Fountain Valley School
Director of Development
Start Date: July 1, 2026 or when filled
Independent Boarding and Day School
Grades 8-12
220 students
6155 Fountain Valley School Rd, Colorado Springs, CO 80911
Educators Collaborative is pleased to be assisting Fountain Valley School in their search for a Director of Development to begin July 1, 2026 or when filled.
About the School
Founded in 1930, Fountain Valley School is an independent, college preparatory boarding and day school located on a stunning 1,100-acre campus at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado Springs. Serving students in grades 8 through 12, this remarkable school is distinguished by its Western setting, close-knit residential community, strong academics, and a student experience that emphasizes character, leadership, and engagement with the wider world.
Fountain Valley offers a distinctive educational experience that combines rigorous college-preparatory academics with immersive experiential learning. Students benefit from small classes, close faculty mentorship, global and interdisciplinary study, outdoor education, arts, athletics, and signature programs that encourage intellectual growth, self-discovery, and ethical leadership.
Mission and Values
“Drawing on its Western heritage, Fountain Valley School develops leaders who embrace the world with compassion and courage.”
The School’s work is grounded in its core values: Courage, Compassion, Curiosity, Self-Reliance, and Open-Mindedness. These values shape the student experience and community culture, and they inform the school’s academic program, student life, athletics, the arts, outdoor education, and residential life.
About the Position
The Director of Development will provide strategic leadership for all aspects of philanthropy and constituent engagement at Fountain Valley School. In addition to being a frontline fundraiser her or himself, the Director of Development will lead a committed team and will guide and strengthen the school’s advancement efforts in support of the mission, values, and long-term priorities.
The successful candidate will be a skilled fundraising professional with capital campaign experience, a thoughtful strategist, and an energetic relationship-builder who understands how to cultivate trust, tell Fountain Valley’s unique and compelling institutional story, and inspire philanthropic investment. The role calls for a leader who can work effectively with the Head of School, trustees, alumni, parents, grandparents, faculty, staff, and volunteers to expand support for the School and steward a strong culture of participation and generosity.
This position presents an especially compelling opportunity for an experienced development leader who is excited to help shape advancement strategy in a school environment defined by authenticity, purpose, and place.
This is an exceptional opportunity for a skilled, relational, and mission-aligned advancement leader to join a school with a clear sense of purpose, a compelling story to tell, and a community deeply connected to its history and future. Reporting to the Head of School and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the new Director of Development will help articulate and advance Fountain Valley School’s philanthropic vision, deepen engagement across constituencies, and strengthen a culture of generosity in support of the School’s mission and strategic priorities.
How to Apply
Candidates interested in this opportunity are asked to submit the following materials to Nat Conard and Chris Bright:
- EC Candidate Summary Sheet (request from Nat or Chris)
- Letter of Interest addressed to the Search Committee
- Current résumé
- Statement of Educational Leadership
- List of five or more references with contact information
- EC Disclosure Form (request from Nat or Chris)
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt.
Chris Bright, Partner, Educators Collaborative
Nat Conard, Managing Partner, Educators Collaborative
The salary range for this position is $190,000 to $210,000 and benefits are posted on the school’s website. The position is open until filled.
Listing Date: April 15, 2026
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