Director of Annual Giving

Working as a member of the Development Office, the Director of Annual Giving is responsible for leading and implementing the strategies to engage all constituencies -- alumni, honorary alumni, parents, past parents, grandparents, colleagues, former colleagues, and students -- in annual giving to Shipley. The Director focuses on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding these constituencies, coordinating with any prospect managers as appropriate.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop an effective yearly strategy to achieve unrestricted Annual Giving goals for constituencies.
• Analyze constituencies to determine appropriate segmentation and target constituents using giving history as well as prospect research.
• Design, write, and implement annual giving solicitations and supervise mail and email solicitation processes for constituents.
• Ensure accuracy of gift processing for constituent gifts.
• Develop gift acknowledgement templates for constituencies, tailoring individual letters as necessary.
• Oversee development and coordinate content for the annual Report of Gifts.
• Recruit, train, and support annual giving volunteers who are appropriately matched to constituents. Prepare and facilitate volunteer meetings, training sessions, and phonathons.
• Conceive and implement appropriate and beneficial stewardship strategies for constituencies.
• Coordinate cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities for Leadership Council ($1,894+) prospects and Young Alumni Leaders prospects, in concert with Prospect Managers.
• Manage a portfolio of up to 75 annual giving prospects, providing ongoing solicitation, cultivation, and stewardship. Conduct 40 or more prospect visits annually.
• In coordination with the Communications & Marketing team, manage and regularly update content of the Support Shipley section of Shipley's website.
• Design and execute the Senior Class giving campaign: organize and work with seniors and the 12th Grade Dean to determine the campaign goal and project designation; assist in the development of fundraising strategies, creation of letters, and fundraising events; coordinate student pledge reminders in post-campaign years.
• Convene and lead regular meetings of an Upper School Student Philanthropy Club, whose purpose is to educate the student body about the impact of philanthropy on the school and foster a spirit of giving on campus; support their efforts to plan engaging and meaningful awareness and fundraising activities, including the student giving component of the annual Day of Giving.
• Partner with reunion point people in their reunion giving campaign efforts, including overseeing all reunion solicitations and supporting alumni volunteers who are engaged as personal solicitors. Serve as Reunion point person for reunion classes as assigned.
• Plan and execute the annual Day of Giving.

General Responsibilities

• Educate constituents about the importance of supporting the school.
• Help identify prospects and volunteers for capital or special fundraising efforts.
• Attend Heads Forums when necessary or appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Director of Advancement Services and the Advancement Services Coordinator to obtain lists for solicitations and other data needs.
• Manage the use and accuracy of database records for constituencies.
• Manage annual giving budget for constituencies.
• Support and staff events run by the Development Office, including but not limited to Fall Fest, Secret Gardens, Day of Giving, Alumni Weekend, and Leadership Council event.

Qualifications and Expectations

• Familiarity with and endorsement of Shipley's mission, culture, and values
• Personal and professional integrity as well as respect for the confidentiality of colleagues and constituents
• Self-motivation, flexibility, problem-solving, and commitment to innovation
• Cooperation, collegiality, and commitment to teamwork
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Excellent quantity, quality, accuracy, and timeliness of work produced
• Excellent planning, prioritization, organization, multitasking, efficiency, and follow-through in execution of responsibilities
• Dependability, punctuality, and attendance at all required and some optional meetings and events
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Commitment to professional development and self-improvement
• Proficiency in the use of technology: Raiser's Edge database, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point), and web editing software. Working knowledge of Almabase or other digital engagement platforms is helpful
• Ability to work occasional evening weekends and travel regionally

Shipley and Its Commitment to Equity

The Shipley School, founded in 1894, is a co-educational, college preparatory, independent day school currently enrolling about 700 students in grades Pre-K through 12. Located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, the school is committed to educational excellence and dedicated to developing in each student a love of learning and compassionate participation in the world. The Middle and Upper divisions have approximately 450 students and a faculty of 90.

The Shipley School is committed to equal employment opportunities for all individuals. The school will make all employment decisions for employees and applicants without unlawful discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, pregnancy, age, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity and expression, creed, genetic predisposition, victim of domestic violence or any other basis protected by law.

About The Shipley School

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