Director of Development

About the Role The Director of Development will serve as a dynamic, front-line fundraiser to lead all philanthropic fundraising activities for the Church of the Heavenly Rest, reporting to the Rector. This newly elevated role is focused on sustaining CHR's $5 million operating budget and designing the strategy for the upcoming 2029 Centennial, including donor cultivation and growth of the development team. What You'll Do

• Lead philanthropic fundraising efforts, including annual Stewardship Campaigns, formalizing planned giving, and shaping the 2029 Centennial strategy.
• Identify, pursue, and secure foundation and government grant opportunities to support CHR programming.
• Design and execute plans to steward existing donors, deepen engagement, and strategically transition mid-level supporters into major gift portfolios.
• Conceptualize and create online pledge and giving forms across Stewardship, Capital Campaign, Events, and the Flower Fund.
• Act as the primary front-line solicitor, managing independent major donor portfolios and determining when to involve the Rector in high-level cultivation.
• Engage with the CHR parish community, attending services and fundraising events to broaden philanthropic reach; serve as the main contact for giving inquiries.
• Support and empower lay leadership within volunteer Stewardship and Capital Campaign committees.
• Select, implement, and oversee a new donor database/constituent management system; supervise the part-time Database Manager and plan for future staff growth.
• Oversee gift/pledge records and reporting; participate in setting and managing the development budget with the Rector and Vestry. What We're Looking For
• Proven fundraising leadership with track record of building donor portfolios (major gifts, annual giving) and expanding donor engagement.
• Strategic thinker able to set goals, assess donor capacity, and drive campaigns and major gift opportunities.
• Experience identifying and securing foundation and government grants; familiarity with grant cycles and reporting.
• Expertise in donor databases/CRMs and integrating fundraising systems with financial operations; budget oversight experience.
• Exceptional relationship-building, communication, and public-engagement skills; comfortable with front-line solicitation and representing CHR.
• Collaborative work style with clergy, Vestry, and volunteer committees; ability to lead and develop a development team. Compensation & Benefits
• Not disclosed in the posting. About the Organization Church of the Heavenly Rest (CHR) is a vibrant Episcopal parish on Manhattan's Upper East Side, offering worship, arts, youth programs, and community outreach, including prison and re-entry ministries. CHR operates with a $5M annual budget and a core of 200 pledging households, aiming to expand its philanthropy program and capital campaigns as part of its Centennial preparations.