Director Of Advancement (2023-2024)

Full-time, 12 months, Admin - Exempt

Key School is seeking a full-time Director of Advancement. The successful candidate will have a dynamic personality, experience with strategic planning, and proven fundraising success.
Reporting to the Head of School and a member of the Senior Administrative Team, Key’s next Director of Advancement will be responsible for all school fundraising initiatives, both near and long-term, including annual fund, major gifts, and capital and endowment giving campaigns. The Director also oversees the School’s community-building activities and alumni/ae/x relations. The Director will lead an Advancement team of four comprising a Major Gifts Director, Annual Fund Director, Parent Programs and Special Events Director, and Advancement Services Associate.

Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills are paramount, as is the ability to collaborate effectively with other Key School offices and directly with the School’s Board of Trustees. As this role calls for significant outreach to the Key Community, the successful candidate also will possess a genuine commitment to Key School’s Mission.

Job Responsibilities:

• Handles all aspects of Advancement administration, including leading and overseeing a team of professionals in the Advancement Office, comprising the Major Gifts Director, the Annual Fund Director, the Parent Programs and Special Events Director, and the Advancement Services Associate.

• Serves as liaison with the Head of School, Administrative Committee, other school departments, Board of Trustees and its committees, faculty, and fundraising consultants.

• Develops, implements and updates short and long-range Advancement plans with the Head of School and the Advancement Committee of the Board of Trustees.

• Supervises, coordinates, and directs the fundraising activities of the School, including unrestricted and restricted annual, capital, endowment, and planned giving campaigns, and major gifts program. This responsibility requires support from volunteers and the Head of School.

• In concert with the Major Gifts Director, identifies and researches individual donor prospects as well as corporate and foundation sources of support; supervising the writing and submission of grant proposals and applications.

• Works with the Communication Office to formulate and implement a comprehensive and consistent public relations and communications plan for internal and external constituencies.

• Oversees a donor-relations program, implementing effective cultivation and recognition strategies.

• Oversees the growth of the alumni/ae/x, Parents of Alumni/ae/x, and grandparents programs, to organize constituent reunions and gatherings, write monthly constituent communication newsletters, and to promote alumni/ae/x, Parents of Alumni/ae/x, and grandparent involvement at special events and in school activities.

• Supervises the maintenance of an efficient and accurate school-wide system for the management of data; ensures accurate recording of all gifts and prompt acknowledgment to donors; and distributes reports on fundraising and other Advancement activities.

• Creates and maintains a portfolio of major donors.

• Plans and administers the annual Advancement budget, working with the Head of School and Director of Finance and Operations.

• Serves as the administrative liaison to the Board of Trustees, Annual Fund Committee, Committee on Trustees, Advancement Committee, and attends Long-Range Planning Committee meetings.

Ideal Candidate:

• Extensive experience in institutional advancement at educational institutions or other comparable organizations and a proven record of achievement.

• Experienced in working collaboratively with high-level school leadership, faculty, trustees and Advancement peers as part of a team.

• Experienced manager that can motivate, mentor and coach an Advancement team of four.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree.

• Proven track record in non-profit fundraising, experience in development preferred, with experience in an independent school a plus.

• Must be a highly-motivated, goal-oriented strategic thinker with the ability to work independently, determine and set priorities, manage multiple projects, and maintain a high degree of professionalism and confidentiality.

Physical Requirements:

The demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Daily desk work, including significant amounts of telephone and computer time; as part of daily routines, the ability to move around a mid-size campus with uneven pavement and manage stairs; frequent walking inside and outside responding to campus issues and/or checking on various departmental progress.

Compensation/Benefits:

Key School offers competitive salaries and a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental and vision insurance, a generous 403(b) Plan, and much more.

Work Schedule/Travel:

Occasionally, there may be business and school functions that will require your presence to work flexible hours, including nights and/or weekends and travel outside of Annapolis.

About the School

Founded in 1958 by professors from St. John's College, Key School engages children from 2.5 years of age through grade 12 in a progressive, coeducational, college-preparatory program on its picturesque 15-acre campus 4 miles from downtown Annapolis.

Key School is a dynamic, tight-knit community deeply committed to ensuring students are supported and challenged to excel educationally and personally and be confident, courageous, critical thinkers prepared to engage with the world. Our Community is as diverse as it is warm and welcoming.

Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

Key is particularly interested in candidates with experience in creating inclusive school settings and who are culturally responsive. We are seeking candidates with a commitment to educational equity and justice. We learn and grow both as individuals and as a school community when students and adults of diverse backgrounds, abilities and identities develop an understanding of and respect for our commonalities and differences. Together, we have created a community that reflects diversity across a broad spectrum and will help fulfill Key’s promise to prepare our students for the challenges and responsibilities they will assume in an increasingly connected yet diverse and pluralistic world. The diverse student body is 39% students of color, and 32% of our students receive financial aid to create a socioeconomically diverse community. Learn more about our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Key.

Please submit a letter of interest, resume, completed application, and three professional references by selecting the link.