Director of Philanthropy

Our Mission

Our School, founded on Jewish values, is about who our children can become and how they can help others become who they might be. Because the world our children will create tomorrow is born in the School we build today, our mission is to educate our children so they can surpass us. 

Position Overview

Milken Community School seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and mission-aligned leader to serve as its next Director of Philanthropy. This position plays a central role in advancing the School’s philanthropic culture and ensuring the success of its ambitious fundraising efforts, including a historic capital campaign.

Reporting to the Associate Head of School for External Relations, the successful candidate will serve as a high-level partner to the Associate Head of School for External Relations, working together to set the vision for all development functions, proactively managing-up to ensure institutional goals are met with foresight and strategic alignment. Central to this role is a commitment to excellence and quality control; the Director will oversee all department outputs ensuring they meet the highest standards.  The Director of Philanthropy is a key member of the External Relations Leadership Team. 

Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Management

• Supervise and support a talented Development and Alumni Relations team, including the Director of Development and Director of Alumni Relations and Advancement.
• Foster a collaborative, mission-driven, and high-performing team culture.
• Ensure Strategic Actions Plans for each Office are designed and executed well.

Strategic Leadership

• Partner with the Associate Head of School for External Relations to design and implement a comprehensive, multi-year Philanthropy strategy aligned with institutional priorities.
• Provide vision and leadership for all Philanthropy programs, including annual giving, major gifts, alumni relations, and campaign initiatives.
• Serve as a collaborative leader within the External Relations team.

Annual Fund & Philanthropy Operations

• Lead efforts to elevate and grow the annual fund, with a focus on broad-based participation and increased giving
• Oversee development operations, including systems, data integrity, reporting, and gift processing
• Establish clear goals, metrics, and accountability structures to measure success

Capital Campaign

• Play a key role in supporting the planning and execution of the School’s capital campaign.
• Partner closely with the Capital Campaign Chief of Staff to ensure strong coordination, execution, and follow-through

Major Gifts & Stewardship

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, engaging in all aspects of the donor cycle including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship
• Play a leadership role in designing and implementing the School’s comprehensive stewardship program, ensuring meaningful and consistent engagement with donors at all levels
• Partner with the External Relations team, School leadership and volunteers to deepen relationships and strengthen a culture of philanthropy.

Qualifications and Experience

• Significant experience in philanthropy, development, or related nonprofit leadership roles, ideally within an independent school or educational setting
• Demonstrated success in major gifts fundraising and participation in capital campaigns
• Experience managing and mentoring professional staff
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage a wide range of stakeholders
• Strategic thinker with strong organizational and execution skills

Standard On-Campus Hours
Start: M - F by 8 AM
End: M -Th 4 PM, F 3:00 PM
*All schedules are subject to change.

Salary Range: $160,000 - $180,000

For a complete overview of our benefits, please visit the Employment page on our website.

Milken strives to be a nurturing, diverse and inclusive community. It is a vibrant academic home, drawing faculty and staff from the spectrum of faith, social and cultural backgrounds.