Job Summary:
Sacred Hearts Academy, an all-girls Catholic school serving nearly 500 students from age 3 through Grade 12 on the island of Oʻahu, seeks an experienced and visionary leader to serve as its next Director of Development. Located in the historic town of Kaimukī, the Academy has educated girls and young women for more than 116 years and remains steadfast in its commitment to academic excellence, Catholic faith formation, and developing compassionate leaders who will serve their communities and the world. As the only all-girls Catholic school in Hawaiʻi, Sacred Hearts Academy offers a unique and transformative educational experience rooted in the charism of the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.
Reporting directly to the President and supervising development staff, the Director of Development provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive advancement program that supports the Academy’s mission and long-term institutional priorities. Working closely with the Board of Directors’ Development Committee and serving as a member of the President’s Administrative Team, the Director collaborates with school leaders to strengthen a culture of philanthropy and ensure that fundraising initiatives are aligned with the Academy’s strategic goals. The Director is responsible for developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive fundraising program using data-informed practices and measurable outcomes to achieve ambitious annual goals and sustain long-term growth.
The Director oversees all aspects of philanthropy and donor engagement, including annual giving, major gifts, foundation and grant support, corporate partnerships, planned giving, alumnae relations, international fundraising, donor stewardship, gala and special events, and campaign initiatives. The successful candidate will cultivate meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors, alumnae, parents, grandparents, foundations, corporations, and community leaders throughout Hawaiʻi and beyond. Through thoughtful stewardship and strategic engagement, the Director will inspire investment in the Academy’s future and help ensure that generations of young women continue to benefit from a Sacred Hearts education.
The ideal candidate is a relationship-centered leader with exceptional communication skills, sound judgment, and a deep appreciation for the mission of Catholic education. Possessing both strategic vision and the ability to execute, the Director will serve as a visible ambassador for the Academy and a trusted partner to the President, Board of Directors, faculty, staff, and broader school community. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an accomplished advancement professional to help shape the future of one of Hawaiʻi’s most treasured educational institutions and to make a lasting impact on the lives of young women.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in education, business, leadership, or a related field;
3 years of fundraising experience;
Demonstrated success managing a fundraising program and team;
Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills;
Ability to travel independently to and from school and community events, as well as out of state for professional development, workshops, conferences, and recruitment efforts;
Willingness to report to work obligations outside of normal business hours- nights and weekends;
Intermediate proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint);
Technology-savvy and adaptable to new systems;
Must meet all training and background check qualifications and comply with Virtus/Safe Environment policy;
Personal and professional alignment with the mission of Sacred Hearts Academy and the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church;
Must be able to understand, read, and write in English to follow instructions and take direction from supervisors.
Must reside on O‘ahu.
Desired Qualifications:
5 years of fundraising experience;
Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential or Advanced Certified Fund Raising Executive (ACFRE) credential preferred.
Three to five years of progressive leadership and supervisory experience in advancement or fundraising, preferably in a preschool–Grade 12 Catholic or independent school setting.
Other Qualifications:
Demonstrated success engaging and stewarding diverse donors, alumnae, and community stakeholders.
Ability to train, mentor, and support staff and volunteers effectively.
Commitment to maintaining confidentiality and exercising sound judgment.
Proven ability to innovate and adapt within an evolving philanthropic landscape.
Demonstrated success developing and implementing strategic philanthropic plans using data-driven practices and measurable outcomes.
Proven ability to cultivate and steward relationships with donors, foundations, corporations, and community partners.
Proficiency with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge or comparable donor management and CRM systems.
Key Responsibilities:
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Fundraising, Donor Development, and Stewardship (35%)
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Lead all efforts to achieve and exceed annual and multi-year philanthropic goals.
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Cultivate, solicit, close and steward major gifts from individuals, foundations, corporations, organizations, and community partners.
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Develop personalized donor engagement strategies that deepen relationships and inspire transformational philanthropy.
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Strengthen stewardship practices that increase donor retention, lifetime giving, and legacy giving opportunities.
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Work in close partnership with the President to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward the Academy’s highest-capacity donors and prospects.
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Create a comprehensive move management strategy that intentionally advances donors from annual giving to major, leadership, principal, and planned gifts.
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Analyze donor trends, giving capacity, affinity, and engagement to inform fundraising strategies and personalized cultivation plans.
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Establish measurable benchmarks for donor acquisition, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and long-term donor growth.
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Strategic Relationship Building and Engagement (20%)
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Expand the Academy's philanthropic reach by developing strategic partnerships with local businesses, foundations, civic organizations, nonprofit organizations, and community leaders.
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Represent Sacred Hearts Academy throughout the community, strengthening visibility, credibility, and philanthropic influence.
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Engage alumnae, parents, grandparents, and community stakeholders as active ambassadors and advocates for the Academy.
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Work with the Parent Board to strengthen volunteer participation at Development activities and events while cultivating philanthropic relationships.
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Develop and execute a proactive prospect identification and qualification strategy aligned with the Academy’s strategic priorities.
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Conduct sophisticated prospect research utilizing donor intelligence platforms, wealth screening, artificial intelligence tools, data analytics, and professional networks.
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Identify new philanthropic opportunities through strategic networking, community engagement, and relationship building.
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Build and maintain a robust pipeline of qualified prospects that supports sustained philanthropic growth.
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Leadership Strategy, and Organizational Development (20%)
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Provide visionary leadership for the Development Office while fostering a high-performing, collaborative, and mission-driven culture.
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Develop and implement strategies aligned with the Academy's Strategic Plan established by the Board of Directors and institutional priorities identified by the President.
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Lead, mentor, coach, and evaluate staff through clear expectations, aligned goals, ongoing feedback, and professional growth opportunities.
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Establish cascading performance goals and accountability measures that align departmental objectives with institutional priorities.
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Prepare regular reports and dashboards that measure fundraising performance, donor engagement, pipeline health, and return on investment.
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Allocate departmental resources strategically to maximize fundraising effectiveness and operational efficiency.
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Foster a culture of philanthropy across the Academy by engaging the Sisters, Board of Directors, Faculty, Staff, Alumnae, Volunteers, Parents, Students, and Administration in fundraising efforts.
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Campaigns, Special Events, Communications (20%)
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Partner with the President to develop and produce the Academy Magazine, Annual Report, and other Development marketing and communication materials that effectively promote the Academy's mission, engage donors, and strengthen philanthropic support.
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Lead the planning, execution, and evaluation of major fundraising campaigns and signature events, including Uncorked and other institutional fundraising initiatives.
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Ensure all fundraising communications effectively communicate donor impact and inspire continued investment in the Academy.
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Collaborate with internal departments to ensure advancement messaging reflects institutional priorities and strategic initiatives.
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Performs other related duties as assigned (5%)
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Actively participates as an effective member of the President’s Administrative Team by completing assigned duties, accepting additional assignments or reassignments;
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Assists with activities and events within other departments and divisions as requested (e.g., Fundraising events such as Uncorked, school events and activities such as Christmas Sharing and Alumni Luau).
Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by incumbents assigned to this job. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all the responsibilities, duties and skills required. The incumbent may be expected to perform other duties as assigned.
