Rochester, New York
Posted: 08-Jun-26
Location: Rochester, New York
Type: Full Time
Salary: $65,000 - $83,000
Categories:
Required Education:
Application Instructions: Submit cover letter, resume and three (3) professional references to employment@mercyhs.com
Job Title: Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving – (1.0 FTE)
About Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women
Our Lady of Mercy is an Independent Catholic all-girls middle and high school deeply rooted in the Mercy faith tradition. We welcome all girls in grades six through twelve — inclusive of all incomes, races, and faith affiliations who are seeking an alternative to public school or who wish to continue to pursue a faith-based education. We have a strong history of providing high quality education to young women, empowering them to excel academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. Our commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive community, along with a dedication to Mercy values sets us apart as a leader in Catholic education. Mercy builds life-changing competence, confidence, and compassion that prepares and inspires young women to achieve the highest level of success in college, in career, and in the community.
Job Summary: As Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women prepares for its Centennial celebration and enters a comprehensive philanthropic campaign, the Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving will serve a pivotal role in deepening relationships with alumnae, enhancing strategic volunteer engagement, and supporting a culture of philanthropy.
This position is designed to focus less on event logistics and more on strategic relationship building and alumnae discovery, with clear and measurable goals that propel institutional advancement priorities forward.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Alumnae Discovery and Engagement
? Conduct 30–40 alumnae discovery and stewardship visits annually to identify philanthropic potential and build deeper constituent understanding
? Identify and qualify 20+ alumnae annually as potential campaign donors and/or Centennial year celebration volunteers
? Steward alumnae through intentional, personalized outreach and ongoing follow-up
? Managing a portfolio of alumnae, including cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship for annual fund, major, campaign, and planned gifts
? Manage alumnae recognition and awards
2. Volunteer Leadership and Pipeline Development
? Recruit and manage class agents with a goal of engaging at least two per milestone reunion year; support peer-to-peer outreach initiatives in alignment with campaign and Centennial year fundraising goals
? Chair the Centennial Steering Committee, build a pipeline of alumnae leaders who could continue beyond the Centennial through a formal Alumnae Council or similar leadership body
? Re-establish and manage the Mercy Alumnae Board
? Collaborate with current reunion volunteers and parents to foster broader engagement and giving
3. Strategic Events (7-10 Annually)
? Plan and execute 7-10 strategic events per year with high engagement potential and clear ROI, including Reunion, Regional Gatherings, and Career Exploration Day
? Serve on the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee as a representative of the Development Team
? Review and assess the value of events to determine viability and return on investment
? Coordinate with Institutional Advancement team on campaign event planning and donor engagement opportunities 4. Alumnae and Community Communications
? Develop a monthly alumnae e-newsletter and support the creation of stories that highlight alumnae impact, align with campaign messaging, and reinforce the value of a Mercy education
? Collaborate with the Marketing Office to share alumnae achievements and school updates across platforms
? Participate in producing the annual alumnae magazine, Angles
6. Parent Engagement
? Develop strategies to engage current and past Mercy parents as volunteers and donors, recognizing their critical role in supporting the school community
7. Other Expectations
? Ability to work collaboratively with a variety of constituents to achieve school advancement goals
? Ability to work independently and as part of a team
? Effective interpersonal and communication skills
? Effective organizational skills and proven ability to successfully manage and prioritize multiple projects and/or tasks to achieve goals and meet timelines
? Knowledge of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
? Commitment to the Our Lady of Mercy mission and its core values
? Willingness to travel and work some weekends and evenings
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
? 30–40 alumnae visits per year
? Identification of 20+ qualified alumnae prospects annually
? Recruit and retain two class agents per milestone class
? +15% engagement increase at key alumnae events
Qualifications: ? Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
? 5+ years in alumni relations, advancement, or campaign preparation preferred
? Proven ability to build relationships and engage volunteers
? Excellent communication and project management skills
? Mission alignment with Mercy education and the advancement of women’s leadership
In addition to key responsibilities, the Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving will perform other duties as assigned.
Pay Range: $65,000 - $83,000 a year (pay information will vary depending upon relevant experience for the position)
Equal Opportunity Employment Policy
Our Lady of Mercy School for Young Women has a clear vision: to be a place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and do their best work. Helping us achieve this vision is our policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Accordingly, all applicants for employment are to be treated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or citizen status, disability, sexual orientation, marital or veteran’s status, or any other status protected by law. This policy pertains to every aspect of an individual’s relationship with the school, including but not limited to recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, or termination. Revised
Qualifications:
? Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred
? 5+ years in alumni relations, advancement, or campaign preparation preferred
? Proven ability to build relationships and engage volunteers
? Excellent communication and project management skills
? Mission alignment with Mercy education and the advancement of women’s leadership
