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DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES has been retained by The Ethical Culture Fieldston School to conduct a national search for a Chief Philanthropy Officer. This opportunity is available in July 2023, though individuals interested in being considered for an earlier start date are encouraged to explore.   

Since its founding in 1878, the Ethical Culture Fieldston School (ECFS) has been a beacon of progressive education in the United States. Known as one of New York City’s most progressive independent schools, ECFS emphasizes academic excellence, intellectual curiosity, ethics, and community service. The school educates approximately 1,700 students in Pre-K through 12th Grade on two historic campuses in Manhattan and the Bronx, totaling 407,000 square feet with 16 buildings. There are approximately 11,000 alumni. The annual operating budget for the institution is approximately $100 million and the endowment currently stands at $110 million.

The new Chief Philanthropy Officer at Ethical Culture Fieldston School will join a superb community with many strengths. The primary goal of the new hire is to ensure that the school becomes even stronger, and this means engaging the alumni and parents and raising funds to increase the size of the endowment so that ECFS can meet its mission to provide an exceptional day-school education to students from every background, regardless of their family’s financial means. The new Chief Philanthropy Officer will enter an Advancement Office that is poised for the “next level.” There is considerable experience among the 12 full-time team members. The Chief Philanthropy Officer at Ethical Culture Fieldston School leads an experienced and dedicated staff which includes Alumni Relations, Major Gifts, Annual Giving, Parent Relations, Planned Giving, Stewardship, and Database Management and Research. The office is making investments in technology use to enhance record keeping, data mining, and communication. One of the next major challenges includes cultivating, securing and closing increased levels of significant major and principal gifts. The leadership team of the school is experienced and strong. The Head of School, Joe Algrant was appointed in 2021. The Advancement Office is managed by the experienced and talented Kyle Wilkie-Glass, Associate Head of School, who has been with ECFS since 2016 in several senior leadership positions. The school’s leaders are committed, energetic, and effective educators who remain engaged with the students and school culture. Over the past several decades, ECFS has developed a successful fundraising program that has enabled the school to significantly build its endowment and add major capital improvements to the campus. The Annual Fund has supported the school’s balanced budget and in Fiscal Year 2021 contributed $4.8 million.

A full search description of this excellent opportunity, including the required academic credentials, work experiences and skill sets needed, may be viewed at https://deerfieldassociates.com/ethical-culture-fieldston-school-chief-philanthropy-officer/

Ethical Culture Fieldston School offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, competitive salaries, and a generous benefits package including a retirement plan, paid vacations, and medical insurance.  Ethical Culture Fieldston School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The target hiring salary range for this position is $275,000. - $325,000. To explore this superb career opportunity on a highly confidential basis please send resume and letter of interest, along with a list of 4 references (who will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to: Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant, DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc. 572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA  02482 Telephone: 781-237-2800. Email: jobs@deerfieldassociates.com

About Ethical Culture Fieldston School

Ethical Culture Fieldston School is a progressive PreK to 12 independent school serving students from throughout New York City and the surrounding suburbs. Committed to academic excellence, ethical learning, and progressive education, ECFS offers a rich and challenging curriculum in the arts, sciences, and humanities. A coed, nonsectarian school, it serves a diverse community of about 1,700 students from PreK to 12 on two campuses -- one in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, and the other in Manhattan.

Connections working at Ethical Culture Fieldston School