Position Prospectus
International Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur (SNDdeN) are an international congregation of Catholic women religious founded in 1804 by Saint Julie Billiart in Amiens, France. For more than two centuries, the congregation has responded to the needs of the times by accompanying those most marginalized by poverty, injustice, and exclusion.
Today, more than 800 Sisters serve in 16 countries on five continents, carrying forward a mission that integrates education, spirituality, social justice, healthcare, advocacy, and accompaniment of vulnerable communities.
As the congregation looks toward the future, SNDdeN seeks a Director of Mission Advancement to help expand the reach and sustainability of this global mission.
“Women with hearts as wide as the world, who make known God's goodness and love of the poor through a gospel way of life, community and prayer. Continuing a strong educational tradition, we take our stand with poor people, especially women and children, in the most abandoned places. Each of us commits her one and only life to work with others to create justice and peace for all.”— The SNDdeN Mission Statement
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur work spans some of the world's most underserved communities. The congregation's guiding conviction: many structures in society contribute to engendering and maintaining poverty throughout the world. SNDdeN works to change these oppressive structures and to help people obtain adequate means for life and human dignity — food, clothing, shelter, medical care, work, and education. The congregation believes that education in varied forms is the best means for changing structures and improving the lives of individuals, families, groups, and nations, and commits to education for life.
The congregation also maintains NGO status at the United Nations, where it advocates on behalf of:
The Director of Mission Advancement reports to the international congregation's five-person leadership team — Sisters Miriam Montero Bereche, Evalyne Aseyo, Lorraine Connell, Amarachi Ezeonu, and Mary Johnson — and on an operational level to Sister Barbara Barry, Executive Director, Congregational Mission Office, based in Ipswich, Massachusetts.
The international congregation is guided by a diverse leadership team whose expertise reflects the global nature of the mission. This team is deeply committed to collaborative governance, synodality, and strengthening the congregation's capacity to serve future generations. Current leadership includes women with backgrounds in sociology, management, psychology, community health, education, and international advocacy. The Congregational Leader is Sister Mary Johnson, SNDdeN.
The congregation's global base is in Rome, Italy, with additional leadership presence in Belgium and the United States, and missions across Africa, the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Three Provinces operate in the United States — the Ohio Province, the East-West Province, and the SND Base Communities Province — serving in education, social services, healthcare, Justice and Peace Ministries, law, and pastoral care across the East, West, Midwest, South, and Southwest.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur have long benefited from the generosity of donors who believe in the congregation's mission and impact. As the needs of the world continue to grow, the congregation seeks to elevate its advancement efforts.
The Director of Mission Advancement will have the opportunity to build upon a successful foundation while creating a more integrated, international, and future-focused fundraising strategy. This position offers the chance to connect philanthropic investment directly to transformational work taking place across five continents.
The Director will lead the congregation's global fundraising and donor engagement efforts, developing strategies that expand philanthropic support for mission priorities and ministry needs. Reporting to the Congregational Leadership Team and the Executive Director of the Congregational Mission Office, the Director will serve as a strategic partner, ambassador, and relationship-builder — helping donors connect their generosity to meaningful impact around the world.
SNDdeN seeks a fundraising leader with experience in nonprofit advancement, major gift cultivation, and cross-cultural relationship management. The capacity to engage both faith-based and secular philanthropic audiences is essential.
The next Director of Mission Advancement will help ensure that the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur can continue responding to urgent needs around the world. This is an opportunity to join a global mission that has transformed lives for more than 220 years — and to help shape its future for generations to come.
The US offices for Mission Support, Communications, and Finance — and the base for this role — are located at 30 Jeffreys Neck Road, Ipswich, Massachusetts, a historic coastal town on the North Shore, approximately 30 miles north of Boston. The area offers access to a major metropolitan hub, a strong nonprofit and academic sector, and a quality of life defined by ocean proximity, historic architecture, and New England character.
Boston provides proximity to major international airports, supporting the global travel this role requires. The Greater Boston region offers a deep professional community in the nonprofit, educational, and philanthropic sectors.
The congregation's Generalate is in Rome, Italy and its historic Motherhouse is in Namur, Belgium. This role involves meaningful engagement with leadership and missions across Rome, Belgium, Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Regular international travel is a core part of the position.
The Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur welcome inquiries from accomplished advancement professionals who are committed to advancing transformative work across the globe. For consideration, please submit a résumé and cover letter responsive to the mission of the congregation and the responsibilities described in this prospectus.
Woodhouse Search is an executive search firm specializing in senior leadership placements for nonprofit organizations, higher education institutions, and mission-driven enterprises. We partner closely with clients to identify and recruit leaders whose experience and values align with the organization's mission and moment.
We are proud to partner with the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in this search.
