Bexley Seabury Seminary |Director of Philanthropy

The Director of Philanthropy (DOP) is the Seminarys senior advancement leader and the Presidents closest partner in donor strategy cultivation and majorgift conversations.

This fully remote fulltime role will report directly to the President focusing on major gifts endowmentlevel commitments and longterm philanthropic relationships. The DOP will build and manage the majordonor portfolio develop a strong Presidential portfolio and create the systems and structures that support sustainable philanthropic growth.

The DOP will travel extensively both independently and with the President to meet with major prospects and donors across the United States with a focus on Ohio Illinois Michigan and Wisconsin where the greatest number of historical supporters reside.

While this role will focus on high-level relationships the DOP will guide the annual giving and alumni relations activities in coordination with the Dean of Student and Community Engagement. 

The strongest candidates will be seasoned majorgifts professionals who combine strategic sophistication with handson execution. They will be energized by Bexley Seaburys mission to form Gospelcentered leaders who resist distortions of Christianity and reclaim a faith rooted in justice compassion and the teachings of Jesus. They will bring both urgency and steadiness: someone who can move quickly to strengthen revenue while building longterm donor relationships grounded in trust.

The ideal candidate understands the Church ecosystem resonates deeply with the Seminarys mission and thrives in a small entrepreneurial environment.

Key Responsibilities

1. Presidential Partnership & Donor Strategy

• Serve as the Presidents primary philanthropic advisor and strategic partner.
• Prepare briefings talking points call sheets and followup plans for donor meetings.
• Ensure the President spends 50% of his time in cultivation and solicitation.
• Translate Presidential vision into structured donor strategies and philanthropic opportunities.
• Support the Development Committee of the Board to build their engagement in fundraising and building donor relationships.

2. Major Gifts & Portfolio Development

• Build and manage the Seminarys majordonor portfolio including alumni friends parishes dioceses and foundations.
• Develop a curated Presidential portfolio using historical giving data.
• Create individualized cultivation and solicitation strategies for highcapacity prospects.
• Establish majorgift tracking systems.
• Write grant applications as needed.

3. Philanthropic Architecture & Systems

• Build the structures processes and reporting systems that support longterm philanthropic growth.
• Implement movesmanagement practices and ensure donor relationships are documented and transferable.
• Translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic cases for support.
• Establish early frameworks for legacy giving.
• Oversee the CRM (Bloomerang) gift entry acknowledgement and stewardship processes.

4. MissionCentered Donor Engagement

• Use the Seminarys theological and missional language consistently philanthropy as stewardship invitation and partnership.
• Articulate the Seminarys Gospel focus in a donorcentered invitational way.
• Build relationships rooted in authenticity trust and shared purpose.

5. Internal Collaboration & Leadership

• Work closely with academic leadership communications and community engagement to ensure alignment in messaging and donor experience.
• Collaborate and communicate with recruitment and engagement through the Dean of Student and Community Engagement.
• Oversee annual giving and alumni engagement roles as the advancement team grows.
• Foster a culture of philanthropy across the Seminary helping Board members faculty staff and trustees understand their roles in donor engagement.
• Develop and oversee the Development budget.
• Participate and coordinate with the following staff committees:
  • Leadership Team
  • Marketing
  • Financial Aid
  • Alumni Relations
  • Student Life

Qualifications :

Required

• 710 years of progressive fundraising experience with a strong record of securing major gifts.
• Demonstrated success building and managing donor portfolios and closing five and sixfigure gifts.
• Experience partnering with executive leaders on donor strategy.
• Exceptional communication storytelling and relationshipbuilding skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote environment.
• Strong organizational discipline and comfort working in a financially urgent context.
• Ability to build systems and donor pipelines.
• Ability to travel extensively to build donor-centered relationships for the Seminary.

Preferred

• Knowledge of the Episcopal Church or mainline Protestant traditions.
• Experience in theological education higher education or faithbased nonprofits.
• Familiarity with CRM systems and datadriven fundraising practices.
• Supervisory experience.

Personal Qualities

• Deep resonance with the Seminarys mission and its commitment to forming Gospelcentered leaders.
• A relational empathetic presence who builds trust quickly.
• A strategic thinker who can also execute with urgency.
• A collaborative partner who thrives in a small evolving institution.
• A steady grounded leader who can navigate financial pressure without sacrificing donor trust.

Additional Information :

Bexley Seabury Seminary has engaged Capital Development Services (CapDev) to conduct a search for this position. Candidates are required to submit a cover letter resume and faith statement. All information submitted by applicants will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines. Additional inquiries may be directed to

Remote Work :

Yes

Employment Type :

Full-time