Director of Advancement

Position: Director of Advancement
Reports to: Head of School

100% FTE, Preferred start date of July 1, 2019; position open until filled 

Located in the Presidio of San Francisco, The Bay School is an independent, college preparatory high school committed to providing its 375 students with a challenging, innovative curriculum and a collaborative, supportive community. Our flexible, open-minded staff and faculty members foster and model curiosity, critical thinking, intentionality, good humor and respect for diversity. As co-builders of a young high school, they contribute to an impactful community. Our campus also serves as headquarters for the CATDC (California Teacher Development Collaborative).

The Bay School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender identity, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, age, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are committed to having a faculty and staff and a student body that reflect the diversity of the Bay Area. We strongly encourage candidates of color to apply.

For more information about The Bay School, including Bay’s official school profile, please visit our website at https://www.bayschoolsf.org.

Bay is seeking a highly collaborative, culturally competent, forward-thinking leader to partner with the Head of School and the Board of Trustees to develop and execute the overall fundraising and advancement strategies for the school, cultivate and solicit contributions and donated resources, and plan and deliver a thoughtful, dynamic stewardship program. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Advancement supervises, supports, and evaluates the Development Associate, Director of Communications, and Director of Major Gifts, and oversees and collaborates productively with affiliated consultants.

Responsibilities

• Envision and guide the school’s fundraising and advancement efforts to realize the Bay mission
• Coordinate, elevate, and support the work of volunteer leaders in fundraising and related activities
• Identify and implement strategies to increase support from new, current, and past donors, including researching the backgrounds, philanthropic interests, and capacity of incoming families
• Engage the school’s goals for diversity, equity, and inclusion to ensure that our advancement programs and department are synchronized with school values
• Cultivate new prospective donors through special events and other engagement opportunities
• In partnership with the Parent Guardian Association (PGA), oversee and execute the annual fundraising event (Bay Splash)
• Partner with the Head of School and trustees to cultivate and request major gifts, personally participating in solicitation calls as appropriate
• Supervise, support, and annually evaluate all members of the Advancement team
• Develop effective solicitation materials for fundraising (e.g. annual fund and special campaigns), ensuring excellence and consistency in branding, messaging, and appearance of print and on-line materials
• Create and deliver effective, informative presentations to the Board of Trustees, administrative team, employees, faculty, parents, and/or alumni at the request of the Head of School
• Oversee the health and robustness of the donor and prospect database and data management systems. Conduct regular analysis exercises, gift reporting, acknowledgements, accounting, and data sharing. Understand audit requirements and develop policy and/or protocol changes when needed
• Track, monitor, analyze, and report on key metrics regarding fundraising, community-building, and alumni engagement as articulated in the School’s strategic plan.
• Serve as a member of the School’s senior administration
• Attend and report at Board of Trustees and PGA meetings
• Manage and analyze the annual operating budget for the Advancement Office
• Position the Bay School as a leader among the Bay Area’s independent school advancement operations

The ideal candidate:

• Appreciates and is committed to the mission and precepts of The Bay School.
• Desires to lead within in The Bay School community
• Has a passion for innovating and building within a young educational institution
• Possesses five or more years of demonstrated success building and leading the development function in nonprofit organizations.
• Takes an entrepreneurial role with willingness to evaluate activities and initiate action
• Demonstrates analytical skills and attention to detail
• Has a propensity to think strategically, speak authentically, and act compassionately
• Demonstrates excellent leadership, management, organizational, analytical, and entrepreneurial skills
• Effectively engages senior staff, volunteers, students, and faculty in solicitation and cultivation activities
• Has experience designing and implementing comprehensive fundraising plans, preferably with capital campaign experience
• Is experienced with event management and hands-on execution
• Possesses exceptional communication skills, with proven ability to write effectively, speak persuasively, and listen attentively
• Works well with students and adults of all backgrounds
• Is proficient with information technology including Microsoft Office and prospect databases
• Holds a Bachelor’s degree

Bay offers a salary commensurate with experience and a competitive benefits package. To apply, please send cover letter and resume to Katie Koene, Assistant to the Heads of School, at kkoene@bayschoolsf.org. Candidates may be subject to background checks. Preferred start date is July 1, 2019, but the position will remain open until filled.