Director of Philanthropy

The Opportunity

Charlotte Preparatory School is seeking a Director of Philanthropy – a strategic, relational leader who can build and lead a comprehensive fundraising and development program at a pivotal moment in the School’s growth. This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of philanthropy at a thriving independent school with strong community roots, increasing enrollment, and a clear vision for expansion, including a near-term capital campaign and long-term endowment development.

The Director of Philanthropy will lead all fundraising efforts, including the annual fund, major gifts, campaign planning, alumni engagement, and donor stewardship. This role requires the ability to design and execute a relationship-driven fundraising program while building the systems, processes, and messaging needed to support long-term sustainability. The School is at an early stage of fundraising and development maturity, offering a rare opportunity to establish a formal major gifts program, donor pipeline, and foundational fundraising and development infrastructure.

Fundraising in an independent school environment requires a nuanced, relationship-first approach that complements the parent experience and reinforces community values. This leader will play a critical role in articulating the case for support, including the gap between tuition and the full cost of delivering a Charlotte Prep education, and engaging key constituencies including parents, grandparents, alumni, and community supporters.

Charlotte Prep has a strong financial foundation, including consistent family support of the annual fund, and significant opportunity to expand its philanthropic reach. This is a highly unique opportunity for a builder and strategist to partner closely with the Head of School and Board to:

• Advance a culture of philanthropy
• Design and implement fundraising and development systems and strategy
• Prepare for and lead a capital campaign
• Position the School for long-term sustainability and impact

About Charlotte Prep – Our Mission, History & Culture

Founded in 1971 (originally as Charlotte Montessori School), Charlotte Preparatory School is a dynamic Pre-K–8 independent school serving more than 400 students and grounded in a whole-child, student-centered approach. The mission of Charlotte Preparatory School is to foster lifelong learning and provide an exemplary educational experience founded on academic excellence, positive character, and leadership development in a diverse, inclusive community.

The School’s culture is relational, and values-centered—defined by a warm, welcoming, and unpretentious community where authentic relationships among faculty, staff, families, and students are at the heart of the experience. Charlotte Prep is committed to fostering confidence, leadership, and independence in its students, with a strong emphasis on diversity, belonging, and community. Traditions are rooted not in formalities, but in shared values and connection.

Charlotte Prep is also a place where employees stay and grow, with newer as well as long-tenured staff who describe it as “a great place to work every day.” The environment is collaborative, supportive, and deeply invested in student success. The School is experiencing meaningful momentum and growth, supported by strong leadership and a forward-looking vision.

Reporting Structure

The Director of Philanthropy reports directly to the Head of School and serves as a member of the senior leadership team alongside the Head’s direct reports.

This leader will initially supervise one staff member and with the ability to shape job descriptions and build a development team tailored to the School’s strategic priorities. Charlotte Prep is governed by an engaged Board of Trustees and supported by a dedicated faculty and staff who are deeply committed to the mission and to student success.

Key Responsibilities

The ideal candidate will have proven ability to accomplish the following duties:

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Head of School and Board to define philanthropic priorities, including capital and endowment planning.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and development strategy aligned with the School’s growth and future capital priorities.
• Coach and train board members, the Head of School and other team members, helping them understand their roles in philanthropy, build confidence in fundraising, leverage their networks, and align on strategy and execution.
• Manage departmental budget and revenue goals.

Fundraising and Donor Engagement

• Identify and implement communication and engagement strategies to cultivate and steward relationships with families and alumni, corporate supporters and foundations, inviting them to invest in Charlotte Prep’s mission in ways that align with their own philanthropic goals.
• Lead all core fundraising functions, including the annual fund, pipeline and moves management, major gifts development, and preparation for/execution of a capital campaign, while building the foundational systems – such as donor segmentation, portfolio management, and pipeline tracking – needed to support a growing development program.
• Develop monthly schedule for specific donor and stakeholder engagement as well as thoughtful, comprehensive and easy-to-use donor briefings for board members, the Head of School and other team members to guide cultivation, solicitation and stewardship efforts.
• Create and implement a donor stewardship program to recognize and thank families, alumni and community members for their support.

Relationship Building and Community Engagement

• Cultivate and steward meaningful relationships with current and prospective parents, grandparents, alumni, and community supporters to deepen engagement and philanthropic investment.
• Partner closely with the Board of Trustees and Development Committee to strengthen a culture of philanthropy and expand board engagement in relationship-building and fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate with faculty and staff to define and support appropriate roles in philanthropy, emphasizing relationship-building, storytelling, and community engagement while maintaining clear boundaries around solicitation.

