Associate Director of Development

1/31/2023

Reporting to the Associate Head of School for Advancement, the Associate Director of Development will be responsible for helping to manage a major gift fundraising plan with an emphasis on donor relationships, solicitation and stewardship. This person will design and implement a comprehensive strategy for a robust major gifts and planned giving program. They will work closely with the Development Team to ensure effective donor-recognition including reporting, events and other communications. In addition, the Associate Director of Development will play a central role in building strong relationships between Sanford and the alumni community.

Essential Duties

Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors of major/leadership gifts, planned gifts, and future campaign gifts and pledges through fundraising best practices and strategies.
Maintain and increase donor engagement, and secure major, leadership, and planned gifts (five and six-figure) through personalized correspondence, in-person visits, telephone/video calls, proposals, presentations, and/or other relationship-building methods.
Ensure achievement of fundraising goals, moving donors along the prospect pipeline, deepening relationships to better understand and strategically align donors’ priorities and goals with Sanford’s needs, and growing a culture of philanthropy in the school’s current and alumni communities.
Solicit gifts and pursue grants for building renovation/construction, naming opportunities, endowment, programs, scholarships, or other initiatives identified as a priority by the School.
Work with the Associate Head of School for Advancement to establish clear metrics for success, track progress to goal, and adjust strategy as required.

Position Requirements

The successful candidate will have experience working and cultivating relationships with donors and have a track record of securing five and six-figure major gifts. Bachelor’s degree required with at least 3 years of progressive experience in frontline fundraising, with a focus on major gift fundraising as well as demonstrated success with soliciting and securing 5+ figure gifts/pledges.

Qualified candidates should be able to:

successfully manage all aspects of the giving cycle and establish/build relationships with top-level donors
make in-person major and planned gift solicitations, as well as assisting others with solicitations
conduct timely and appropriate follow-up, successfully close major and planned gifts, and achieve or exceed fundraising goals
analyze donors’ propensity, capacity, and enthusiasm to give, and ensure donor alignment
create, plan, implement, and manage multiple and concurrent projects and events

The Associate Director of Development for Leadership Giving and Alumni Engagement is a salaried, full-time, benefit eligible position. Benefits include medical, dental, vision, 403b retirement fund with a percentage match, and tuition remission.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter, resume, and three references to Mrs. Jaime Morgan, Associate Head of School for Advancement at morganj@sanfordschool.org. Please refrain from calling.

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