Donor and Alumni Engagement Specialist

3 days ago

Chicago, Illinois, United States Near North Montessori School Full time

About Us

Near North Montessori School is an independent, Montessori school in Chicago serving 560+ students and their families, starting at a parent-infant class and up to 8th grade. We are a community of shared values working to fulfill a meaningful mission. Our faculty, staff, and parents strive for an equitable and inclusive school culture through intentional, reflective practice. We work together to challenge all students to think for themselves, pursue their ideas, and become real learners for the real world.

We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Donor and Alumni Engagement Specialist to join our team. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of success in event planning, donor cultivation, and professional relationship management. You will work closely with our Director of Institutional Advancement to develop and execute strategies to engage our constituents and secure gifts to support our mission.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Event Management & Execution:
  • Recruit, train, and guide parent volunteers for events and activities
  • Manage the planning, logistics, and execution of school events that reflect quality and the best of the School and the community
  • Engage and communicate regularly with NNM alumni and organize and host several alumni events each year
  • Oversee community events, ensuring a high-touch response to partners and donors
  • Support the Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement and the Director of Enrollment Management with events when appropriate

Donor and Alumni Engagement:

  • Design and produce an electronic magazine for alumni and donors twice a year
  • Deliver a high level of customer service to all constituents
  • Engage donors in conversations and solicit donations when appropriate
  • Compose effective communications, such as solicitations, remarks, advertisements, and acknowledgments
  • Maintain regular engagement with NNM Alumni via telephone calls, emails, and in-person meetings
  • Acknowledge and process gifts and pledges, run reports, and conduct donor research
  • Assist the Director of Institutional Advancement with entering data and maintaining accurate databases

Advancement Team Operations:

  • Process donor gifts and produce acknowledgment letters
  • Produce donor reports using Raiser's Edge and conduct donor research using Wealth Engine and Blackbaud
  • Ensure, through collaboration with the Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement, that events are inclusive and equitable
  • Actively participate in faculty and professional development meetings, open houses, and school events
  • Perform other duties and responsibilities as required, assigned, or requested

Qualifications:

  • Bachelor's Degree required; an advanced degree in a related field is preferred
  • 3 + years of event planning and fundraising experience
  • Proven track record of success in event planning, donor cultivation, and professional relationship management
  • Creative and forward-thinking
  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
  • Attention to detail and ability to problem-solve
  • Must have the ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and achieve results in a team environment
  • Outcome-driven, with the ability to respond to changing circumstances and priorities
  • Excellent oral and written skills
  • Ability to manage and motivate diverse groups and individuals
  • Ability to work autonomously
  • Proficiency in CRM systems required (Blackbaud a plus)
  • Ability to travel if needed, as well as attend events on evenings and weekends
  • Flexibility with working evenings, weekends, & holidays as assigned
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, as well as Canva and Constant Contact, or willingness to quickly learn and become intimately familiar with these platforms
  • Proficiency in Google Suite

Compensation: Eligible for an exempt salary, starting at $95,000 per year.

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