Team Leadership and Development

• Build and lead a development team of two staff (including yourself) with opportunity for possible future expansion.
• Manage annual fund/alumni engagement and operations/events from a strategic level – setting direction, ensuring appropriate staffing and systems are in place, and holding team members accountable for successful execution.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture.

 Organizational Leadership

• Work together with the Leadership Team to build a foundation of trust, develop clear communication norms, and commit to shared goals and accountability.
• Bring a philanthropic lens to the strategic discussions and decisions as a member of the Leadership Team.
• Contribute to the school budget by informing revenue strategy, ensuring fundraising feasibility, and aligning development goals with financial planning.
• Strengthen data and reporting capabilities (current systems include Bloomerang, FACTS, and QuickBooks, with limited integration)

Success Metrics

Success in the first 18-24 months will include:

• Visiting/shadowing with faculty and staff across all divisions to build a strong understanding of academics, administration, culture, and priorities
• Strengthening a culture of philanthropy, including specialized efforts with first generation independent school families
• Launching a formal major gifts program from an early-stage foundation
• Growing the annual fund
• Establishing a donor pipeline with defined portfolios
• Strengthening board engagement in fundraising
• Building readiness for a capital campaign
• Balancing growth with preservation of culture

Ideal Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate will have the following education, skills and experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required (advanced degree and CFRE preferred)
• 10+ years of development experience with demonstrated success in major gifts and capital campaigns, including 5+ years in executive leadership
• Strong knowledge of fundraising strategy, donor pipeline development, and moves management, with experience building or scaling fundraising and development programs
• Proven ability to engage and partner with board members and leadership volunteers
• Experience working across systems (CRM, finance, etc.) with strong organizational, project management, and time management skills; proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent writing, communication, and storytelling abilities
• Ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders, including parents, faculty, board members, and the broader community
• Understanding of independent school environments and the nuances of relationship-based fundraising (or willingness to learn quickly)
• Familiarity with the Charlotte philanthropic landscape a plus
• Commitment to long-term relationship building (rather than a short-term tenure)

This individual will also possess the following personal qualities:

• Highly relational, approachable, and non-intimidating; able to build trust quickly across a close-knit school community
• Strong emotional intelligence with sound judgment; able to navigate a values-driven environment with discretion
• Collaborative, team-oriented and adaptable; works effectively across functions in a dynamic organization
• Strategic, proactive, and organized builder; comfortable creating structure and managing multiple priorities
• Self-starter who operates independently while effectively partnering with and “coaching up” senior leadership
• Strong communicator; able to clearly articulate the case for support, including the role of philanthropy and the tuition gap
• High integrity with respect for confidentiality; maintains appropriate boundaries to protect the student and classroom experience
• Comfortable engaging and motivating volunteers, including board members and parent leaders
• Technologically capable and open to systems improvement and data-informed decision-making
• Positive, energetic, and culturally aligned with a humble, welcoming, and community-focused environment

Location and Work Environment

Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the School benefits from being in one of the fastest growing and most dynamic cities in the Southeast. Charlotte offers a high quality of life, with a strong economy, vibrant arts and dining scene, and easy access to both the mountains and the coast. Charlotte Preparatory School is situated in South Charlotte near Matthews, a desirable area known for its family-friendly neighborhoods, excellent amenities, and convenient access to the broader metro area.

The Philanthropy team works onsite at the school campus. Evening and weekend work hours are required several times each month for meetings and events.

Compensation

The salary for this position ranges from $146,000 to $160,000 and is commensurate with the candidate’s experience, skill set, and demonstrated track record of success.

Charlotte Prep offers a comprehensive benefits package that supports employees both professionally and personally, including healthcare, dental, and vision insurance with no employee premium contribution, and an automatic 403(b) retirement contribution for all 10- and 12-month employees with no match required. Full-time employees are eligible for 50% tuition remission for up to two children.

The School also invests in ongoing professional development and promotes work-life balance through ample paid time off, wellness offerings such as weekly yoga, and a vibrant community culture supported by social events and the Sunshine Committee. As an added benefit, employees enjoy complimentary lunch each day. Want to know more? Visit the Charlotte Preparatory School website

Charlotte Preparatory School is an equal opportunity employer. Charlotte Preparatory School ensures equal employment opportunity in its policies affecting recruiting and hiring; transfer, promotion, compensation, and benefit programs; social, recreational, and health programs; termination, etc. These will be executed without regard to race, creed, color, religious preference, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.