Bexley Seabury Seminary |Director of Philanthropy

Company Description

As a fully remote institution, Bexley Seabury welcomes candidates from across the United States who are near a major airport.

About Bexley Seabury Seminary

Bexley Seabury Seminary is an Episcopal‑rooted, ecumenically minded theological institution committed to forming leaders who embody the Gospel with clarity, courage, and compassion. At a time when Christianity is often distorted by forces that pull it away from the teachings of Jesus, Bexley Seabury prepares leaders, lay and ordained, who can offer a counter‑narrative grounded in love, justice, and service.

The Seminary is at a pivotal moment. A new President brings deep relational gifts, a compelling “why,” and a commitment to spending more than half of his time in donor‑facing work. The Director of Philanthropy will build the architecture to help translate Presidential vision into sustained philanthropic growth.

The Director of Philanthropy (DOP) is the Seminary’s senior advancement leader and the President’s closest partner in donor strategy, cultivation, and major‑gift conversations.

This fully remote, full‑time role will report directly to the President, focusing on major gifts, endowment‑level commitments, and long‑term philanthropic relationships. The DOP will build and manage the major‑donor portfolio, develop a strong Presidential portfolio, and create the systems and structures that support sustainable philanthropic growth.

The DOP will travel extensively, both independently and with the President, to meet with major prospects and donors across the United States, with a focus on Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, where the greatest number of historical supporters reside.

While this role will focus on high-level relationships, the DOP will guide the annual giving and alumni relations activities, in coordination with the Dean of Student and Community Engagement.

The strongest candidates will be seasoned major‑gifts professionals who combine strategic sophistication with hands‑on execution. They will be energized by Bexley Seabury’s mission to form Gospel‑centered leaders who resist distortions of Christianity and reclaim a faith rooted in justice, compassion, and the teachings of Jesus. They will bring both urgency and steadiness: someone who can move quickly to strengthen revenue while building long‑term donor relationships grounded in trust.

The ideal candidate understands the Church ecosystem, resonates deeply with the Seminary’s mission, and thrives in a small, entrepreneurial environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Presidential Partnership & Donor Strategy

• Serve as the President’s primary philanthropic advisor and strategic partner.
• Prepare briefings, talking points, call sheets, and follow‑up plans for donor meetings.
• Ensure the President spends 50%+ of his time in cultivation and solicitation.
• Translate Presidential vision into structured donor strategies and philanthropic opportunities.
• Support the Development Committee of the Board to build their engagement in fundraising and building donor relationships.

2. Major Gifts & Portfolio Development

• Build and manage the Seminary’s major‑donor portfolio, including alumni, friends, parishes, dioceses, and foundations.
• Develop a curated Presidential portfolio using historical giving data.
• Create individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for high‑capacity prospects.
• Establish major‑gift tracking systems.
• Write grant applications, as needed.

3. Philanthropic Architecture & Systems

• Build the structures, processes, and reporting systems that support long‑term philanthropic growth.
• Implement moves‑management practices and ensure donor relationships are documented and transferable.
• Translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic cases for support.
• Establish early frameworks for legacy giving.
• Oversee the CRM (Bloomerang), gift entry, acknowledgement, and stewardship processes.

4. Mission‑Centered Donor Engagement

• Use the Seminary’s theological and missional language consistently — philanthropy as stewardship, invitation, and partnership.
• Articulate the Seminary’s Gospel focus in a donor‑centered, invitational way.
• Build relationships rooted in authenticity, trust, and shared purpose.

5. Internal Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with academic leadership, communications, and community engagement to ensure alignment in messaging and donor experience.
• Collaborate and communicate with recruitment and engagement, through the Dean of Student and Community Engagement.
• Oversee annual giving and alumni engagement roles as the advancement team grows.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the Seminary, helping Board members, faculty, staff, and trustees understand their roles in donor engagement.
• Develop and oversee the Development budget.
• Participate and coordinate with the following staff committees:
  • Leadership Team
  • Marketing
  • Financial Aid
  • Alumni Relations
  • Student Life

Required

• 7–10+ years of progressive fundraising experience, with a strong record of securing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success building and managing donor portfolios and closing five‑ and six‑figure gifts.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders on donor strategy.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment.
• Strong organizational discipline and comfort working in a financially urgent context.
• Ability to build systems and donor pipelines.
• Ability to travel extensively to build donor-centered relationships for the Seminary.

Preferred

• Knowledge of the Episcopal Church or mainline Protestant traditions.
• Experience in theological education, higher education, or faith‑based nonprofits.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and data‑driven fundraising practices.
• Supervisory experience.

Personal Qualities

• Deep resonance with the Seminary’s mission and its commitment to forming Gospel‑centered leaders.
• A relational, empathetic presence who builds trust quickly.
• A strategic thinker who can also execute with urgency.
• A collaborative partner who thrives in a small, evolving institution.
• A steady, grounded leader who can navigate financial pressure without sacrificing donor trust.

Bexley Seabury Seminary has engaged Capital Development Services (CapDev) to conduct a search for this position. Candidates are required to submit a cover letter, resume and faith statement. All information submitted by applicants will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Additional inquiries may be directed to [email protected].