Development Associate 

Job Description

Park Century School was founded in 1968 as an independent, not-for-profit, co-educational day school to meet the needs of children who learn differently. Park Century serves students between the ages of 7 and 14, or grades K through 8th, living in the South Bay, San Fernando Valley, and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Park Century's mission is to empower bright children with learning differences to reach their academic and personal potential. Students flourish within our individualized, evidence-based curriculum and supportive environment. In collaboration with their families, the school inspires students to develop into resilient self-advocates and builds a foundation for lifelong achievement.

SUMMARY

The Development Associate is responsible for all aspects of fundraising at Park Century School. This outgoing and energetic individual will work closely with the Head of School.

The ideal candidate for this role must possess excellent verbal and written communication skills, be highly organized, and be capable of utilizing technology. The ideal candidate will be personable and cheerful with an ability to work independently with minimal supervision. The ideal candidate must be a strategic thinker who can quickly develop rapport with a variety of individuals and manage the competing needs and requests of others while organizing and prioritizing a large body of work. This position requires a pleasant, upbeat, and welcoming demeanor, as well as professional judgment, discretion, diplomacy, and, above all, complete confidentiality within the faculty, staff, and larger school community.

The Development Associate is part of the Park Century School administrative team, managing fundraising events from inception to completion and developing and supporting both annual and capital campaigns.

Development Associate – Roles & Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy & Execution
  Develop and implement an annual fundraising plan to meet revenue goals, including annual fund, major gifts, and events. The comprehensive plan should include, but not be limited to: analysis of past fundraising results to inform strategy; monthly reports/dashboards to track progress; cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of PCS community, segmented by constituency; events; and opportunities to partner with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and volunteers throughout the year.
• Donor Cultivation & Stewardship
  Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, past parents, alumni, and community partners through personal outreach, visits, and acknowledgments.
• Annual Fund Management
  Lead all aspects of the annual fund campaign—from segmentation and solicitation to donor recognition.
• Communications & Marketing Support
  Partner with the Director of Communications and other school leaders to craft compelling fundraising materials and impact reports that align with the school’s voice and mission.
• Event Planning & Execution
  Plan and execute cultivation, fundraising, and stewardship events, including Giving Days, Back-to-School BBQs, Grandparents' Day, and donor appreciation events.
• Database Management (CRM)
  Maintain accurate records of donations, constituents, and communications in the school’s development database. Send gift acknowledgment letters within 48 to 72 hours of receipt.
• Collaboration with Leadership
  Work closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to support fundraising goals and provide regular reports on progress and priorities. Deliver monthly reports on fundraising activities and progress to the Head of School
• Volunteer Management
  Recruit, train, and support parent volunteers and trustees to support fundraising efforts and community events.
• Parent Association Liaison
  Serve as the primary point of contact with the Parent Association, fostering collaboration on events, communications, and school community engagement.
• Grant Writing & Foundation Relations
  Identify and pursue grant opportunities aligned with the school’s mission and priorities.
• Budget & Reporting
  Manage the development budget and prepare fundraising reports for leadership and the Board.

Salary: $85,000-$95,000 per year.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT

An employee must meet the physical demands and work environment characteristics described here to successfully perform the job’s essential functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Physical demands: While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to sit in on meetings and work on a computer for long periods. The employee is occasionally required to walk, reach with hands and arms, balance, stoop, talk, and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 15 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by the job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Park Century School is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment free of discrimination and harassment for all employees. Park Century School does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, membership in an employee organization, retaliation, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factor. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

QUALIFICATION 

Required

• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience
• 2 years of experience in fundraising, project management, and event planning
• Broad base of general clerical and office management knowledge and skills
• Previous experience with CRM databases, ideally including the Bonterra platform
• Strong technology skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and Excel, Google Suite Applications, Zoom
• Strong proofreading/editing skills
• Strong writing skills
• Ability to work well and collaborate with others
• Ability to work some evenings and/or weekends, as necessary
• Abides by the policies and guidelines contained in the Park Century School Employee Handbook

Preferred

• 3-5 years of experience.
• Experience and desire to work in a fast-paced school setting.
• Experience working with a board of trustees. 
• Creative, energetic, patient, resourceful, diplomatic, flexible, innovative, dependable, humble, and cheerful.
• Open to constructive feedback.

About Park Century School

Park Century School was founded in 1968 as an independent not-for-profit, co-educational day school to meet the needs of children who learn differently. Park Century serves students between the ages of 5 to 14 or grades K- 8, living in the South Bay to the San Fernando Valley and throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Park Century’s mission is to empower bright children with learning differences to reach their academic and personal potential. Students flourish within our individualized, evidence-based curriculum and supportive environment. In collaboration with their families, the school inspires students to develop into resilient self-advocates and builds a foundation for lifelong achievement. Park Century School is founded on the principle of honoring the diversity of the human and educational experience. We seek applicants who recognize that all children can learn when provided with explicit instruction targeted at meeting students' individual needs. Park Century School seeks candidates committed to creating a diverse, equitable, and inclusive teaching and learning community. We value multiple perspectives and do not discriminate based on race, culture, religion, age,... national origin, disability status, genetics, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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Connections working at Park Century School