Director of Advancement

We’re looking for an energetic Advancement professional to establish a strong foundation for the next forty years of Development at our school. With $400,000 to raise annually toward a $2.2 million budget, this new role offers the opportunity to bring fresh energy, strategic insight, and proven talent to building systems, refining processes, and deepening a culture of philanthropy across the institution. Responsibilities will include working closely with our Board of Directors, overseeing fundraising events such as our annual Cornucopia Auction, managing Advancement communications including the annual appeal, and maintaining and cultivating relationships with our donors.

The ideal candidate will also bring experience with—and a genuine interest in—maintaining the data infrastructure that supports our Advancement work. This includes entering monthly and one-time gifts, updating relationship and contact information within our Educate database, and providing other administrative support essential to strengthening existing relationships and expanding our overall Development program. This position reports to the Co-Head of School for Community.

Specific Responsibilities

● Cultivate meaningful engagement among community members—including donors, families, and alumni—to strengthen their long-term commitment to The Academy’s mission.

● Manage the Annual Fund appeal, including drafting the appeal letter and overseeing data pulls, mailing processes, and related communications.

● Identify, prepare, and track grant proposals, including writing solicitation letters, completing applications, and maintaining records of grant cycles.

● Oversee the school’s annual Cornucopia Auction, as well as additional fundraising and community events sponsored by The Academy.

● Provide event support for key Academy gatherings such as Admissions Open Houses, Graduation, Parent & Caregiver Nights, Work Bee, Grandparents’ & Friends’ Day, and others.

● Coordinate the creation and publication of The Vox, The Academy’s annual newsletter.

● Engage with existing high-level donors, collaborating with Board members, faculty, and the Co-Heads of School as appropriate to deepen relationships and inspire continued giving.

● Manage the donor database, ensuring accurate tracking of donor relationships and history.

● Record gifts and generate timely acknowledgment letters in alignment with best practices in stewardship.

● Assist with social media and website updates related to Advancement and community engagement.

● Provide administrative support to the Co-Heads of School as needed.

As is possible, after getting a sense of this role and the Development Office:

● Assess The Academy’s current Development strategy, systems, and processes; recommend improvements; and implement those enhancements in partnership with staff and the Co-Heads of School.

Qualifications

● Demonstrated experience in Development/Advancement work, ideally within an educational or nonprofit setting.

● Proven ability to build, refine, and implement effective systems and processes.

● Self-starter with strong initiative, able to work independently while collaborating effectively with staff, faculty, and leadership.

● Proficiency with G Suite (Google Workspace); familiarity with Educate or the ability to learn new database platforms quickly.

● Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.

● Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

● Strong relationship-building skills and comfort engaging with donors, families, alumni, and community partners.

● High attention to detail, especially in data management and record-keeping.

● Commitment to the mission, culture, and long-term sustainability of The Academy.

• Health/dental/life insurance
• Employer contributions to retirement account
• Paid time off
• Working in small, comfortable, supportive environment