San Pedro, California
New Canaan, Connecticut
Posted: 27-Apr-26
Location: Missoula, Montana
Type: Full Time
Salary: $75000-$80000/year
Categories:
Title: Fundraising Manager
Reports to: Marketing and Admissions Director
Classification: Exempt
Salary: $75,000 - $80,000 DOE
Sussex School believes in the power of joyful, student-centered learning. Our progressive K-8 program creates an environment where learners, educators, and administrators alike are empowered to think deeply, create boldly, and engage authentically with their world.
Sussex employees:
- Value student voice and choice while maintaining high academic expectations
- Embrace the flexibility and creativity inherent in progressive education
- Model lifelong learning through continuous reflection and professional growth
- Build strong relationships with learners, families, and colleagues
- Bring curiosity, humor, and authenticity to their practice
Successful Sussex employees understand that building and maintaining a school is both an art and a craft. They create nurturing spaces where learners feel safe to take risks, ask challenging questions, and discover their unique paths forward. Our employees work collaboratively to develop a school that prioritizes the growth of learners as humans, always keeping our core values of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Courage, and Citizenship at the center of their practice.
The role involves partnering with families, colleagues, and administration to support each learner's journey while actively contributing to our vibrant school community.
The Fundraising Manager brings a strong commitment to student-centered, progressive education and plays an active role on the Sussex School team in imagining and advancing innovative approaches to funding. This includes expanding access to a Sussex education through creative financial strategies, while building meaningful relationships with donors, community members, and partner organizations. The Fundraising Manager serves as an ambassador for the school, sharing the impact of our work and engaging others in our mission. They are responsible for designing and implementing fundraising strategies aligned with Sussex School’s values and financial goals, with a focus on donor cultivation, targeted events, selective grant writing, and thoughtful stewardship to grow and sustain philanthropic support.
This role is a full-time exempt position with flexible hours based on fundraising needs and event timelines. Performance will be evaluated based on fundraising outcomes, donor engagement success, and alignment with Sussex School’s overall development strategy. This position reports to Sussex School’s Marketing Director.
Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree in education, business administration, or a related field is preferred. Knowledge of elementary and middle school operations and administrative processes is advantageous.
- Previous experience within an educational setting is highly desirable.
- Ability to communicate effectively using strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong planning and time management skills
- Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to maintain professionalism in high-stress situations
- Knowledge of Google Suite apps
- Experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit donor relations
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively
- Passion for education, community engagement, and equity
- Experience with event planning and campaign management
- Ability to build relationships with donors, community partners, and school families
- Experience with major gifts and business sponsorships
- Ability to work with volunteers and board members to engage in fundraising
- Understanding of independent school fundraising (or willingness to learn)
- Data management and CRM/database experience
We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every single qualification listed. If you are excited about this role and believe you can contribute to Sussex School’s mission, we encourage you to apply. We value diverse perspectives and experiences and are eager to hear how your skills could make an impact.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Fundraising & Major Gifts
- Develop and implement an effective Annual Fund strategy, ensuring alignment with school needs and donor engagement best practices with an emphasis on relationship-based fundraising.
- Identify, cultivate, and maintain relationships with major donors, including alumni, families, leadership donors, and business sponsors.
- Manage Up by training, directing, and guiding Board members, school leadership, and other stakeholders in donor relationship-building efforts with support from the Stewardship Committee.
- Develop, manage, and track board engagement in stewardship and fundraising with support from the stewardship committee.
- Increase revenue through major gifts and business sponsorships, securing financial commitments that support Sussex School’s mission and programs.
- Apply to any relevant grants available to Montana private schools (limited).
2. Donor Stewardship & Engagement
- Oversee donor recognition and stewardship in collaboration with the Stewardship Committee.
- Attend and provide strategic input and leadership at Board Stewardship Committee meetings.
- Develop and execute donor engagement strategies that strengthen long-term relationships and increase donor retention.
