Director of Advancement

TITLE: Director of Advancement

REPORTS TO: Director

UPDATED: February 19, 2026

STATUS/FLSA: Full Time, Exempt

THE CAMP

Camp Onaway is a full summer residential sleepaway camp for 90 girls aged 9–15, with 45 staff, located on 40 woodland acres on the shores of Newfound Lake in Hebron, New Hampshire, one of the cleanest lakes in the country. Founded in 1911, Onaway is a small, non-profit educational institution dedicated to creating opportunities for each camper to realize their full potential. An emphasis on personal growth and development is reflected in the mission statement: Camp Onaway provides girls the time, space, and guidance to develop the physical and spiritual strengths necessary to meet the challenges of today's world with honesty, sensitivity, and courage.

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Director of Advancement (DA) oversees fundraising, alumnae relations, and related events and communications for Camp Onaway. An integral part of the leadership team, the DA closely collaborates with and supports the Director to envision a strategic and comprehensive action plan to grow fundraising efforts in support of the camp mission and vision, including donor identification, cultivation, and solicitation in annual appeals, major gifts, and planned giving. The DA leads the Board Advancement Committee, in partnership with the committee chair, and sits on the Land and Lake Committee in order to identify future needs and advancement opportunities. With a deep understanding of the camp mission, the DA meets the goals of creating an engaged community and culture of philanthropy.

WORK LOCATION

The Director of Advancement is a hybrid position with a requirement to work in New Hampshire, at a minimum, for the summer season. The DA may work remotely on a day-to-day basis for the remainder of the year, with travel expectations to ensure strong collaboration with the year-round team. The DA also travels for key events, donor cultivation and solicitation, and trustee meetings.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and execute all of Onaway’s fundraising initiatives—development planning and goal setting, annual giving (Onaway Fund, major gifts), planned giving, grants administration, events, and external communications—in order to achieve financial and donor growth goals, in collaboration with the Director and Board Advancement Committee.
• Maintain a strong pipeline of major donors by following the fundraising cycle: donor identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, appreciation, and stewardship.
• Cultivate and procure major gifts, often working in concert with the Director. Strategically leverage her time to cultivate and steward top donors and high-level prospects.
• Research and plan for capital campaigns and feasibility studies, laying the groundwork for campaign directors.
• Engage alumnae, parents, and past parents through communications and events to build a strong community of support. Plan all alumnae and donor publications, including Onaway Circle, Annual Report, and any additional publications related to alumnae and donor cultivation and stewardship, working closely with other year-round staff and the Advancement Committee. Ensure consistent branding with positive, clear and targeted messaging that reflects Onaway’s mission and values, and strengthens relationships with supporters.
• Build and maintain meaningful relationships with donors, alumnae, and community members, and attend fundraising, stewardship, community-building, and other camp events throughout the year to grow community engagement.
• Liaise with the Board Advancement Committee, facilitating meetings with the committee chair and providing regular reports on advancement goals.
• Use data-driven metrics to drive fundraising and stewardship goals.
• Oversee special restricted gifts and funds to ensure intended use and good stewardship.
• Oversee Little Green Light (constituent database) to ensure accurate and updated donor records, supervising the Director of Administration and Operations in fundraising initiatives, meeting regularly to preview upcoming projects. Prepare reports from Little Green Light, analyze giving trends and data, and report fundraising progress to the Director and Board of Trustees.
• With the Director, plan the development budget and effectively manage it.
• Cultivate future alumnae, current parents, and donors, and support the Director and staff during the summer season.

SKILLS AND ATTRIBUTES

• Interpersonal: Warm demeanor; enthusiastic can-do energy; networker; good listener; empathetic; ethical; well-organized; self-motivated; trustworthy; strong relationship builder; comfortable speaking with donors about money and giving.
• Experience: preference for a proven track record of successful fundraising, knowledge of capital campaign and planned giving vehicles.
• Leadership: Strategic, long-range, big-picture thinker; collaborative team member—able to lead and also support efforts of other staff; guided by Onaway’s mission, vision, and values.
• Communication: Strong writer and speaker; compelling storyteller; persuasive solicitor; active listener—able to read verbal and non-verbal cues.
• Technology: Facility with databases and email broadcast programs, comfortable with video for meetings and donor solicitations, online events; curiosity around technology.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary Range: $75,000-90,000. Compensation commensurate with experience.

QSEHRA (Health Reimbursement Plan), Employee participation in 401K retirement account, 5% employer retirement match after eligibility criteria met, generous paid time off, professional development, seasonal child care/Onaway tuition remission.