Senior Development Officer

Position Title: Senior Development Officer

Department: Advancement

Reports to: Vice President for Advancement

Classification: On-site; Full-time, Salary, Exempt, 37.5-hour workweek

Anticipated Start Date: Open Until Filled

WHERE PHILANTHROPY MEETS PURPOSE

At a moment of momentum and meaning, Christian Theological Seminary invites an experienced fundraising professional to help shape the future of theological education. As we advance a pivotal comprehensive campaign, the Senior Development Officer will play a central role in cultivating generosity that expands access, strengthens leadership, and advances the public good. This is an opportunity for a seasoned major gifts fundraiser who believes philanthropy is not merely transactional-but transformational.

Rooted in equity, access, and justice, CTS is a place where faith, intellect, and impact converge. The Senior Development Officer will join a mission-driven advancement team and serve as a key frontline fundraiser, engaging donors whose values align with the Seminary's enduring commitment to education, community, and ethical leadership.

JOB SUMMARY

Reporting to the Vice President for Advancement, the Senior Development Officer manages a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects and independently solicits and closes five- and six-figure gifts in support of CTS's academic, programmatic, and institutional priorities. The successful candidate will combine disciplined fundraising practice with a relational, values-centered approach to donor engagement.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Serve as a primary frontline fundraiser for CTS's comprehensive campaign, advancing philanthropic investment that supports access to theological education, leadership formation, and long-term institutional sustainability.
• Proactively identify, qualify, and manage a portfolio of 60–90 donors and prospects with the capacity and inclination to make five- and six-figure gifts, prioritizing values alignment and readiness within a 12–24 month campaign timeframe.
• Plan and execute 60–80 high-quality, strategy-driven donor engagements annually, including discovery visits, cultivation meetings, solicitations, and stewardship conversations conducted in person and virtually.
• Develop and implement individualized donor engagement and solicitation strategies that align donor interests with campaign priorities and CTS's mission, values, and commitments to equity, inclusion, and academic excellence.
• Prepare compelling, donor-centered proposals and solicitations, with a strong emphasis on securing five- and six-figure commitments in support of campaign and institutional priorities.
• Partner closely with the Vice President for Advancement, trustees, faculty, and campaign volunteers to strategically engage donors and prospects, including preparing leadership and volunteers for effective donor interactions.
• Collaborate with advancement and communications colleagues to ensure clear, consistent, and compelling campaign messaging that reflects the lived impact of CTS's work and resonates with diverse donor audiences.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and strategic records in the CRM system to support forecasting, reporting, portfolio management, and meaningful stewardship.
• Represent CTS at seminary, campaign, and donor-related events, strengthening inclusive donor engagement and community presence in support of campaign goals.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

The successful candidate will report to the vice president for advancement and should possess the knowledge, skills, and ability to fulfill the essential functions of the position and demonstrate successful experience and proficiency in the following:

• Bachelor's degree; advanced degree or theological education
• Minimum 5 years of experience in major gift fundraising, preferably within higher education, theological education, or a mission-driven nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated success independently soliciting and closing five- and six-figure gifts, including experience developing donor-centered proposals.
• Experience working on comprehensive or capital campaigns, with a track record of advancing institutional priorities through philanthropy.
• Ability to build authentic, trust-based relationships with donors, faith leaders, faculty, trustees, and volunteers across diverse communities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to articulate a compelling case for support rooted in equity, access, and impact.
• Commitment to ethical fundraising practices, inclusive engagement, and respectful stewardship.
• Alignment with the mission and values of Christian Theological Seminary and comfort working within a diverse, faith-based academic community.
• Database platforms for constituent relations management (CRM) and fundraising; experience with Raiser's Edge / RE NXT is a plus.
• Word, PowerPoint, and Excel; experience with Adobe is a plus.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Qualified candidates should submit a cover letter, CV/resume, names of three professional references using the application link. Questions about the position: humanresources@cts.edu.

ABOUT CHRISTIAN THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

Christian Theological Seminary (CTS) is a fully accredited ecumenical graduate school in Indianapolis, IN, related to the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) and serving the whole people of God. We welcome all faiths to explore/ engage in an intellectually rigorous, spiritually formative, and emotionally supportive education that equips our students to go out into the world and serve-whether in the church or the community. CTS also offers a robust counseling program that provides professional counseling preparation and spiritual/theological integration for those training to become mental health counselors, marriage and family therapists, pastoral psychotherapists, and spiritual care specialists.

CTS is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate with respect to recruitment, hiring, or any other status of employment based on race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or any other category protected by law.