Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement

Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement
www.townschool.com

Town School for Boys, a K-8 Independent Day School located in San Francisco, is seeking applicants for the Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement position.

The Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement works in conjunction with the Director of Advancement to implement dynamic and successful annual giving and alumni relations programs in support of Town’s mission and fundraising goals. Additionally, the Director assists with Major Gifts/Capital Campaigns. The Director works closely with and reports directly to the Director of Advancement and is an integral member of the Advancement team, assisting with a variety of fundraising, events, communications and all-school projects as needed.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties

Development 

The Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement is responsible for the implementation of a strong and dynamic annual giving program involving all constituencies of Town School for Boys, including parents, alumni, alumni parents, friends, faculty and staff.

Annual Giving

• Works with the Director of Advancement to create and implement a successful annual fundraising strategy, with an eye towards long-term and consistent success of all fundraising needs of the school
• Takes ownership of and ensures accurate and consistent record keeping and gift acknowledgement in the Advancement office, including working with the Advancement Associate on database management
• With the Head of School and Director of Advancement, assists in identifying, recruiting and managing annual fund leadership among volunteers including parents/guardians, alumni, past parents and grandparents
• Develops training materials and events, as well as recognition opportunities, for annual fund volunteers
• Uses wealth screening data, giving history, staff intelligence, and other information to inform customized solicitation amounts for each constituent
• Actively monitors fundraising progress, developing new strategies to generate gifts from non-responding or under-performing prospects
• Works with the Associate Director of Advancement and Communications to create printed collateral (solicitation letters, response envelope, acknowledgement letters, brochures, giving forms and website content), video and social media content, and other media/materials in support of Annual Giving and other fundraising appeals
• Develops strategies and implements stewardship and recognition for annual gifts, including evening leadership donor events
• Guides reunion giving, and other special annual fund giving programs as needed, including evening and weekend events
• Creates strategies designed to bring constituencies closer to the school and to gain an understanding of annual support for the school
• Oversees and generates accurate annual fund donor lists for About Town, the school’s annual report and alumni magazine

Capital Campaign

• To ensure a holistic fundraising program, coordinates with Director of Advancement and Advancement team on aspects of capital campaign as needed
• Works with the Director of Advancement to support the efforts of major gifts including donor solicitation meetings, stewardship events, etc.

Alumni Relations Program

The Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement will provide creative and energetic leadership to inspire the continued support of alumni through financial contributions, volunteerism and leadership, and meaningful participation in the life of the school. The Director will take the lead on organizing fundraising and alumni events, including reunions and special speaker series, and may help with campaign events as needed.

• Provides leadership and organizes the Alumni Council, whose mission is to foster long-term relationships between alumni and the school
• Meet with Council leadership to set goals and calendar
• Facilitate Alumni Council Meetings (~3-4 per year, generally held in the evening), attending and providing assistance as needed
• Serves as project manager for About Town, the school’s annual report to donors
• Manages the Class Secretary program, soliciting and recruiting as needed, as a means to leverage the school’s connection with the broadest range of alumni possible
• Coordinates the annual alumni survey and oversees the conversion to class notes for publication in About Town
• Researches feasibility of a formal Class Reunion Program for Town School and implements as applicable
• Coordinates a growing fundraising program for alumni with an emphasis on increasing alumni giving and participation annually
• Provides support for all alumni events including special and recurring programs and special events (Alumni Speaker Series, the Distinguished Alumnus Award and alumni sporting events)
• Develops outreach/engagement alumni opportunities with faculty and staff
• Works with the Associate Director of Advancement and Communications on all alumni communications including social media, print and online publications, with assistance from the Director of Advancement
• Maintains alumni relations and enhances alumni connections proactively via new programs, web presence, emails, and events

Communications

The Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement acts as a team member for essential and crisis communications for the school, including but not limited to work in the push email module of the school portal, mail merge (YAMM) in Gmail, and Bright Arrow emergency notification system.

 

Events

The Director acts as a team member for events not necessarily related to annual giving and alumni, including but not limited to the Fall Fundraiser, grade-level social events for parents, Family Fun night, and other stewardship events, many of which take place in the evening.

