POSITION STATEMENT

ADVANCEMENT MANAGER

OVERVIEW

Brooklyn Friends School (BFS), a thriving Preschool-12 grade school located in vibrant Downtown Brooklyn, seeks a dynamic individual to serve (effective Summer 2022) as Advancement Manager within a vibrant community of colleagues (BFS uses the all-inclusive term, colleagues, to refer to all rather than one that delineates faculty/staff). Founded in 1867, Brooklyn Friends School’s pillars of social justice, service learning/civic engagement, and Quakerism, serve as guideposts for our action-oriented collective work. Our school’s history has been illustrious and reflective of the expansive nature of human experiences. Guided by our mission, BFS provides a dynamic, diverse, and robust social/emotional environment and academic program that cultivates compassionate, intellectually curious, and confident changemakers. As a school, we affirm that human diversity includes, but is not limited to: race, ethnicity, culture, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic class, family structure and physical ability, as well as diversity of thought, talents, and learning style.

This short video gives you a glimpse into our contemporary experience.

THE LEADER

The Advancement Manager is an adept project manager and team player who will work closely with the Advancement Team. The Manager will collaborate across many departments of Brooklyn Friends School to share the story and spirit of the school. As an active member of the Advancement team, they will handle a wide range of tasks and projects in support of all advancement, alumni, and community engagement efforts of the school. The Advancement Manager will dually report to the Director of Institutional Advancement and Director of Strategic Partnerships & Major Gifts.

Primary Responsibilities:

Annual Giving/Fundraising Thought and Action Partnership:

• Coordinate the preparation of fundraising materials, appeal letters, and other publications as needed
• Organize annual fund volunteer meetings and materials
• Provide monthly reports to annual fund volunteers and additional support as needed
• Research prospective donors, current donors and new families. Identify leadership candidates for annual, capital and planned giving
• In collaboration with communications team, maintain fundraising and alumni presence on official BFS website and the school’s social media channels
• In collaboration with Director of Institutional Advancement, plan and organize Senior Legacy Gift
• Collaborate with Director of Strategic Partnerships and Major Gifts to creatively conceive of additional mission-aligned networks/partnerships that would be meaningful for Brooklyn Friends School.
• Plan and organize special events related to fundraising and stewardship efforts related to Annual Fund and beyond.

Alumni Relations:

• Collaborate with the Director of Institutional Advancement on event management, including strategies and planning for in-person and virtual gatherings, regional visits, career networking events, and other outreach initiatives. Occasional evenings or weekends required.
• Work with the Director of Institutional Advancement to increase alumni participation in school committees and annual giving.
• Coordinate Alumni Reunion giving.
• Identify opportunities across the school for alumni engagement with current students.
• In collaboration with the Upper School leadership team, coordinate opportunities for seniors to learn about—and take part in programs with alumni.
• Manage alumni communications, including: responding to electronic requests, initiate the collection and production of Alumni Class Notes, respond to inquiries and encourage alumni attendance at school-sponsored gatherings.
• In collaboration with the communications team, manage digital media for the school’s alumni school’s social media platforms including, but not limited to, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
• Maintain and update alumni information in various school databases.

Additional Responsibilities:

• In collaboration with the database manager, work within Raiser’s Edge to regularly update donor records, and run lists and reports to evaluate data as needed. 
• The Advancement Team handles its major events with an “all hands on deck” approach. This role includes assisting with all major events organized by the Advancement Team - such as fundraising, community building, and alumni events.
• Fully participate in the life of the School by attending events and programs - including those held on evenings and weekends - to cultivate relationships with students, alumni and families.

Personal Qualities and Professional Requirements

• Demonstrated project management skills, with a particular expertise in managing multiple workflows simultaneously
• Effective organizational skills with careful attention to accuracy and detail
• Exhibits ample evidence of strong writing, editing, and interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills, high energy, and a good sense of humor
• An appreciation for the ideals of Quaker philosophy and Brooklyn Friends School’s mission, and the nuances of a Quaker independent school. Comfort with and desire to learn more about Quaker values and decision-making practices
• Strong work ethic and initiative in understanding all-school dynamics and proactively responding to a fast-paced environment
• Respect for confidentiality and handles sensitive information with discretion and integrity
• Ability to navigate open, productive, and challenging conversations which punctuate our insistence and focus on partnering with those within and outside of our community with an uncompromisable, inclusive and antiracist construct of advancement, alumni relations, and community engagement work 
• A dedicated life-long learner
• Prior experience in an educational and/or advancement environment strongly desired
• 3-5 years of experience in development, advancement, or equivalent experience or fields
• Bachelor’s degree required  

To apply, please provide the following:

1. Resumé/Curriculum Vitae – Candidates are encouraged to include hyperlinks to applicable examples of their work in their professional journey.
2. A Personal Statement/Cover Letter addressed to the Human Resources Department, that expresses the ways in which your journey has demonstrated the school’s pillars of Equity and Inclusion, Quakerism, and Service Learning/Civic Engagement and how you see yourself further making them actionable within the context of your role as Advancement Manager.
3. List of three professional references with name, title, relationship, and contact information (email and phone number)
4. Optional: Any other documents/artifacts from your experience that you think represent you in an authentic manner
5. Email the above as attachments or (if possible) one comprehensive PDF to hiring@brooklynfriends.org. Please put as subject line: Advancement Manager. Thank you!