Career Center

The Buckley School is a dynamic, nurturing learning community committed to equity and inclusion, and as such, seeks to hire talented employees with diverse backgrounds.

The Buckley School, Los Angeles’ oldest K-12 coeducational learning institution, has an opening for an Advancement Database Manager. Under the supervision of the Director of Advancement, the Advancement Database Manager is a member of the team responsible for all fundraising, alumni and communication-related activities at the school. This individual is in charge of processing gifts, updating constituent records, preparing acknowledgment letters, generating mailing lists, recording pledges and maintaining donor reports through Raiser’s Edge, the development module of Blackbaud. This individual interacts daily with donors and potential donors and requires sound judgment to decide what information can be shared and with whom. The Advancement Database Manager is also responsible for prospect research and management.  The Advancement Database Manager will also provide general administrative support to the Director of Advancement and the advancement team, as appropriate. The person in this position deals with sensitive information, handles a high volume of phone calls and in-person inquiries, and is required to use judgment and anticipate questions related to charitable giving, volunteerism and fundraising opportunities for Buckley.  Some evening and weekend work is required.

Essential Functions

Database Manager:

• Processes and records all gifts, pledges and pledge payments to the school. Ensures timely entry of all gifts into Raiser’s Edge. This includes annual fund, capital campaign, parents’ association, and all other fundraising efforts.
• Performs data entry and manages the data entry process to ensure that accurate, updated, and relevant information on donors, parents, alumni, alumni parents, grandparents, corporations, foundations, former faculty and staff, friends of the school, and other Buckley constituents is maintained.
• Maintains the school’s Raiser’s Edge alumni and development database. Coordinates with the technology department to perform Raiser’s Edge database maintenance, global updates, and integration with Education Edge/CORE on a regular basis.
• Manages the entire gift acknowledgement and pledge reminder process from start to finish.
• Assess requests for donor information received in-person, by phone or email and decide what information may be shared with which individuals, including administrators, faculty, parents, and Trustees.
• Designs and implements database queries in response to requests for information providing timely and accurate records, reports, and lists.
• Provides support for the Director of Advancement and Associate Director of Advancement in implementing the Annual Fund, including the management of solicitation mailings, compiling and producing weekly participation and financial reports, and preparing phone-a-thon materials.
• Serves as the school’s Raiser’s Edge liaison with the technology department, business office, and with Blackbaud and other related software vendors.
• Develops and produces mailing lists and labels, donor recognition lists, data files, prospective donor lists, and other information using Raiser’s Edge reporting tools for the Annual Fund, Campaigns, and other mailings.
• Develops and implements a plan to improve the integrity of the database, particularly information on alumni.
• Manage and report information for the donor recognition sections of Annual Report, including careful tracking of special name recognition and anonymous gifts.
• Attend annual advancement and alumni relations events, and assist with check-in, event coordination, event planning as needed, including generating nametags and registration lists. Track all RSVPs for events in the events module in Raiser’s

Prospect Research & Management

Researches linkages, financial capacity and interests, and generates profiles on parents, grandparents, alumni, and past parents. Ensures all that information is inputted into RE.

• Analyzes information in documents and records to extrapolate information that will help guide the development of cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Prepares profiles on prospects and potential volunteers.
• Work with Admissions to provide research on incoming families.
• Manages tracking system on prospect assignments and status of proposals for staff and volunteers.
• Inputs contact reports from volunteers and staff.

Responsibilities/Duties

• Interact with donors and potential donors over the phone and in person.
• Provides updated reports on gifts, pledges, progress towards fundraising goals, and other financial data as requested either through regularly scheduled updates or upon request.
• Assemble printed materials in support of mailings and interact with individuals over the phone.
• Provide administrative support to major gift efforts, including preparing proposals, presentations, acknowledgment letters and pledge agreements. 
• Provides training for Advancement staff in using Raiser’s 
• Performs regular database administration procedures, maintains security system and other configuration settings required for smooth functioning of Raiser’s 
• Coordinates matching gift donations and other exceptional gifts. 
• Regularly update databases based on returned mail and shares updates with other departments. 
• Assist with the yearly audit as well as regular (monthly if not weekly) reconciliation of gifts and contributions with the business office. 
• Keeps informed of new technology and resources used in prospect research.
• Order supplies, letterhead and other print materials. 
• Track advancement budget, process invoices and check requests.

Education and/or Experience

• Bachelor’s degree
• Accounting experience is preferred.
• Two years’ experience working directly with donors or customers.
• Two-to-four years work experience (preferably in a development department) involving data entry, database management, financial data and report generation.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Model the highest standards of professionalism and create warm, uplifting and trusting working relationships marked by humor, positivity, humility, empathy, excellent emotional intelligence, extraordinary interpersonal skills, and collaboration.
• Possess deep appreciation and passion for education, fundraising, and community engagement, particularly in an independent school environment.
• Demonstrate ability to manage thoughtfully the personal, political, and institutional dynamics related to diversity, equity, inclusion and justice issues in schools.
• Model a growth mindset and continuous learning, and believe in the capacity for adult growth.
• Demonstrate strong communication skills in person, in writing, by phone and through other electronic means (such as Zoom).
• Demonstrate great individual integrity, initiative, self-awareness, commitment to personal and professional growth, ability to receive and apply feedback, and the ability to advance multiple strategic and operational priorities simultaneously.
• Think and act strategically.
• Offer evidence of a successful track record in meeting or exceeding stated goals.
• Flexibility to occasionally work long hours, including attendance at weekend and evening events.
• Mastery of Raiser’s Edge/Blackbaud donor management system – at least two years’ experience preferred.
• Experience demonstrating a high degree of accuracy in data entry and generating reports.
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office, Google Suite, and the ability to learn new and evolving technology.
• Demonstrate adaptability, dependability, good judgment, strong social skills, impressive communication skills in writing and speaking, and the abilities to read, assess, imagine, evaluate, calculate, & make wise decisions.

Disclaimer: The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position.  They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees so classified.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should send their resume to Shelly Schroth, Director of Advancement at sschroth@buckley.org.

ABOUT THE SCHOOL

The Buckley School, a K-12 college preparatory school with 830 students, is one of the most respected independent schools in the Los Angeles area.  Buckley is known for its unique educational philosophy, the 4-Fold Plan of Education, which marries a whole-child approach with elements of structure, as well as for its warm, intimate educational environment. 

The school’s curriculum balances academics, the arts, physical development and moral education. Its creative, personalized approach to education emphasizes high academic standards for all students, and includes traditional touches that develop the character and discipline that unlock students’ potential.