Director of Development

Apply for the Director of Development role at The Waverly School
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$90,000.00/yr - $/yr

The Waverly School, an independent preschool‑through‑12th grade school in Pasadena, California, seeks a strategic and visionary Director of Development. This is an exceptional opportunity for a proven leader to shape the philanthropic future of a school dedicated to progressive education, community, and social justice.

The Director of Development will serve as a key member of the school's leadership team, responsible for planning, executing, and managing all fundraising and related activities. Responsibilities include leading Waverly’s annual fund, major gifts, planned giving, and alumni relations, and advancing the goals of Waverly’s strategic plan, Flight Plan 2030. The role requires cultivating deep relationships with parents, grandparents, alumni, and prospective donors to ensure the financial vitality that underpins the school’s transformative educational experience.

• Implement the comprehensive, multi‑year strategic development plan in collaboration with the Head of School and Director of Advancement.
• Lead and manage all fundraising initiatives, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, and planned giving.
• Organize, lead, and facilitate an annual full community, in‑person fundraising event.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with a diverse range of donors.
• Build meaningful relationships with current Waverly families through regular individual meetings and attendance at school events, classes, sporting events, arts showcases, and other special events.
• Build and strengthen relationships with foundations and institutional funders.
• Sustain a robust culture of philanthropy across the school community—including parents, alumni, grandparents, faculty/staff, and friends of the school.
• Oversee alumni relations and foster lifelong connections with graduates.
• Collaborate closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and other administrative leaders to align development efforts with the school’s strategic priorities.
• Manage and mentor the development team.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to develop compelling messaging, donor communications, and promotional materials.
• Prepare reports and presentations for the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Development Committee to track progress and inform planning.
• Utilize data to inform and optimize fundraising strategies.

• Highly organized, motivated, and communicative.
• Skilled collaborator and delegator.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7‑10 years of progressive experience in independent school advancement or a related non‑profit leadership role, with a proven track record of successful fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts.
• Exceptional communication, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and project management abilities.
• Proficiency in fundraising database software.
• A deep appreciation for and commitment to the mission and values of independent school education.

Work in person, on campus during school hours; frequent interruptions; maintain emotional control under stress; stand, lift, push, pull, stoop, and bend for short periods; lift 15‑45 pounds occasionally; prolonged periods of standing and walking; regularly sit and use office equipment and computers; regularly move up and down stairs.

Initial and continued employment background investigation required (fingerprints via Live Scan); TB assessment required for employment in California schools; CPR/AED/First Aid certification training every two years;
Annual mandated reporter and harassment prevention training and any other required training; adhere to school policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee and Faculty Handbooks.

The Waverly School is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to a policy of non‑discrimination based on the race, color, creed, religion, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, pregnancy, transgender, transsexualism, sexual orientation, age, national origin, citizenship, primary language, military or veteran status, physical handicap, disability, medical condition, mental disability, genetic characteristic or information, ancestry, or based on any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.