Alumni Giving and Community Engagement Associate

At just over 50 years old, Marin Academy is ready to strategically align the school’s priorities with the passions and generosity of our community. This year, we launched the Alumni Tuition Assistance Endowment Fund to match alumni giving priorities, activated Community Connections to build meaningful engagement, and celebrated milestone reunions that reconnected alumni with MA’s mission. These initiatives reflect a growing, intentional approach to deepening relationships and significantly scaling philanthropic support with alumni.

Role Overview

The Alumni Giving and Community Engagement Associate is a key driver of Marin Academy’s advancement efforts, with a specific charge to grow philanthropic support from alumni and broader community constituencies. Reporting to the Director of Alumni Giving and Community Engagement, this role blends strategic thinking, relationship-building, communications, and data-informed fundraising tactics to engage more donors, secure more gifts, and build a sustainable culture of giving at MA.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy & Execution
  • Set, implement, and exceed annual fundraising goals for key alumni and community segments.
  • Design and execute targeted multi-channel fundraising campaigns (e.g., email, social, text) tied to key initiatives such as the Alumni Tuition Assistance Endowment.
  • Recruit and partner with alumni class ambassadors and activity-based groups to support peer-to-peer fundraising efforts.
  • Identify, cultivate, and secure gifts through scaled outreach and strategic engagement.
• Community Events & Stewardship
  • Drive attendance and fundraising at annual Milestone Reunions by identifying, connecting with, and supporting key members of each participating class to drive results.
  • Lead the development and execution of meaningful digital and in-person events, including Regional Gatherings and Community Connections that foster a deeper connection to the school and inspire giving.
  • Collaborate with alumni volunteers to build engagement pipelines that convert into sustained philanthropic support.
• Communications & Marketing for Fundraising
  • Produce compelling content (website copy, newsletters, social media, event messaging) that highlights the impact of giving, celebrates alumni, and builds urgency around supporting MA.
  • Ensure alignment across all channels and touchpoints to maximize fundraising opportunities and enhance the donor experience.
• Data, Systems, and Reporting
  • Regularly analyze donor and engagement data to monitor progress toward fundraising goals, identify areas of opportunity, and inform decision-making.
  • Maintain and improve the accuracy of alumni data through LinkedIn reviews, surveys, and direct outreach.
  • Create weekly dashboards (e.g., actions taken, dollars raised, conversion likelihood) to keep efforts focused and accountable.

Sample Cadence of Activities

Weekly:

• Share weekly fundraising priorities and reflections to drive continuous improvement
• Update and share Raiser’s Edge dashboard with donor pipeline metrics
• Cultivate donor relationships via personalized outreach (calls, emails, social DMs)
• Post two strategic pieces of content: one storytelling, one conversation-driven
• Analyze data for one class per week to update profiles and identify donor prospects or story leads

Annually:

• Lead execution of at least 3 major community fundraising events (e.g., Giving Tuesday, Reunions, Alumni Giving Day)
• Develop and deploy 10 fundraising-focused alumni newsletters/year
• Curate alumni spotlights, class notes, and giving impact stories for NEXUS magazine
• Plan and host at least one Career Connections event to foster alumni/student networking and future giving pathways

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Annual fundraising targets met or exceeded
• Increased number of alumni donors and donor retention
• Growth in event participation and follow-up gifts from attendees
• High engagement rates on digital content (social, email, text)
• Quality and completeness of alumni data improved year over year

Position Competencies

• Results-oriented, with a demonstrated ability to set and achieve fundraising goals
• Clear and compelling communicator with a donor-first mindset
• Strategic and creative thinker who thrives in both high-level planning and hands-on execution
• Relationship builder who can engage a diverse community with empathy and energy
• Organized and data-savvy, with the ability to analyze and act on insights

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in fundraising, advancement, or nonprofit administration
• Proven track record of raising funds from individuals through campaigns and events
• Excellent writing, storytelling, and content creation skills
• Familiarity with donor databases (Raiser’s Edge NXT or equivalent) is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business, education, or nonprofit leadership preferred

About Marin Academy

Marin Academy is an independent, college preparatory high school located in the San Francisco Bay Area in San Rafael, CA with an enrollment of 450 students with academic talent, interest in the arts and athletics, and a passion for a multitude of issues. Our students come from San Francisco, the East Bay, and Sonoma in addition to Marin County.

Marin Academy’s mission statement “asks every individual to think, question, and create in an environment of encouragement and compassion, and challenges each person to accept the responsibilities posed by education in a democratic society.” Marin Academy is an equal-opportunity employer committed to excellence through diversity. For more information about Marin Academy, please visit our website (www.ma.org).

Compensation and Application

The salary range for this position based in San Rafael, CA is $80,000 - $120,000 based on experience.

To apply, send a resume and cover letter to Advancement@MA.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis starting July 21, 2025.