Senior Advancement Officer - Major Gifts

The Senior Advancement Officer will play a pivotal role in cultivating and stewarding relationships with major donors to secure significant gifts in support of the school's mission and strategic priorities. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successful fundraising, exceptional communication skills, and a passion for education.  This role works closely with the entire Alumni & Development team and will support other gift prospects such as the Annual Fund.   

Essential functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Donor Cultivation and Solicitation:

• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with major donors, including alumni, parents, and community members.
• Develop tailored cultivation strategies to engage donors and solicit significant gifts in support of the school's initiatives.
• Conduct face-to-face meetings, presentations, and solicitations to secure major gifts.
• Complete detailed and accurate Prospect Summaries after every meeting.

Strategic Planning:

• Collaborate with the advancement team and school leadership to develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies.
• Assist in setting fundraising goals, benchmarks, and timelines to achieve annual fundraising targets.
• Research and analyze donor giving patterns, interests, and other data and metrics to inform solicitation strategies.

Donor Recognition and Stewardship:

• Ensure timely and meaningful stewardship of major donors, including acknowledgment letters, updates on impact, and recognition opportunities.
• Develop personalized stewardship plans to deepen donor engagement and foster long-term relationships.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to ensure donor recognition events and initiatives align with donor expectations and preferences.

Prospect Research and Pipeline Management:

• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through proactive research and analysis of donor databases, wealth screening tools, and other resources.
• Maintain accurate donor records, contact reports, and prospect tracking in the donor database (Salesforce) to manage the donor pipeline effectively.
• Collaborate with the Manager of Advancement Services to gather insights and intelligence on potential donors and funding opportunities.

Collaboration and Teamwork:

• Work closely with the advancement team, including annual giving, alumni relations, and communications, to ensure a coordinated approach to donor engagement and fundraising efforts.
• Collaborate with school leadership, faculty, and staff to articulate funding priorities and develop compelling cases for support.
• Represent the school at events, conferences, and community gatherings to promote fundraising initiatives and build relationships with key stakeholders.

School Life

• Participate in and support School events on and off campus as requested.
• Positively promote the School and development office externally and internally. 

Other duties as assigned.

Competencies

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, customer service, and presentation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent adaptability skills – flexible in handling change, adjust to new situations with fresh ideas or innovative approaches, juggles multiple demands or tasks.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in teams. 

Work environment

• In office environment approximately 60%.
• In various buildings and spaces throughout campus.
• Travelling to engage with in Donor cultivation and support approximately 40%.

Physical demands

• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer with a telephone.
• Ability to travel via common carrier airplane, train, and other modes of transportation.
• Able to lift up to 20 pounds unassisted.
• Communication skills using the spoken and written word.
• Ability to traverse various areas of the facility (including unpaved areas, dirt paths, uneven terrain, etc.) to set up for various events.
• Ability to use a visual display terminal with continuous wrist movement on a keyboard.
• Finger dexterity required to manipulate objects with fingers rather than with whole hand(s) or arm(s), for example using a keyboard, sorting, etc.
• Sufficient ability to read, write, speak, understand, and communicate in English to complete work efficiently, effectively, courteously, and to coordinate with other leaders within the department and across the organization.

Travel required

• Frequently to engage with Donors and promote the School domestically and internationally.      

Required education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree – or – combined work experience to meet similar knowledge.
• 5 years or more of experience in fundraising with a focus on major gifts and donor relations.
• Proven track record of securing major gifts and meeting fundraising targets in a non-profit educational institution or similar setting.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and Google Apps. 

Additional eligibility requirements

• Able to successfully complete CHRI, CORI, and SORI checks.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Middlesex School is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an inclusive school experience for all.  

Introduction

Middlesex School provides a comprehensive program of employee benefits designed to promote a healthy and safe work environment at a busy residential secondary school. Below is a general summary of many of the benefits currently available to eligible Middlesex School employees. Full descriptions of all Middlesex School benefits are available from the Human Resources office. All benefits are subject to change, and in the event of a conflict between the language used in the summary and that of an individual benefit plan document, the plan document will always prevail. As a general matter, Middlesex School offers employee benefits to full-time employees and part-time employees working more than 1,000 hours per year.

Medical Insurance Coverage

Middlesex School offers two health plan options through Blue Benefits Administrators. The School offers Domestic Partner coverage for medical insurance, and coverage for children up to age 26 in accordance with the Affordable Care Act.

PPO Plan- CDHP – The first plan is a consumer directed PPO plan, which requires employees to meet certain deductible levels outlined below. This plan requires higher out of pocket payments at the time of service, and requires subscribers to meet an annual deductible of $1,700 for individuals and $3,400 for the employee plus any dependent before full insurance coverage applies for most services. The School contributes 95% of the individual premium, and 75% of the employee plus any dependent.