- Work with the Advancement team on stewardship communications for thank you calls, notes, and year-end tax receipts.
- Attend key school events for relationship building and be present on campus an average of 4 hours a week.
3. Campaign & Event Oversight
- Ensure the financial success and donor engagement of fundraising campaigns and events, including:
- Fall Fling: Lead Paddle Call coordination, live auction planning, business sponsorships, post-event donor gratitude, and data entry for fundraising tracking. Facilitate a small silent auction, including securing donated items, organizing logistics, and managing bid tracking.
- Grandparent Day: Conduct post-event fundraising appeals and cultivate potential leadership donors from the attendee group.
- End-of-Year Ask: Oversee the year-end appeal and stewardship strategy, working with the Stewardship Committee on donor follow-up.
- Ecothon: Explore new approaches for leveraging this school tradition as a fundraising opportunity.
- Missoula Gives: Lead the development and growth of Missoula Gives as a driving donor participation and community involvement.
- Track, analyze, and report on campaign performance, donor engagement metrics, and return on investment (ROI).
4. Data Management & Reporting
- Maintain accurate donor records and fundraising data in collaboration with the Advancement Team.
- Provide regular fundraising updates to the Head of School, Board, and Advancement lead, ensuring data-driven decision-making.
- Use donor analytics and campaign performance insights to refine future fundraising strategies.
Collaboration & Communication Expectations
- Work closely with the Head of School, Board of Directors, Advancement Team, and Stewardship Committee to align fundraising efforts with institutional priorities.
- Coordinate with the advancement team, ensuring smooth execution of fundraising initiatives.
- Foster strong relationships and take initiative with external stakeholders, including donors, sponsors, and community partners.
Performance Metrics & Success Indicators
- Achievement of Annual Fund and campaign revenue goals.
- Solicit and secure 4-5 figure gifts.
- Grow business sponsorships.
- Grow major donor engagement and retention rates.
- Successful execution of fundraising events and campaigns with measurable donor participation.
- Effective stewardship and recognition programs leading to increased donor satisfaction and continued support.
- Implementation of data-driven fundraising strategies that enhance long-term sustainability.
Tools to Support the Work
- Support from the Advancement team, Head of School, and Stewardship Committee.
- Discretionary budget for relationship building.
- Limited consultant support specific to independent school fundraising.
Key Competancies
Communication & Storytelling: Articulating a compelling case for support through written and verbal channels to inspire donations.
Relationship Management: Building and nurturing long-term partnerships with donors, volunteers, and stakeholders.
Strategic Planning & Analysis: Using data to analyze donor behavior, identify prospects, and measure campaign effectiveness.
Leadership & Team Management: Leading teams, fostering collaboration, and mentoring staff or volunteers.
Emotional Intelligence & Empathy: Understanding donor motivations and managing interpersonal dynamics with tact.
Financial Literacy & Budgeting: Creating, managing, and reporting on budgets for campaigns and fundraising events.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Close vision such as see well enough to read, work on computer and recognize faces.
- Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Daily walks up up and down a flight of stairs.
- Generally works in standard office conditions and climate.
- May work in varied extreme outside weather conditions during special activities and fundraising events.
- Works in a highly stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines and a varied and diverse array of contacts.
- May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time, twelve-month position.
If you wish to join our fun and hardworking team, please send a cover letter, résumé, and three references to employ@sussexschool.org. The job includes a full benefits package, including health, dental, vision, retirement, and PTO. Sussex School does not offer tuition remission, however, we do provide tuition assistance to families that qualify.
EEO Policy:
The School is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and to providing employment, compensation, promotion, transfer, and unrestricted access to training at all occupational levels. The School prohibits discrimination and harassment due to an applicant’s or employee’s membership in a protected class. The School does not discriminate in violation of the law on the bases of the protected categories of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, or military/veteran status in its employment practices or hiring practices.