 

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree plus 3-5 years prior related experience
• Literacy in Microsoft Office and Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge software is essential. Experience with desktop publishing (Photoshop and InDesign) and video editing is desired.
• Experience working effectively with donor/volunteers with poise and tact
• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, and writing and editing skills
• Ability to handle multiple projects and produce quality results on schedule
• Ability to take initiative and exhibit independence in carrying out responsibilities
• High level of professionalism and ability to manage confidential information with discretion
• Team player with willingness and ability to work varied hours based on office and event needs
• Interest and desire to engage actively with the school community, including with faculty, staff, parents/guardians and students

COVID Procedures

When schools were forced to close their physical doors in the spring of 2020, Town quickly and successfully pivoted to online learning, supported by thorough planning and a nimble team of faculty, administration and Board members. In the fall of 2020, Town was the second school in the city of San Francisco to be granted permission to reopen, taking exceptional caution to protect the safety of faculty and students. Since October 2020, we have welcomed all grades in the building five days a week. The 2021-2022 school year is held in person, with our mask and social distancing protocols in place and following all SF Department of Health Guidelines. All adult employees of Town School for Boys are required to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination.

 

Town School for Boys Mission

At Town School learning is prized, love of school is essential, and boyhood is celebrated.

 

Philosophy

As an all boys’ school, Town provides a rich, challenging and rigorous educational experience that addresses the distinctive energy levels and developmental styles of boys. Town values being a diverse community that nurtures integrity, sensitivity and respect in its boys, and prepares them to become productive and contributing members of an ever-changing world.

 

Core Values

Respect: We respect ourselves and others.

• We treat others the way they want to be treated.
• We practice good listening, compassion and empathy.

Curiosity: We are curious.

• We ask questions, think critically and solve problems.
• We seek opportunities to reach our highest potential.

Belonging: We all belong.

• We embrace and celebrate each of our unique stories and experiences.
• We seek to ensure that every member of our community feels an equal sense of inclusion.

Integrity: We act with integrity.

• We have the courage to do the right thing even when nobody else is watching.
• We always try our best and when we fail, we try again.

Joy: We are joyful.

• We make space for play, fun and laughter.
• We know joy can be found in hard work, risk-taking and perseverance.

Statement of Teaching Philosophy

Our goal is for each boy to be engaged in an environment that weaves together collaboration, critical thinking, integrity, empathy, and creativity. These broad skills, as well as a firm grounding in core academic competencies, offer boys an excellent preparation for their further education. We promote social and emotional learning as a foundation of academic excellence and self-discovery. We prepare students to meet challenges in the world by helping them develop an appreciation for a variety of perspectives from the local to the global. We celebrate diversity by fostering a community of learners built on mutual respect. Learning experiences are inclusive, relevant, flexible, innovative, and adapted to reflect the needs of all kinds of learners. In our joyful, active, and collaborative school, boys flourish.

We achieve these goals through an authentic curriculum that originates in the classroom, travels through the halls, and extends into the world. Our teaching balances traditional methods with key student-centered approaches including inquiry, project-based learning, and teaching for understanding. We stay relevant and current through our testing of innovative, research-based approaches. We model a commitment to lifelong learning, and we hone our craft by pursuing professional development and sharing knowledge with one another.

 

Statement on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity:

Diversity, inclusion, and equity are essential core values of Town School. The best education for our students requires a diverse experience because a broad spectrum of ideas is essential for understanding different perspectives, challenging assumptions, and inspiring curiosity, to support critical and complex thinking.

We are committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment where each boy is free to be himself, and where boys are confident and secure in their own identities. We equip each boy with the tools to explore differences in experiences, background, beliefs and ideas. We seek to provide each student with the support and resources he needs to succeed and thrive at Town School.

A diverse and vibrant community is essential. To build and sustain such a community, we reach out to enroll students and families from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, cultures, races, religions, and sexual orientations, and we recruit and retain faculty, staff and administrators from the same broad range of backgrounds. We cultivate an environment where every member of the Town community senses they matter as a significant part of the life of the school. Only when each person feels valued and is engaged may the school and the individual achieve their full potential.

 

Non-Discrimination Policy: 

Town School for Boys admits students of any race, color, religion, or national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. The School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship programs, athletic and other school-administered programs.

The Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Engagement position is a full-time, non-exempt position with benefits. EOE. Competitive pay based on experience, skills and market.

 

To learn more about our school culture and community in general, please visit our Employment page.