Saint John's Appoints Chief Advancement Officer
After successfully completing a national search, Saint John's is thrilled to announce the appointment of David Curtis as the school’s next Chief Advancement Officer. Dave is an experienced and accomplished fundraiser with a deep commitment, passion, and experience in Catholic schools and education.
Dave comes to Saint John’s after a very successful tenure at Bishop Feehan High School in Attleboro, Massachusetts where he has served as Director of Advancement since 2016. In this role, he was responsible for the school’s annual fundraising effort which saw dramatic growth over the last five years. Additionally, he co-led planning, prospect cultivation, and solicitation for Bishop Feehan’s “Daring to Believe” Campaign - the largest fundraising effort in the school’s history. Dave also co-facilitated community-wide engagement for the school’s first comprehensive strategic plan and advised the school president and administration on planning, strategy, and response for all key external affairs.
Prior to his time at Bishop Feehan, Dave served as the Assistant Director for Special Events and Stewardship at Boston College High School where he engaged with alumni and annual donors in a variety of fundraising and relationship-building events. Dave also served as the Director of Communications and later as the Director of Marketing and Strategic Initiatives at Bishop Hendricken High School in Warwick, Rhode Island, where he also taught English and communications, as well as coached junior varsity and varsity volleyball.
Dave started his professional career as a sports journalist with the Sporting News, Orlando Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, New York Post, and others while also freelancing for the New York Times, The Washington Post, the Big Ten Network and the Boston Globe.
As the Chief Advancement Officer, Dave will oversee all aspects of the Saint John’s High School advancement efforts related to fundraising and external relations. In keeping with the school’s mission, Dave will continue to grow and strengthen a culture of philanthropy at Saint John’s, which will position the school for continued growth.
Davie is a graduate of Syracuse University, where he double majored earning a BA in Magazine Journalism and a BA in Policy Studies, and later earned his MBA with a Non-Profit Concentration at the Providence College School of Business. Dave is also engaged in many non-profit boards including Mercymount Country Day School’s Board of Trustees, the Board of Directors of the Daily Orange, and was a member of the 2015 Class of Leadership Rhode Island.
Dave will officially begin his work with Saint John’s on January 2, 2023, and will be introduced formally at future school and alumni events this winter and spring.
