Director of Advancement

Job DescriptionJob Description:

Position Specifics Darrow School is seeking a Director of Development. This highly organized individual will oversee the day-to-day operations of a busy and innovative development office, balancing multiple competing deadlines. This person will be responsible for the development and execution of the Annual Fund, including analyzing strategies for increasing annual fund support and participation to maximize gift revenues from alumni, parents, friends, foundations, corporations, and other constituents. The Director of Development reports directly to the Head of School, serves as a member of the Senior Administrative Team, and is primarily responsible for overseeing the cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and strategy for attracting donor support to the institution, including but not limited to Legacy Society Planned Giving; Darrow School Annual Fund; public and private corporation and foundation grants; and assisting with the planning for and execution of major gifts, both associated with and independent of stand-alone capital campaigns. The Director of Development is also primarily responsible for overseeing on-campus events, including but not limited to the use of the facilities for camps; conferences; weddings and reunions; concerts, and others as mutually agreed to by the Head of School and The Director of Development. The Director of Development is expected to be on campus and available for flagship events such as convocation, family weekends/teacher conferences, performances, symposiums, baccalaureate, and commencement. Attendance at opening faculty meetings, student registration/orientation, and year-end faculty meetings is also required. This high-profile position requires a creative, talented, and experienced development professional who is both entrepreneurial and collaborative. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES Annual Giving ● Responsible for planning and implementing a comprehensive and innovative annual giving program ● In coordination with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees, solicit and secure gifts to the School from individuals at leadership levels ● Motivate non-leadership donors to consider increasing their gifts ● Support the reunion giving program ● Responsible for the oversight of gift processing, tax receipts, and the maintenance of both electronic and hard-copy donor records ● Oversee the communication strategy for the Annual Fund program and work collaboratively with the Development Department to implement the overall strategy for the department ● Compile donor data and giving statistics in the annual report ● Work closely with the Development Department on special events in support of fundraising efforts, Parents’ Weekends, off-site receptions, campaign events, and special recognition events ● Participate in setting Annual Fund goals based on historical data and budgetary needs ● Assist with mailings and tracking alumni, and posting information ● Assist with ordering and preparing cultivation materials for our donors ● Write appeal letters and acknowledgments External Events Coordination ● Be the first point of contact representing Darrow School to prospective renters and clients for outside use of facilities ● Oversee the coordination and planning of special events, including consulting with Senior Administrators to establish goals, services required, and fee schedules ● Oversee the arranging of space, exhibits, guest accommodations, tours, banquets, receptions, and other applicable activities ● Provide on-site coordination, including problem-solving, decision-making, and interaction with local vendors ● Monitor and prepare reports on expenditures to ensure cost-effective special events ● Prepare and provide post-activity evaluation data as appropriate to the objectives of the position; prepare schedules and special reports as required Darrow School Event Management ● Oversee the planning and execution of two family weekends per year, including coordinating weekend event schedules, mailed and electronic invitations, and onsite weekend supervision ● Work in conjunction with the Admissions Office and the Dean's Office to ensure a successful opening of school ● Work in conjunction with the Dean’s Office and the Head’s Office to plan a successful Commencement Weekend ● For all events that fall under the umbrella of development, coordinate with facilities and food service to ensure all setup and catering expectations are met Alumni Relations ● Manage the Alumni Relations Facebook personality, including communicating with alumni through and replying to messages within the messenger applications ● Oversee the Darrow Alumni and Former Faculty and any other Darrow in the XX decade groups; Crosscheck requests to join groups and moderate comments as needed ● Serve as the key cheerleader and planner for Darrow School’s Reunion efforts, including: ● Event planning - schedule, activities, securing vendors, coordinating with food service and facilities ● Working with class agents and other key alumni to spread the word ● Managing the creation of promotional material (save the dates, invitations, and social media events) ● Work with the Director of Marketing and Communications and Peg Board editor to highlight alumni in articles and serve on the team that creates the outline for Peg Board articles ● Drafts, edits, and submits alumni notes and In Memorium, cross-checking pulls from the database with emails from travel and alumni ● Manages the timeline of Peg Board work ● Plays a key role in the proofing and editing phase ● Serve as the point of contact when alumni call or visit the School ● Work to engage younger alumni with events such as Maple Fest (see Annual Fund) ● Plan and attend the 50 Nights Dinner, an introduction to becoming a Darrow Alum Operations ● Directly supervise the Development Department staff ● Manage the operations of the development office effectively, including scheduling, overseeing agendas for, and running staff meetings, and coordinating and managing the work calendar for the coming six-month to twelve-month intervals ● Oversee and administer the annual departmental budget ● Elicit the best possible effort from each member of the development team ● Report to and serve as the primary liaison to the Board of Trustees Development Committee ● Work with the Business Office to ensure monthly reconciliation of fundraising records and appropriate reporting and stewardship of gifts; oversee the preparation of, analysis, and reporting of Development efforts for the Head of School and the Board of Trustees ● Coordinate travel, meetings, and event attendance/participation of the Development Department members and others in support of the above activities ● Assist with campaign-associated travel by managing travel arrangements ● Coordinate the Named Scholars Program ● Coordinate with other departments as necessary to ensure a cohesive message or outcome is obtained ● Work with the Webmaster to ensure all alumni and giving pages are up-to-date and current ● Work on the HoS communications plan - including drafting special friends letters and managing the workflow for that