Aspen Leadership Group is proud to partner with The Nightingale-Bamford School in the search for a Director of Major Gifts.The Director of Major Gifts will report to the Director of Institutional Advancement and work alongside school leadership as well as colleagues in annual giving, alumni relations, and advancement services to cultivate and maintain relationships with prospective and current donors to achieve long-term engagement and increased financial support of Nightingale. As the point person for major gift fundraising, the Director will spend much of their workday outside of the office, meeting with parents, alumnae, and other constituents. They will spearhead highly effective prospective donor pipeline management. They will also serve as a strategic partner to the Director of Institutional Advancement, particularly in the area of campaign project management.

The successful candidate will be an energetic and seasoned fundraiser and natural relationship builder, whose experience in raising major gifts will help advance the school's mission and strengthen the culture of philanthropy at Nightingale. The Director of Major Gifts must be comfortable operating in New York City’s business and philanthropic communities. A background in major gift fundraising and a successful track record of soliciting and closing six-figure and higher gifts is required, along with exceptional communication skills. The Director will maintain a portfolio of at least 100 donors and prospective donors with the capacity to give at the six-figure level and above. The Director will be expected to be available to travel outside the New York City area and attend evening and weekend meetings and events when necessary. First and foremost, the Director will be a driven frontline fundraiser and successful relationship builder. The Director will also have a mind for details and organization, such that they can be an effective strategic partner while also driving the work forward. Candidates with both skill sets are preferred.

 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Director of Major Gifts will
• carry a portfolio of donors and prospective donors with the capacity to make gifts at and above the six-figure level;
• build effective and productive relationships with prospective donors and between prospective donors and other School leaders, engaging and supporting the Head of School, board members, the Director of Institutional Advancement, and others as appropriate;
• carry primary responsibility for managing the pipeline of donors and prospective donors, ensuring that prospective donors are regularly moving closer to major gifts and to increasing their philanthropic commitment over time, and ensuring that all colleagues and volunteers involved in major gift fundraising are appropriately informed and engaged in the donor cultivation and solicitation process;
• serve as a strategic partner to the Director of Institutional Advancement, managing the campaign, major gift program, and donor pipeline in order to allow the Director of Institutional Advancement to focus on her principal duties and responsibilities;
• be a highly collaborative and caring colleague; and
• create ways to foster an inclusive fundraising culture by demonstrating a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and employing a fundraising model that includes the whole Nightingale community.

 

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS
The Nightingale-Bamford School seeks a Director of Major Gifts with
• a commitment to the mission of The Nightingale-Bamford School—to inspire girls to go beyond barriers;
• cultural competence and an ability to understand, appreciate, and work in an inclusive way with constituents across varied backgrounds and cultures;
• effective communication skills, both oral and written, including an ability to communicate complex issues as well as to maintain open communication channels with relevant stakeholders;
• an ability to set and execute goals that align with the strategic vision of the department;
• experience working in Raisers Edge/NXT or similar database;
• warmth and a sense of compassion and humor;
• a highly organized, self-motivated, detail-oriented, creative, strategic, and professional approach, with an ability to manage multiple projects under tight deadlines;
• an ability to maximize the utility of Microsoft Excel to best support the day-to-day work of campaign management;
• high professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information;
• exceptional interpersonal skills and an ability to work collaboratively with all levels of constituents; and
• a readiness to operate effectively within New York City's philanthropic communities. 

 

A bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience and at least three years of experience in a leadership position directing fundraising efforts for philanthropic or nonprofit organizations is preferred for this position. The Nightingale-Bamford School will consider candidates with a broad range of backgrounds and is committed to the inclusion of all qualified candidates. If you are excited about this role and feel that you can contribute to Nightingale-Bamford, but your experience does not exactly align with every qualification listed above, we encourage you to apply.

All applications must be accompanied by a cover letter and résumé. Cover letters should be responsive to the mission of The Nightingale-Bamford School as well as the responsibilities and qualifications presented in the prospectus.

The salary for this position is $150,000 to $170,000 annually.

To view the full prospectus and apply for this position, visit Aspen Leadership Group at: https://opportunities.aspenleadershipgroup.com/opportunities/1940