Director of , Sacred Heart Nativity Schools

Sacred Heart Nativity Schools provide a transformative middle school education to low-income youth in San Jose. Nativity is a faith-based middle school in the Jesuit tradition, located in the Guadalupe-Washington neighborhood. Forming the whole child, the schools support each student’s growth and development intellectually, spiritually, physically, and emotionally. Nativity consists of two middle schools:
Sacred Heart Nativity School for Boys (established in 2001) and Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls (established 2006).

The Sacred Heart Nativity Schools transform lives through education by laying the foundation for young students to succeed in college prep high school programs, post-secondary education (college, trade/tech/vocational, military service), and beyond. The Schools provide a Catholic education for students of low-income families with priority given to those of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish community. In the Jesuit tradition, Nativity scholars are guided and accompanied as they deepen their relationship with God to become people for and with others.

Our Lady of Grace Nativity School for Girls and Sacred Heart Nativity School for Boys

The Director of Advancement serves as a member of the leadership team and is responsible for developing, implementing, and overseeing a comprehensive advancement program that advances the mission and long-term sustainability of Sacred Heart Nativity Schools. The Director provides strategic leadership for all fundraising, donor engagement, communications, stewardship, advancement operations, and institutional advancement initiatives. The Director develops annual fundraising strategies, establishes departmental goals, manages staff and consultants, collaborates on departmental budgets, and ensures that advancement activities support the school’s mission, strategic priorities, and financial objectives.

Reporting to the President, the Director leads a collaborative advancement team that includes the Major Gifts Officer, Advancement Associate, and contracted marketing, communications, and event-planning professionals.

Develop and execute a comprehensive annual advancement plan in collaboration with the President and the Finance Committee of the Board of Trustees that is aligned with organizational priorities.

Establish annual fundraising goals, strategies, benchmarks, and performance metrics.

Provide leadership for annual giving, major gifts strategy, institutional giving, stewardship, communications, events, and donor engagement.

Monitor fundraising performance and recommend strategic adjustments throughout the year.

Foster a culture of philanthropy across the organization.

Provide strategic oversight for all fundraising activities supporting an annual fundraising goal of approximately $2.25 million, including:

• Annual Fund
• Major Gifts Program
• Grants and Foundation Giving
• Sponsor ships and Corporate Giving
• Special Events
• Planned Giving (as applicable)
• Campaigns and special initiatives

The Director personally leads institutional fundraising through foundation, corporate, and grant relationships while overseeing fundraising strategy and supporting the Major Gifts Officer in achieving annual portfolio goals.

Supervise and develop Advancement staff.

Recruit, manage, and evaluate contractors supporting events, marketing and communications, and grant-writing.

Establish annual work plans and professional development goals.

Promote collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement within the department.

Build sustainable fundraising systems, policies, and operational procedures.

Provide strategic direction and coaching for the Major Gifts Officer.

Oversee portfolio strategy, moves management, and donor pipeline development.

Review cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and engagement plans.

Collaborate on donor strategy and participate in key donor meetings when appropriate.

Monitor progress toward annual major gift revenue goals.

Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward foundation, corporate, and institutional funders.

Develop competitive grant proposals and reports.

Maintain relationships with institutional funders.

Track grant opportunities, deadlines, reporting requirements, and outcomes.