Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Annual Giving is responsible for the overall planning and execution of The Park School’s annual giving program, with special emphasis on identifying and soliciting Park’s leadership donors ($2,500+) as well as maintaining parent participation to and beyond the 90% mark. Park has a strong history of successful annual fundraising, meeting and exceeding ambitious goals of $2.3M+ through robust engagement with parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, and friends of the School. The Director is responsible for the identification, recruitment, and management of parent Annual Fund and Leadership volunteers. In all situations, the Director of Annual Giving acts as an ambassador of Park’s mission and commitment to equity and inclusion in daily interactions with the community.
The successful candidate will also:
Work with the Director of Development, trustees, the development team and Head of School to identify, research, cultivate, and solicit current and new parents at the leadership level ($2,500+)
Maintain parent participation in the Annual Fund at historically achieved levels of 90-95%
Along with the Director of Alumni Relations, help maintain alumni participation in the Annual Fund at historically achieved levels of 16-18%, and serve as the primary solicitor for alumni leadership donors
Manage all print and digital annual giving appeals to parents, alumni, past parents and grandparents, in collaboration with Development staff and Communications Team
With the Director of Development and Director of Leadership and Capital Giving, serve as a staff liaison for the Trustee Development Committee and parent Major Gift Committee
Recruit and successfully manage parent Annual Giving volunteers in raising both dollars and participation
Create and manage annual expense budgets for annual giving and for Annual Fund special events
Supervise and execute the production of the Annual Report
Manage and execute Park’s Giving Day
Engage enthusiastically in the life of the School, leveraging daily interactions and major school-wide events alike for cultivation opportunities with all constituencies
Serve as primary coordinator for annual giving events including multiple phonathons per year, the Annual Fund Kick-Off, and stewardship events
Coordinate with the Director of Leadership and Capital Giving on aspects of the capital campaign that relate to the Annual Fund and Annual Fund donors
Directly supervise the Manager of Development Operations
With Development Team, serve on Park’s Development Anti-Racism Task Force
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree and 5-7 yearsof direct fundraising and volunteer management experience, including soliciting and closing gifts, and/or alumni/ae development experience, preferably in an academic setting
Breadth of knowledge of annual giving programs and strategies
Proven track record cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding prospects of 4- and 5-figure gifts
Results-oriented commitment to departmental goals, with a high degree of initiative to motivate high-level donors and volunteers
Broad experience working with a wide spectrum of volunteers and donors in an outward- facing capacity
Excellent verbal, written and presentation skills, including written solicitation letters, acknowledgment and stewardship pieces, Annual Report profiles and articles
Advanced interpersonal and relationship building skills
Energy, curiosity, creativity, willingness to take initiative, and a strong enthusiasm for Annual Funds and advancement events
Ability to perform in a dynamic work environment, meeting multiple deadlines and successfully managing multiple projects at a time
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Raiser’s Edge or similar fundraising database program is a must, with special emphasis on proficiency in Raisers’ Edge report-generation
Proficiency in and commitment to antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion are essential to success in this position; training in antiracism and DEI practices a plus
Collaborative work style and comfort working with the development team, board members, parents, alumni, and school staff, faculty and students from diverse cultures
About The Park School (Brookline, MA)
The Park School is a PreK to Grade 8 independent school in Brookline, MA dedicated to excellence in education. The cornerstone of Park's program is academic excellence, combining both high standards of scholarship and the encouragement of each child to develop to his or her greatest potential. Our school community fosters a nurturing environment in which children develop curiosity, express creativity, appreciate the value of hard work and discipline, and experience the joy of learning. Park's faculty encourages each student to strive for intellectual, physical and moral growth and to become contributing members of the community.
Park is committed to being a metropolitan, co-educational day school of diverse races, religions, cultures, and backgrounds. Central to its mission is an appreciation of similarities and differences of perspective and the interdependence of all people. As a family school, Park is a community in which the dignity of each child, teacher, and parent is respected.