San Juan Diego Academy, established in 2010, is a PK-8 Catholic school in the Diocese of Grand Rapids serving approximately 200 students. It has the highest percentage of families living in poverty of the non-public schools in the state of Michigan.
San Juan Diego Academy (SJDA) stands as a beacon of hope and opportunity for children from some of the most underserved communities in Grand Rapids and Wyoming, Michigan. As a Catholic elementary school committed to providing a high-quality education, SJDA serves children of immigrant Hispanic families who face economic challenges and systemic barriers. Our mission is to equip these children with the academic, moral, and spiritual formation needed to transform their lives and contribute positively as future Hispanic Catholic leaders within our Church and community.
For more than a decade, our academy has been a sanctuary of hope for families seeking a brighter future for their children. Every day, we witness the miracle of transformation as students excel academically, deepen their faith, and embrace their potential.
The Impact of San Juan Diego Academy
Since its founding in 2011, San Juan Diego Academy has been transforming the lives of children and families in our community.
Key impacts include
- High academic standards: Our rigorous curriculum provides a well-rounded education that includes not only core subjects like mathematics, science, and reading, but also virtue-based instruction rooted in Catholic teachings.
- Faith and character development: SJDA’s focus on the spiritual and moral development of our students provides them with a strong foundation that helps them navigate challenges in their personal and academic lives.
- Supportive environment: SJDA is more than a school; it is a close-knit community where students are supported emotionally, spiritually, and academically, fostering a sense of belonging, engagement, and purpose.
Over the years, we have seen remarkable success in our students’ academic performance and their growth as individuals. The vast majority of SJDA students matriculate to and graduate from our Catholic high schools at the same 99% rate that
is a hallmark of Catholic high schools and attend 4-year colleges at a rate of 85.7% setting them on a pathway to overcome a cycle of poverty, while their peers in neighborhood schools are dropping out at alarming rates, and only attending 4-year
college 39.5% of the time. The difference is stark and yet, the need for consistent funding remains a challenge.
Overview of the Position
We are in search of a proven fundraiser and inspirational leader with a passion for our school’s mission. The ideal candidate is an experienced development professional with a record of achievement in fundraising and team participation, an innovator who can confidently engage prospects and drive a culture of philanthropy to leverage the community’s passion for San Juan Diego Academy’s mission into the resources necessary to achieve its goals.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and collaborate with the school’s Development Committee of the Board of Directors, with primary responsibility for donor development and the creation and maintenance of philanthropic revenue streams
- Identify new prospects, acquire new donors, retain and upgrade current donors, and increase gift prospects to meet current and long-term financial needs for San Juan Diego Academy
- Maintain a reliable process of gift acknowledgement, gratitude, and ongoing stewardship of donors and prospects
- Meet regularly with current donors to secure and enhance contributions
- Focus on building relationships throughout the Catholic and Hispanic communities and across the greater Grand Rapids area to advance the mission of San Juan Diego Academy, as well as recruit new members to the Development Committee
- Lead, plan, and direct annual individual & foundation giving, corporate & sponsorship appeals including proposal development and grant writing
- Develop and deliver presentations about the mission and work of San Juan Diego Academy to Catholic parishes, businesses, foundations, colleges, universities among others
- Plan and lead fund development and mission advancement events
- Engage in coalition building with partner parishes in the Diocese of Grand Rapids
- Collaborate with a growing team of volunteer leaders to delegate and distribute the expanding workload to successfully raise $1,000,000-$1,300,000 annually
- Communicate with the community at large through newsletters, brochures, interacting with the media and utilizing social media
- Oversee advancement materials, case statements, newsletters, social media, website content aligned with our school’s Catholic identity
- Collaborate on branding and messaging that reflects the school’s values and vision
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Fund Development or related field.
- Three (3) years of serving in a fund development capacity with a nonprofit
- Active and practicing member of the Catholic faith preferred
- Ability to work with a fully supportive attitude alongside San Juan Diego affiliated pastors and parishes, diocesan officials, the Catholic Foundation of West Michigan, the broader Catholic community, the Catholic Church, her teachings, and her work
- Passionate about advancing Catholic education and community engagement
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
- Experience working with fund development software
- Ability to think creatively, develop plans, research, assume responsibility for results
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Ability to inspire trust and build relationships across diverse communities
- A warm, engaging, and mission-driven leadership style
Compensation
- Flexible schedule
- Salary commensurate to experience
- Employee Medical Benefit
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Time Off