model where laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels.

Operating with a $5M annual budget and a dedicated core of 200 pledging households, Church of the Heavenly Rest is primed to grow its philanthropy program. While core annual pledge income has held steady at $1.3M, a highly successful $8M capital campaign in 2021 demonstrates the extraordinary capacity and generosity of our community. Recognized nationally within The Episcopal Church, CHR is entering an ambitious new era, having celebrated former rector Matt Heyd's election as bishop of the Diocese of New York and welcoming new rector Kate Malin in 2024.

The Director of Development will serve as a dynamic, front‑line fundraiser to lead all philanthropic fundraising activities for the Church of the Heavenly Rest, operating as a key member of the professional leadership team reporting to the Rector. This newly elevated role is responsible for ensuring sustained annual growth in operating income to support CHR’s $5 million annual budget while designing and executing the strategy for the upcoming 2029 Centennial.

By setting strategic goals, assessing donor capacity, and cultivating existing and new donor relationships, the Director will expand CHR’s reach. Working in close partnership with the Rector and Vestry, this leader will creatively drive the annual pledge campaign, formalize planned giving, and help architect periodic capital campaigns, while effectively modernizing our constituent management systems. As fundraising milestones are achieved, the Director will have the exciting opportunity to structurally expand and build out the development team.

This role is well‑suited for someone with a builder’s mindset who thrives on connectivity with others.

The incoming Director of Development will have a unique launchpad to mobilize proven donor loyalty, scale annual giving, and directly fund vital, high‑profile initiatives, including historic landmark preservation, congregation growth, and expanded community ministries.

• Research and develop comprehensive, creative strategies for annual Stewardship Campaigns, the systematic build‑out of a formal planned giving program, and the upcoming 2029 Centennial celebration.
• Identify, pursue, and secure foundation and government grant opportunities to directly support CHR’s programming initiatives.
• Design and execute plans to steward existing donors, deepen their engagement, and strategically transition mid‑level supporters into major‑gift portfolios.
• Conceptualize and create all online pledge and giving forms across various fundraising opportunities, including Stewardship, Capital Campaign, Events, and the Flower Fund.

• Act as the primary, front‑line…