Director of Leadership and Corporate Giving

Location: Rabun Gap, Georgia | Type: Full Time

About the Role

Founded in 1903, Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a coeducational college-preparatory boarding and day school for grades Pre-K – 12. More than 70% of the student body receives scholarships or financial assistance. Our campus lies in the heart of the Southern Appalachians, just north of Clayton, Georgia and centrally located 90 miles from Atlanta, Greenville, and Asheville. The school comprises 680 students from sixteen states and 56 countries, offering a dynamic educational program that both challenges and nurtures each student.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Georgia Education Tax Credit Program
  • Serve as the primary liaison to contributors, Georgia GOAL, and Apogee.
  • Develop and implement strategy to maximize participation and philanthropic impact.
  • Establish and execute marketing outreach to expand awareness and engagement.
  • Identify, solicit, and steward prospects to ensure retention and growth.
  • Utilize data metrics and reporting to inform forecasting for scholarship support.
• Launch the US Education Tax Credit Program
  • Serve as the primary liaison to contributors and American GOAL.
  • Develop and implement strategy to maximize participation and philanthropic impact.
  • Establish and execute marketing outreach to expand awareness and engagement.
  • Identify, solicit, and steward prospects to ensure retention and growth.
  • Utilize data metrics and reporting to inform forecasting for scholarship support.
• Lead and Grow Sponsorship Programs
  • Direct and execute a comprehensive sponsorship strategy.
  • Secure funding to support key school programs, including athletics, arts, and STEAM initiatives.
  • Cultivate relationships with businesses and individuals to expand sponsorship opportunities.
  • Manage sponsorship benefits and recognition to ensure meaningful engagement.
• Support Leadership Gifts Program and Advancement Efforts
  • Solicit leadership-level supporters for the Cupola Fund, especially those with connections to the school through the Georgia Education Tax Credit program.
  • Partner with the Associate Head of School to identify and manage a caseload of prospects for annual, capital, and mission-appropriate giving.
  • Develop donor proposals and track engagement using the school’s Raiser's Edge system to ensure continuity and donor history.
  • Support the Advancement team with events, alumni gatherings, and engagement initiatives for parents and grandparents.
  • Serve as a staff representative to the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees and other assigned committees.
  • Assist with other departmental initiatives as needed.
• Lead Spring Fundraising Event
  • Work with the Association Head for Advancement to design an annual spring fundraising event to further support the mission of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School.
  • Create compelling sponsorship opportunities at the event for area businesses and beyond to support the school.
  • Recruit a volunteer team from the parent and alumni community to help build stakeholder engagement in the event.
  • Budget the event and forecast fundraising targets.

This role requires approximately 30% local and regional travel to engage alumni, parents, businesses, and other supporters.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree; master’s degree preferred.
• CRFE or CAP certification or similar equivalents preferred.
• At least five years of experience in fundraising is required; experience in an independent school, college, or university is preferred.
• Previous supervisory or volunteer management experience preferred.
• High capacity for utilization of technology in the changing landscape of philanthropy with experience in giving platforms and Raiser’s Edge preferred.
• Ability to create a personal contact and solicitation plan that takes into account the individual donor’s interest, motivations, giving patterns, and preferences, for each donor in the portfolio, in a timely and cost-effective manner, and retain and upgrade donors.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and persuasively, orally and in writing, as well as a highly developed sense of propriety in dealing with sensitive information.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage a variety of programs and activities simultaneously and promote a spirit of teamwork among individuals to pursue common goals.
• Ability and desire to travel and cultivate connections with alumni and other donor prospects.
• Ability to project an image of professional competence and credibility in representing Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School, and in creating a climate of confidence and trust.
• Working knowledge of fundraising and/or nonprofit management.
• A strong commitment to the principles of teamwork and shared responsibility for success.