Director of Philanthropy

Cornerstone is a joyful learning community located in Southeast D.C. Through a partnership of family, school, and community, Cornerstone provides a Christ-centered, nurturing, and academically robust education forming the children of Washington, D.C. in the habits of faith, love, and learning essential to becoming wise, compassionate, and virtuous leaders who serve others in light of Christ and His Truth.

We are seeking candidates for the Director of Philanthropy position for the 2025-2026 school year, to start in June 2025.

Role At-a-Glance

The Director of Philanthropy reports to and collaborates closely with the Executive Director to design and implement a multi-pronged approach to our growing fundraising and community engagement programs to fulfill the Cornerstone mission of providing a thriving Christian community and robust education to the children of southeast D.C.

The Director of Philanthropy manages two development staff members with goals to raise $2 million for our Annual Campaign, to secure funding to meet capital development goals, to engage volunteers through churches and community groups, and to maintain a strong communications presence that connects supporters with the mission of Cornerstone.

Faith Commitment: The Director of Philanthropy will be a committed Christian who knows the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, and will live by the highest example of Christian virtue and decorum both in and out of school.

Position Responsibilities

• Develop Annual Fundraising Plan: Establish and implement a comprehensive strategy to achieve funding goals, alongside the Executive Director.
• Cultivate Relationships with Donors, Volunteers, & Church Partners: Proactively recruit and build relationships with donors, volunteers, church leaders and community partners, and direct the signature volunteer Buddies program.
• Manage Fundraising Campaigns: Oversee and manage fundraising campaigns, including annual appeals, capital campaigns, and special events.
• Execute Fundraising & Cultivation Events: Manage the event-planning process for in-person and virtual fundraising and cultivation events.
• Direct Written, Visual & Digital Communications: Oversee the creation, design, and execution of school-wide communications, including newsletters, social media, website and campaign documents.
• Direct All Donation Processing & Database Management: Manage the donation processing and stewardship process to ensure an engaging donor giving experience.
• Manage the Grant Writing Process: Craft compelling grant proposals and grow our network of foundation funders.

To apply for this position, submit an Application. For more information, reach out to Dean Luckenbaugh, Executive Director, at dluckenbaugh@cornerstone-schools.org