Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy

Title: Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy

Department: Advancement

Reports to:  Chief Advancement Officer

Schedule:  Full-Time; Full-Year Employee

Exempt Status:  Exempt

Annual Salary Range: $120,000-$155,000

About The Branson School

The Branson School is a coeducational, college-preparatory day school of 395 students, grades 9-12, located in Marin County, California. Branson is more than just a great school. It’s an ever-evolving educational community that challenges and supports students as they grow into confident, thoughtful, ethical people.

We encourage students to be brave in whatever they do – in the classroom, on the field, on stage, in the community, even with their peers. The faculty values collaboration, continual growth and improvement, reflection, and student centered teaching. Branson teachers work in a beautiful, well-resourced environment with dedicated students. The faculty is widely regarded as outstanding and there exists in the faculty an admirable ​esprit de corps and a positive attitude about their work and their relationship with students.

Mission Statement

Branson develops students who make a positive impact in the world by leading lives of integrity, purpose, learning, and joy.

Community Statement of Belonging

Branson believes that diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to create a truly excellent learning environment and a vibrant, caring community.  We aspire to have every member of the Branson community feel a deep sense of belonging and inclusion.

Core Values: Courage, Kindness, Honor, Purpose

Position Description

The Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy reports to the Chief Advancement Officer and is responsible for the creation, planning and implementation of programs to increase alumni financial support of and engagement with Branson. The Director of Alumni Engagement and Philanthropy is a critical part of the school’s fundraising team and has primary responsibility for securing capital, planned, and annual gifts from high-capacity alumni.  She/he is also the primary contact for over 3,000 alumni, and must represent the school in a professional and knowledgeable manner, with the ability to both relate to and care for a diverse constituency of men and women with varied tenures and experiences at Branson.

Work Requirements

Create, implement, and evaluate an annual plan that promotes alumni philanthropic support and engagement through innovative programming and thoughtful fundraising, event, and communication strategies
Maintain a portfolio of 80 capital and planned giving prospects and participate as an integral member of the school’s major gifts team in furtherance of the school’s $85 million World Ready Campaign
Regularly hold discovery discussions with alumni who have the potential to be significant donors
Actively identify and qualify alumni prospects for gifts at all levels
Plan, execute and manage the annual Alumni Day of Giving
Plan and execute all alumni events
Evaluate and reimagine programmatic aspects of the Alumni Relations program routinely by gathering and analyzing feedback and data and analyzing trends
Expand alumni engagement by regularly identifying and recruiting volunteers
Ensure accurate and complete alumni records in Raiser’s Edge. Collaborate with Advancement Database Manager to capture contact, biographical and career information of alumni. Save all pertinent email correspondence and visit/call notes to alumni records
Establish and build meaningful relationships with a diverse range of alumni. Maintain direct contact with alumni via phone calls, electronic meetings, visits, and correspondence
Manage other tasks as needed that support overarching objectives of the position
Along with other members of the Advancement Office, provide support for department and school initiatives and events
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required
Three or more years of major gifts experience, preferably in an independent school or higher education setting
Knowledge of financial planning, tax and charitable gift laws, and planned giving preferred
Proven capacity to build rapport across diverse stakeholder groups
Strong ability to juggle long-range strategic planning while prioritizing and completing multiple tasks simultaneously
Demonstrated capacity to operate in fast paced, varied work environment that includes high volume responsibility and atypical or unpredictable hours and tasks
Outstanding organizational, written, oral, and interpersonal skills
Willingness to travel as necessary
Strong work ethic, high level of integrity, and ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and tact
Proficient technical skills, including Microsoft Office suite and Google online platform; experience with Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge/NST, EverTrue or Ovrture software a plus
The desire to be involved in various aspects of life at an independent school

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

Branson is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal employment opportunity for all applicants, employees, volunteers and interns, and the School makes decisions based on the merits of each candidate. Branson prohibits discrimination based on an individual’s race, color, religion (including all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy and breastfeeding), sexual orientation (including heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality) national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status or registered domestic partner status, uniformed service member or veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, or any other basis protected by law. The School will afford equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants, employees, volunteers, and interns as to all terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, compensation, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination.

For Consideration

We encourage those who align with Branson’s shared commitment to its Mission Statement, Community Statement of Belonging and Core Values to apply by uploading a cover letter and resume to Michelle Jones, Director of Human Resources at: https://thebransonschool.applytojob.com/apply/OEE7aVxrXB/Director-Of-Alumni-Engagement-And-Philanthropy