Development Director at Church of the Heavenly Rest

About the Organization

Church of the Heavenly Rest (CHR) is a vibrant, inclusive Episcopal parish on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. It serves an intergenerational community with a rich tradition of worship, the arts, and neighborhood outreach. Programming includes comprehensive ministries for children, youth, and families, acclaimed arts events, and social outreach such as prison and re‑entry ministries. The fully accessible facility hosts public visiting hours, art exhibits, reception areas, meeting spaces, and manages bookings for private life events, building rentals, and theatrical or musical productions. Governance follows a collaborative model where laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels. CHR operates with a $5 million annual budget, supported by 200 pledging households and a steady $1.3 million core annual pledge income. A successful $8 million capital campaign in 2021 demonstrates the community’s generosity. Recognized nationally within The Episcopal Church, CHR is preparing for its historic Centennial celebration in 2029.

About the Role

The Director of Development will lead all philanthropic fundraising activities for CHR as a key member of the professional leadership team, reporting to the Rector. The role is responsible for sustaining annual growth in operating income to support the $5 million budget and for designing and executing the strategy for the 2029 Centennial. Responsibilities include setting strategic goals, assessing donor capacity, cultivating existing and new donors, driving the annual pledge campaign, formalizing planned giving, and architecting periodic capital campaigns while modernizing constituent management systems. As fundraising milestones are achieved, the Director will have the opportunity to expand and build out the development team.

Key Responsibilities

• Philanthropic Fundraising: Research and develop comprehensive, creative strategies for annual stewardship campaigns, a formal planned‑giving program, and the 2029 Centennial celebration; identify and secure foundation and government grant opportunities to support programming.
• Donor Stewardship: Design and execute plans to steward existing donors, deepen engagement, and transition mid‑level supporters into major‑gift portfolios; create online pledge and giving forms for stewardship, capital campaigns, events, and the Flower Fund.
• External Relations and Relationship Building: Serve as the primary front‑line solicitor for the parish, managing major‑donor portfolios and coordinating high‑level cultivation with the Rector; actively participate in Sunday services, social gatherings, and fundraising functions; act as the main point of contact for all giving inquiries; support and empower lay leadership within volunteer stewardship and capital‑campaign committees.
• Operational Leadership: Select, implement, and oversee a new donor database and constituent‑management system; supervise the part‑time Database Manager (with potential to hire additional staff); ensure accurate gift and pledge records and timely giving reports; help set and manage the development budget to meet annual fundraising goals.

Who You’ll Work With

• Report directly to the Rector.
• Supervise the part‑time Database Manager and coordinate with external consultants.
• Collaborate frequently with the Vestry, functional leaders, and highly skilled volunteer lay‑leadership committees.

Core Qualifications

• Minimum of eight years of proven success in nonprofit development and fundraising, with a strong track record as an active front‑line fundraiser.
• Bachelor’s degree or higher required.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills (a writing sample may be required).
• Strong analytical, organizational, and delegation abilities.
• Friendly, welcoming demeanor and enthusiasm for collaborative work within an engaged community of leaders.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiarity with AI tools such as Copilot and ChatGPT.
• Demonstrated expertise in donor‑management platforms, social‑media channels, and the Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience designing and implementing nonprofit fundraising strategies, with emphasis on donor strategy development.
• Familiarity with the Episcopal Church and/or parish life is considered a strong asset.

Additional Details

• 100 % on‑site, full‑time position with primary office hours Monday through Friday.
• Flexible schedule to accommodate occasional evening programs and weekend parish events.
• Commitment to equity and inclusion: CHR is an open, inclusive community welcoming people of all sexual identities and orientations, with women and men serving as bishops, priests, and deacons.