Durham Academy (DA) provides students from pre-K through 12th grade with an education that will enable them to live moral, happy, and productive lives. The School educates 1,228 students and is organized into four divisions, the Preschool (pre-K and kindergarten), the Lower School (grades one through four), the Middle School (grades five through eight), and the Upper School (grades nine through 12), each with its own director. Durham Academy’s partner school, Hill Learning Center, offers specialized half-day classes for students with learning differences in all grade levels. Each division of Durham Academy provides students with learning environments, curricula, and signature programs designed to facilitate their growth as well-rounded individuals.

No matter the age or stage at which a child joins the Durham Academy community, the DA experience is a foundation built not only on academic excellence, but a world view infused with empathy, kindness, integrity, responsibility, and courage; a life filled with curiosity, engagement, authenticity, joy, and balance; and a future forged with creativity, drive, resilience, generosity, and wisdom.

The Opportunity

Over the next three years, DA will engage in the most ambitious capital campaign in the school’s history. The new Director of Development will play a critical role in the campaign’s success and advancing Durham Academy’s culture of philanthropy. Reporting to the Head of School, leading a team of six direct reports, and overseeing all development functions, the DOD will inspire, motivate, and mentor staff and volunteers to dream big and stretch far in support of DA’s mission and vision. The best-matched candidate will demonstrate maturity in the industry through proven campaign experience, strong leadership/management practice, and high-level volunteer engagement.