project. ● Other tasks as assigned and necessary QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS ● Bachelor’s degree or relevant work experience required ● Development/fundraising experience in educational and/or non-profit organizations, including personal solicitations, a plus ● Familiarity with Blackbaud/Raiser’s Edge or other similar donor databases ● Willingness to work nights and weekends as necessary and travel locally to visit/recruit/solicit prospective donors and volunteers; must have a valid driver’s license. ● Ability to work evenings and weekends and on-and-off campus, as well as some local travel ● Experience in all facets of a comprehensive development program, ideally involving annual and major gift initiatives; donor research and stewardship; special events; and alumni and parent relations ● Excellent speaking and writing skills ● Demonstrated curiosity for, and understanding of, the current trends and challenges confronting development offices and fundraising efforts in independent schools ● Ability to maintain confidentiality at all times ● Ability to manage people and systems ● Excellent analytical, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills BENEFITS OF THIS POSITION INCLUDE ● Generous paid time off ● Medical and dental insurance ● 403(b) retirement plan (Darrow will match 2% of gross salary after one year of service) ● Health Savings Account ● Health Reimbursement Account ● Basic life and AD&D coverage About Darrow School Darrow School, an independent, co-ed, boarding and day school for grades 9-12, offers a comprehensive and individually focused college-preparatory curriculum that features a unique combination of classroom instruction, experiential learning, and environmental consciousness. The School is located on 365 acres in the Town of New Lebanon, located on the New York State side of the Berkshires, and comprises 26 buildings, 16 of which are Shaker-built and designated as Registered National Historic Landmark buildings. Why Work at Darrow? There is something indefinable and remarkable about Darrow School. Perhaps it’s our historic Shaker Heritage or our location nestled between the Berkshire Mountains and the Hudson Valley. Or maybe it's our community of individuals where everyone feels welcome and celebrated. Darrow is a place that draws people together, connects them, and stays with them forever. Darrow offers a generous benefits package that includes retirement; health, life, and disability insurance plans; and generous paid time off. Some positions are year-round; others offer an academic-year schedule. Given the residential responsibilities of a boarding school, housing is provided for numerous positions either in a dormitory or residences on campus. There's so much to enjoy about living and working at Darrow, and the community offers something for everyone. Our faculty and staff have said that some of the reasons they love working at Darrow include meaningful work, the feeling of inclusion and acceptance, and friendly and familiar faces on campus. Darrow is a small community with a big heart. Living, Breathing History With just over 100 students from around the world, Darrow offers faculty, staff, and students a dynamic boarding school experience. Founded in 1932 on a beautiful 365-acre Mountainside campus, we are the only boarding school community on a National Historic Landmark. Our campus was once home to the Mount Lebanon Shaker Society, renowned for its commitment to social and racial justice, community planning, architecture, and entrepreneurship. Mission and Values Darrow serves diverse backgrounds and abilities, building on individuals' talents and interests to deepen thinking with specialized programs and providing opportunities to explore the creative spaces where ideas intersect and solutions emerge. Our Active Curriculum, rooted in the liberal arts and sciences, is individually focused and combines innovative classroom instruction with project-based learning to educate future generations of global citizens who understand the wider world and their place in it. Our Guiding Values Growth We prioritize growth over perfection, recognizing that each individual has their own gifts, challenges, and goals to build from. Our students are safe to fail creatively, which is essential for true learning. They routinely revise and reflect on their work on their way toward mastery. Diversity We believe that the opportunity to learn and grow in a small, diverse community during your formative years is irreplaceable. We actively cultivate and celebrate a student body that is diverse along many dimensions, including racial and ethnic diversity, diversity of gender identity, and neurodiversity. Community Like the Mohicans and Shakers who inhabited this place before us, we believe in the power of an intentional community built around shared work and shared values. Darrow is deliberately small, which means that each community member is valued and influential. Compassion We seek to treat each other with compassion, recognizing that we may only know a small part of someone else’s story. Authenticity We aspire to be a place where young people become comfortable in their own skins and empowered to understand and share their authentic selves. Campus Life There's always something exciting and thought-provoking happening at Darrow. Enjoying a lively campus culture, faculty and staff have opportunities to regularly attend and participate in a diverse array of year-round events, including Hands-to-Work, Winterm, Tuesday Night Community Programming, fitness classes, concerts, performances, talks, lectures, live theater, and art exhibitions. Additionally, there are countless opportunities for collaboration on several campus-wide projects and initiatives for those seeking to serve their community. World-renowned Arts and Culture Darrow is at the center of world-renowned arts and culture. Our location at the edge of the Berkshires is home to music and performing arts venues in the summer, dozens of museums, and various historic sites. Cultural festivals and concerts speak to the region's diversity, while art colonies and craft villages offer inside views of skilled artisans at work. One of America's first art movements started in Hudson Valley. Today, Modern art is well represented with venues such as MassMoCa, Storm King Arts Center, and Dia: Beacon, all international destinations. Darrow School is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, creed (religion), color, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, military status, age, disability, predisposing genetic characteristic, marital status or domestic violence victim status, and shall also follow the requirements of the Human Rights Law with regard to non-discrimination on the basis of prior criminal conviction and prior arrest. Darrow School does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national or ethnic origin, gender, gender identity or expression, or sexual orientation in the administration of any of its admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, educational, athletic, recreational, and other school-administered programs.

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