Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships

Location: Encino, California | Type: Full Time

About the Role

Westmark School—a nationally recognized leader in educating students with language-based learning differences—seeks an entrepreneurial, relationship-driven leader to serve as its Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships. This is a pivotal new role designed to expand Westmark’s philanthropic reach, deepen engagement with mission-aligned external partners, and strengthen the School’s long-term sustainability.

A central responsibility of the Director is to strategically support the Head of School and the Board of Trustees in all aspects of major gifts fundraising. The Director will cultivate and steward relationships with Westmark’s closest constituents—including current parents, grandparents, alumni families, and former trustees—who have the capacity to make leadership gifts of $100,000 and above. The Director will ensure that the Westmark Fund and Spring Gala meet operating budget goals and that teams of volunteers are actively engaged in the execution of these annual fundraising initiatives.

The Director will also broaden Westmark’s visibility and impact by identifying and securing new sources of external support, including individual philanthropists beyond the immediate School community, corporate partnerships, foundation relationships, and mission-aligned organizations in education, neurodiversity, technology, and workforce development.

The Director of Development and Strategic Partnerships reports directly to the Head of School and serves as a key member of the senior leadership team.

Responsibilities

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward six- and seven-figure gifts from high-capacity families, alumni parents, former trustees, and community leaders.
• Design individualized cultivation pathways and prepare senior leaders for high-level donor conversations.
• Translate institutional priorities—especially the 2026–2029 strategic plan—into a clear, actionable roadmap for philanthropy and partnerships.
• Identify new funding opportunities, build pipelines, and expand Westmark’s visibility beyond its immediate community.
• Inspire trust and enthusiasm among donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and colleagues.
• Staff senior leaders and trustees, including preparing briefings, proposals, and strategy memos.
• Recruit, train, motivate, and recognize volunteer leaders for the Westmark Fund and Spring Gala.
• Develop multi-layered corporate relationships, including philanthropy, sponsorships, employee engagement, or workforce-readiness initiatives.
• Craft compelling grant narratives, manage deadlines, and steward institutional funders.
• Manage prospect systems, dashboards, and data analysis to inform strategy and track progress.
• Ensure best practices in donor stewardship, compliance, and ethical fundraising.
• Communicate the School’s impact with authenticity, clarity, and emotional intelligence.

Qualifications

• Proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding six- and seven-figure gifts.
• Sophisticated judgment in donor strategy and experience designing individualized cultivation pathways.
• Experience staffing senior leaders and trustees, including preparing briefings and proposals.
• Demonstrated success recruiting, training, motivating, and recognizing volunteer leaders.
• Experience developing corporate partnerships, including philanthropy, sponsorships, and employee engagement.
• Strong grant-writing skills and experience managing institutional funders.
• Comfort with prospect management systems, dashboards, and data-driven decision-making.
• Deep appreciation for Westmark School’s mission and the strengths of neurodiverse learners.
• Cultural humility and ability to engage respectfully with diverse families, students, and partners.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and hands-on relationship building.
• Entrepreneurial drive and growth mindset.
• Exceptional interpersonal and leadership presence.
• Collaborative spirit and ability to work across departments.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills.
• Commitment to best practices in ethical fundraising and compliance.

Pay

$175,000 to $190,000 per year

About Westmark School

Westmark School is a creative and supportive college preparatory school dedicated to educating, empowering, and celebrating students with distinct learning styles, providing the tools necessary to achieve successful and fulfilling futures.