Job Description

Job Title: Director of Institutional Advancement

Reports to: Head of School

FLSA Classification: Exempt 12-month position

Salary : $190,000 - $240,000

Job Overview:

Our school is looking for a dynamic and strategic Director of Institutional Advancement to lead and grow the school's advancement and development efforts. This senior leadership role is an opportunity for an experienced professional to shape the future of our institution. The director will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to meet and exceed institutional goals, with a particular focus on building our endowment.

As a key member of the Senior Leadership Team, you'll work closely with the Head of School

and Board of Trustees to cultivate a strong culture of philanthropy. You'll oversee all aspects of

our fundraising program, including the annual fund, major gifts, capital campaigns, and special

events like our bi-annual gala. A critical part of this role is managing a personal portfolio of

major donors, building authentic relationships, and securing leadership-level support.

We're seeking a candidate with a proven track record of securing seven-figure gifts and a minimum of 10 years of experience in development, preferably in an independent school or a mission-driven nonprofit organization. The ideal candidate will be an exceptional communicator, a strategic thinker, and a passionate advocate for our mission.

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership

• Support and drive the school’s mission to the external community through Development

(fundraising) and Alumni Relations

• Develop and execute a multi-year fundraising strategy to meet and exceed institutional priorities, with a focus on raising funds for the endowment.
• Serve as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, aligning fundraising efforts with the

school's overall mission and strategic goals.

• Cultivate a culture of philanthropy in partnership with the Head of School and the Board

of Trustees.

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Oversee and manage all aspects of the fundraising program, including annual giving,

major gifts, planned giving, major events, and capital campaigns.

• Manage a personal portfolio of major donors and high-potential prospects, building

authentic relationships and soliciting leadership-level support.

• Design and implement donor stewardship strategies to ensure long-term engagement

and gratitude with alumni, parents, board members and the wider community.

• Direct and execute special fundraising events, such as the bi-annual gala.
• Develop and foster strong relationships with current families, alumni, and other key

constituents.

• Collaborate with the Communications team to create compelling fundraising materials

and donor communications.

Team Leadership and Operations

• Lead and mentor the Advancement team in the support of annual giving, major gifts and

events. Providing clear direction, professional growth opportunities, and performance

management.

• Manage the departmental budget, establishing performance metrics and reporting on

progress to the Board of Trustees.

• Collaborate with the Business Office to ensure accurate gift processing, financial

reporting, and donor acknowledgment.

• Maintain accurate records and tracking systems for donor engagement and fundraising

performance.

Other Responsibilities

• Attend full faculty and staff meetings.
• Willing to commit to anti-bias and anti-racism work and to promoting inclusion,

belonging and equity through their work in the classroom and school community.

• Ensure a commitment to the school’s DEI mission and goals by participating in

continuous professional development for learning differences, anti-racism and anti-bias

of all kinds.

• Be an active member of the school community
• Other duties and responsibilities as deemed appropriate

Qualifications and Skills

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's Degree preferred
• A minimum of 5 years of experience at the Director level, leading Advancement Teams.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in development, with a

proven track record in major gifts and campaign leadership.

• A strong commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and a passion for the mission of

the school

• Demonstrated success in securing seven-figure donations from high-net-worth

individuals.

• Proven leadership and management skills; ability to foster a collaborative environment.
• Experience in an independent school or mission-driven nonprofit setting is strongly

preferred.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and

rapport across diverse communities.

• Exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills.
• Highly organized, strategic, and resourceful with sound judgment and a results-oriented

mindset.

• Experience with donor databases, such as Veracross, and fundraising analytics.
• High proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• A commitment to creating and maintaining an inclusive and diverse community.
• Flexibility, resourcefulness, and a solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends to support events and deadlines.

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