About Light of Christ Catholic Schools
Light of Christ Catholic Schools is a unified Catholic school system serving families across the Bismarck region. Rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic education in western North Dakota, Light of Christ provides a seamless, mission-driven educational experience from early childhood through grade 12, forming students who are grounded in faith, committed to excellence, and prepared for lives of purpose and service.
Guided by the mission of the Church and in partnership with the five local parishes of the Diocese of Bismarck, Light of Christ Catholic Schools integrates strong academics, vibrant sacramental life, and meaningful co-curricular experiences across its three elementary schools, St. Mary's Academy middle school, and St. Mary's Central High School. The system is strengthened by dedicated faculty and staff who cultivate a culture of faith, scholarship, leadership, and service.
Serving hundreds of students and families across multiple campuses, Light of Christ is recognized for academic rigor, competitive athletics and activities, and a deeply rooted Catholic identity. The system’s collaborative governance model and unified advancement efforts position it for continued growth and long-term sustainability.
Today, Light of Christ Catholic Schools stands at an important moment of opportunity: strengthening enrollment, deepening philanthropic engagement, and expanding its capacity to serve families who desire a vibrantly Catholic, academically excellent education for their children.
About the Director of Mission Advancement Role
The Director of Mission Advancement serves as the strategic and operational leader of all mission advancement efforts for Light of Christ Catholic Schools. Rooted in and advancing the Catholic identity and vitality of the system, this leader is responsible for cultivating a strong culture of philanthropy, expanding donor engagement, and ensuring that annual and campaign fundraising goals are consistently met or exceeded.
Reporting to the President and collaborating closely with senior leadership, the Director ofMission Advancement provides vision, direction, and day-to-day oversight of advancement operations, including development strategy, donor cultivation, events, enrollment collaboration, and staff leadership. This role guides and develops the mission advancement team, aligns fundraising initiatives with system-wide strategic priorities, and ensures strong execution, accountability, and continuous improvement across all advancement functions.
The Director of Mission Advancement will:
- Provide comprehensive leadership for all fundraising initiatives, including annual fund, capital campaigns, major gifts, events, raffles, charitable gaming, and other cultivation and stewardship activities
- Partner with the President and senior leadership to establish and implement a clear strategic fundraising vision aligned with the mission and long-term sustainability of the system
- Actively identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors through personal visits, events, electronic communication, and community engagement efforts
- Strengthen and expand the donor base while promoting goodwill and long-term relationships across alumni, parents, parishioners, and community stakeholders
- Oversee advancement systems and reporting, ensuring accurate data management, performance tracking, and goal attainment
- Collaborate with enrollment leadership to support student recruitment and retention efforts, recognizing the integrated nature of mission advancement and enrollment vitality
- Maintain effective communication with system leadership, Board members, staff, and the broader community while safeguarding confidentiality and exercising sound professional judgment
The successful candidate will be a practicing Catholic who understands and embraces the mission of Catholic education and is energized by the opportunity to advance Light of Christ’s impact for generations to come. This leader will combine strategic thinking with disciplined execution, relational warmth with accountability, and a deep commitment to faith-driven service with measurable advancement results.
While the prospectus is being created, interested candidates are encouraged to reach out to Madeline Conover directly to learn about this exciting leadership opportunity.
The search committee is on a fast-track to identify and secure the next Director of Mission Advancement. All inquiries and applications will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality and with the greatest respect. Candidates are expected to be available to assume the responsibilities of the position in summer 2026.
