Independence Mission Schools (IMS) is seeking a strategic and detail-driven advancement
professional to serve as the Director of Development Operations. Reporting to the Senior
Director of Leadership & Annual Giving, the Director will lead core infrastructure functions that
support the growth and sustainability of the IMS fundraising program, ensuring efficient and
high-impact fundraising across the IMS network and all 14 schools.
This individual will oversee advancement operations including gift processing, data and systems
management, donor stewardship, events, advancement communications, and overall reporting.
The Director will supervise two team members: the Development Services Manager and the
Development Manager, Operations. This is a key leadership role that requires strong project
management, cross-functional collaboration, a demonstrated understanding of advancement
operations, and a deep commitment to data-informed decision-making.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or relevant certification preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in nonprofit development or advancementoperations, with increasing responsibility.
• Proven ability to manage systems, people, and projects with a high degree of precision and professionalism.
• Strong experience with donor databases and reporting tools; proficiency with DonorPerfect preferred.
• Excellent communication, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Ability to handle confidential information with discretion.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and experience managing and developing direct reports.
• Commitment to education and the mission of Catholic schools in underserved communities.
  EOE: IMS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer and celebrates staff diversity. We strive to be and build a diverse team that is representative of our students and the communities in which we serve. If you identify as an individual of color, we highly encourage you to apply!
  Want to learn more about IMS and our school locations? Please visit: https://independencemissionschools.org/schools/

• Stewardship Planning: Lead the creation and execution of a comprehensive stewardship strategy to ensure timely and meaningful donor acknowledgment, recognition, and engagement across giving levels.
• Data Management: Oversee CRM system (Donor Perfect) to ensure data accuracy,integrity, and segmentation capabilities. Develop and maintain protocols for gift entry,constituent records, and data analytics.
• Gift Processing: Ensure accurate, timely processing of all gifts, acknowledgments, andreceipts in coordination with the Finance Department and Development Manager.
• Event Management: Oversee logistics and execution of donor engagement eventsincluding cultivation gatherings, stewardship receptions, and major campaign events.
• Reporting: Prepare regular fundraising performance reports, dashboards, and keyperformance indicators.
• Tax Credit Manager: Works closely with partner scholarship granting organizations,such as BLOCS, to track IMS donor giving via tax credits.
• Advancement Communications: Serve as the primary liaison with Marketing andCommunications. Lead the production of donor-facing communications includingacknowledgments, impact reports, newsletters, and fundraising collateral in partnershipwith the Communications team.
• Team Management: Supervise and support the Development Services Manager andDevelopment Manager, Operations, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, andcontinuous improvement.
• Systems & Process Improvement: Evaluate and strengthen systems and processes thatenhance team efficiency, donor experience, and operational effectiveness across theadvancement function.