In addition to the monthly contribution to the premium that the School makes in this plan, the School will also contribute to an HSA account on a monthly basis up to 50% of your deductible ($850.00 annually for individuals and $1,700.00 for the employee plus any dependent).

Employees may also make additional voluntary contributions to their HSA, subject to annual IRS limits.

EPO Plan – Co-Pay. The second plan is a more traditional, “first dollar” health plan. At the time

of service, employees may have a co-pay obligation, but there is a small annual deductible of

$300 for individuals and $600 for employee plus any dependents. In general, the premiums for this plan are higher than for the HSA Plan – CDHP. The School contributes 90% of the EPO Plan premiums for Individuals, and 70% of the EPO Plan premium for the employee plus any dependent.

Dental Insurance Coverage

Middlesex School offers dental insurance through Delta Dental of Massachusetts. The School offers individual, 2 person, and family options. The School pays 50% of the cost of dental insurance coverage; employees pay their portion of the dental insurance premiums through salary reduction.

Vision Insurance Coverage

Middlesex School offers vision insurance through Blue20/20 (administered by EyeMed Vision Care) which includes coverage for vision exams and discounts on a variety of vision products and services. The School offers individual, 2 person and family options. Employees pay their vision insurance premiums through salary reduction and Middlesex does not contribute to those premiums.

Health Care Reimbursement (FSA)

Middlesex School’s health care FSA allows employees to set money aside for qualified medical expenses (e.g., co-payments at the physician’s office and at the pharmacy, eyeglasses, orthodontia and approved over-the-counter purchases. Employees may elect to withhold up to $3,200 annually.

Dependent Care Reimbursement (FSA)

Middlesex School’s dependent care FSA allows employees to set money aside for qualified dependent care expenses. Employees may elect to withhold up to $5,000 annually.

Note: As a “cafeteria plan” under section 125 of the IRS code, Middlesex School employees may pay their medical, dental and vision insurance premiums, a pre-determined amount of qualified health care expenses and a pre-determined amount of qualified dependent care expenses on a pre-tax basis, thereby reducing the cost of these expenses to the employee.

Life Insurance Coverage

Middlesex School pays for $75,000 of term life insurance with accidental death and dismemberment coverage for each eligible employee. Voluntary supplemental life insurance may be purchased through payroll deduction for employees and their spouses, dependents, and domestic.

Long Term Disability Coverage

Following 140 days of either partial or total disability, the Middlesex School Long Term Disability plan provides staff members with a benefit of 60% of their final salary. In the event of a catastrophic disability which limits the ability to dress, feed, and bathe, the plan will pay an additional 20% of your biweekly earnings. Long term disability insurance premiums are paid by the employee on a post-tax basis, making benefit payments tax-free. This plan is required for all employees.

Long Term Care

Middlesex School offers Long Term Care Insurance. The base plan covers care in a facility with a monthly benefit of $2,000 for 3 years, or coverage at home with a monthly benefit of $1,000 for 6 years. This base plan is 100% paid for by the School. An employee may elect to increase his or her benefit to include special Total Home Health Care, a higher monthly benefit, and/or a longer benefit duration at his or her own expense.

401 (a) Retirement Savings Plan

Middlesex School contributes 10% of an employee’s base salary into an employee-owned Discretionary Contribution account with Fidelity Investments. These funds will vest and become available to the employee after 2 years of employment and can be invested by the employee in a wide range of mutual funds. Vested balances remain with Fidelity Investments until the employee retires or terminates employment, at which time the employee has a variety of ways to access these funds or keep them invested with Fidelity.

403 (b) Retirement Savings Plan

Middlesex School employees who want to invest additional federal and state tax- deferred retirement savings on a voluntary basis may make regular contributions into an individual 403(b) account at Fidelity Investments. All employees will automatically be enrolled at a 3% pre-tax deferral after 35 days of employment unless the employee elects otherwise. The maximum allowable contributions each year are determined by Federal law. These funds can be invested by the employee in a wide range of mutual

funds. Employees are always 100% vesting in this plan. Vested balances remain with Fidelity Investments until the employee retires or terminates employment, at which time the employee has a variety of ways to access these funds or keep them invested with Fidelity.

Paid Family Medical Leave

The School will offer Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) consistent with Massachusetts law. The School has been approved for an exemption by the Commonwealth’s Department of Family and Medical Leave and will administer its own benefits plan through a third-party insurer using a mix of employee and employer contributions. This leave policy covers short term disability and extended medical or family leaves.

Child Care

Middlesex School employees are offered placement preference at The Children's Meetinghouse, located on the Middlesex Campus. Employees also receive a 25% tuition reduction at TCM.

Tuition Reimbursement and Graduate Student Loan Assistance

Middlesex School offers tuition reimbursement and other professional development funds to support employees throughout their careers. Funds are also available to assist newly hired employees with graduate student debt related to their field of instruction or primary employment.