Lake Country School

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT
ADVANCEMENT DIRECTOR

About Lake Country School

With an urban campus in the heart of Minneapolis’s Kingsfield Neighborhood and a rural campus in Dunn County, Wisconsin, Lake Country School provides a Montessori learning environment for children from Preschool through Eighth Grade. Founded in 1976, the school fosters independence, critical thinking, and creativity within each child. As a community, Lake Country School promotes diversity and inclusion as well as respect for self, for others, and for the earth.

A Career Opportunity for a Collaborative Leader

The Advancement Director position is right for the person who will find fulfillment in an organization where they can:

• Provide visionary leadership with a team-oriented approach
• Serve as an organization’s chief communicator
• Balance a big picture vision with day-to-day execution
• Be proactive, resourceful, and adaptable
• Set benchmarks, measure progress, and achieve goals
• Embrace Lake Country School’s mission

The Advancement Director’s Responsibilities

The Advancement Director reports to the Head of School and supervises two full-time staff and several consultants. Primary responsibilities include the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Work closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and Board’s Advancement Committee to set advancement vision, strategy, implementation plans, and priorities
• Serve as a trusted advisor and thought partner to the Head of School on all advancement-related strategy and decision-making
• Develop and implement a comprehensive (multi-year) advancement strategy that encompasses development and fundraising, communications and marketing, and alumni relations, and that aligns with the school’s mission and strategic goals

• Collaborate with the Head of School, Admissions Director, and the Business Manager to align advancement efforts with the school's overall objectives

• Lead cross-functional collaboration between and among development, communications, marketing, alumni relations, and admissions to ensure alignment and consistency in messaging and outreach
• Provide regular progress updates and insights to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on advancement goals, metrics, and impact

Development & Fundraising

• Oversee all aspects of fundraising, including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, special giving, endowment, planned gifts, and grant writing
• Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with major donors, alumni, parents, corporate partners, and foundations, working closely with the Head of School
• Lead the planning for and oversee the execution of fundraising events and donor recognition programs
• Oversee management of the donor database system and ensure timely acknowledgement and reporting
• Develop grant proposals and oversee the management of grants to secure institutional funding.
• Create, oversee, and track the development budget, ensuring efficient and effective use of funds

Communications & Marketing

• Create and implement marketing and communication strategies to support admissions, fundraising, community engagement, and crisis response
• Oversee all internal and external communications, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment with mission and values, and the school’s brand across all constituent groups and communication channels
• Serve as a key storyteller at the school, communicating the impact and value of a Lake Country School education to internal and external audiences
• Elevate the school’s visibility in the broader community and among prospective families

Community Engagement & Alumni Relations

• Foster a culture of philanthropy among parents and grandparents, faculty, alumni, and the broader school community
• Oversee communication strategies that effectively share the impact of giving and the school’s development efforts
• Meaningfully engage parents, alumni, and the broader school community through events, gatherings, communications, and networking opportunities, which will foster a strong sense of community and loyalty
• Oversee the management and accuracy of the alumni database

Other Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of development, communications, marketing, and alumni affairs, ensuring efficient and effective processes
• Stay current on best practices in advancement, and continuously seek out opportunities to learn and improve your skills and knowledge in the field of advancement
• Advance the mission, vision, and values of Lake Country School

Compensation, Salary, and Benefits

The salary range for this position is $85,000 to $105,000. The salary is commensurate with qualifications and experience. There is a generous benefits package.

To Apply

Lake Country School is committed to social, racial, gender, and economic justice and strongly encourages women, veterans, persons with disabilities, and individuals who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQ to apply.  We encourage people to apply who have lived, worked, had educational experiences, or attended schools, specifically HBCUs or other BIPOC-focused schools, where there is substantial diversity. We value collaboration, building community, interdependence with nature, and creative thinking and problem-solving. Lake Country School is committed to its faculty and staff reflecting the diversity of the Twin Cities area.

To apply, interested candidates should fill out an application form at the following link: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/e7ae8debfab442e6a8fbb07d6502d1a2. Applicants will also be asked to upload BOTH a letter of interest and a résumé.

Lake Country School will begin review application materials no later than July 15, 2025

Desired Education and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree is required, an advanced degree or relevant certifications are a plus
• Four or more years of experience in Advancement
• Experience in independent schools or education-related institutions a plus
• Proven track record in fundraising, donor engagement, and communications strategy.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to capture and convey mission and values across diverse platforms and audiences
• Strong strategic thinking, project management, and leadership skills
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with a diverse range of stakeholders
• Familiarity with donor A database system: Raisers Edge and digital email and marketing platforms are a plus
• Deep appreciation for the Montessori philosophy and a desire to work in a child-centered educational environment