Assistant Director of Development, Annual Fund & Stewardship

Columbus School for Girls (CSG) is an independent day school in Columbus, Ohio, founded in 1898, serving students in grades pre-k through grade 12. CSG empowers girls to discover their distinct potential as learners and leaders. As a leader in the education of girls and young women, it is a vibrant community of more than 500 students, 120 faculty and staff, and 3,000 active alumnae. CSG’s 8-acre academic campus in the beautiful Bexley neighborhood is a ten-minute drive from downtown Columbus, a city bustling with artistic, civic, and shopping experiences. Having just completed a strategic plan to guide the School’s direction over the next several years, CSG offers an exceptional, student-centered academic experience with strong offerings in the arts, an impressive athletic program, and a health and wellness curriculum that is unique in Central Ohio. This combination of academics and skills ensures that CSG students will be well prepared for life beyond CSG.

Columbus School for Girls (CSG) seeks a strategic, creative, and mission-driven Assistant Director of Development, Annual Fund & Stewardship to play a key role in advancing the school’s philanthropic goals. This individual will lead efforts to grow support through annual, corporate, foundation, and planned giving, ensuring that CSG meets or exceeds its fundraising objectives through thoughtful appeals and donor stewardship. CSG offers a competitive salary, benefits, and professional opportunities and welcomes candidates who add to the racial, cultural, religious, and gender diversity of the school community.

Major Functions and Responsibilities:

Serving as a key writer and creative partner to the development team, the Assistant Director of Development, Annual Fund & Stewardship will craft donor-facing communications, support messaging for fundraising events and campaigns, and help ensure that all development communications reflect the distinctive voice, values, and mission of CSG. This role also leads the school’s stewardship program, working closely with the Assistant Director of Engagement, Assistant Director of Development, Major Gifts, and the Chief Development Officer to ensure donors are acknowledged, informed, and celebrated for their impact.

Annual Giving Strategy & Execution:

Lead CSG’s annual giving program, including direct mail, email appeals, and digital fundraising campaigns (e.g., Giving Day).

Develop and implement donor segmentation strategies to personalize appeals and increase participation.

Grow the number of annual donors and average gift size.

Support the development of corporate and foundation giving strategies and assist with grant applications.

Donor Stewardship:

Design and manage a donor stewardship strategy that includes acknowledgment letters, impact reporting, and donor recognition efforts.

Partner with development colleagues to ensure appropriate stewardship strategies are aligned across giving levels.

Planned Giving:

Manage and grow CSG’s planned giving society, the Golden Unicorn Society.

Identify and cultivate planned giving prospects in collaboration with other development team members.

Steward existing society members through personalized communications, recognition, and events.

Coordinate messaging and materials related to planned giving to ensure alignment with overall development strategy.

Collaboration & Reporting:

Collaborate with the Assistant Director of Alumnae & Parent Engagement to identify and engage target segments across alumnae, parents, faculty/staff, and friends.

Maintain accurate donor records and track engagement and fundraising performance using the donor database.

Creative & Writing Support:

Serve as the development team’s lead writer, producing high-quality donor communications, appeals, proposals, acknowledgments, and stewardship materials.

Supports alumnae engagement communications including class news and monthly newsletters

Supports parent and alumnae engagement with writing, communications, and design projects

Experience, Characteristics, Qualities:

Bachelor’s degree required

Minimum of three years of experience in annual giving, development communications, or related nonprofit fundraising work.

Demonstrated success managing annual campaigns and meeting/exceeding fundraising goals.

Exceptional writing and editing skills with the ability to tailor voice and message for different audiences.

Experience managing appeal calendars, donor communications, and creative content production.

Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with a wide range of constituents.

Excellent project management and organizational skills with an eye for detail.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and donor databases; experience with Adobe InDesign or Canva is a plus.

High degree of initiative, creativity, and enthusiasm for team-based work in a mission-driven environment.

An understanding of the value of an all-girls education and the eagerness to learn about the best ways to help young women of promise reach their full potential as learners and leaders.

Physical Demands:

Must be able to sit, talk, hear, stand, use hands, and occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Vision requirements include close and distance vision.

Interested candidates should apply on the Career page of our website at: and submit a cover letter outlining their interest in and qualifications for this specific position including a resume

Columbus School for Girls is an Equal Opportunity Employer and as such, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, marital status, or any other status protected by law.