Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship 

gogunn.org | Washington, CT 

The Frederick Gunn School, founded in 1850, is a co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12 as well as a post-graduate year. Mr. Gunn had a deep appreciation for the natural world, believing that in nature students understand themselves as humans and their place in the world. He took a principled stand against slavery and spurred students (and the town at large) to examine their beliefs. In addition to the habits and skills students will need in college and life beyond, we teach them to follow Mr. Gunn’s example: to cultivate wisdom, to be trailblazers, to act with conviction, and to value character as highly as intellect and achievement. 

Our continuous focus on moral character development intentionally engages all members of our school in the work of creating an inclusive and equitable living and learning ecosystem.  Community and citizenship are at the heart of our aspiration to both social justice and academic excellence, with individual diversity integral to the strength of that community. When we embrace difference and pursue school life with respect, equity, and compassion, we build a foundation for engaged citizens.

In keeping with the tenets of our founder Frederick Gunn, who was himself a prominent abolitionist and progressive educator, The Frederick Gunn School seeks to provide a pluralistic learning environment for all inclusive of (but not limited to): culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, learning differences, physical difference, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic differences.  

We invite applicants who resonate with our mission and who will foster an environment of cultural and intellectual richness and an active participant in advancing equity and inclusion.

Summary 

The Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship provides strategic leadership for a comprehensive donor relations program at The Frederick Gunn School. This role is responsible for developing and executing engagement initiatives that foster meaningful relationships between donors and the School. The Director oversees the planning of donor engagement and recognition events, personalized stewardship communications, and robust reporting on endowed funds and named buildings. This role also serves as the primary liaison with the Enrollment and Business Offices to coordinate donor interactions and reporting related to scholarships and endowed funds.

Essential Functions / Responsibilities

Stewardship and Donor Relations:

• Develop and implement donor relations and stewardship programming aligned with industry best practices.
• Develop and maintain programming to increase volunteer involvement and financial support of the school.
• Help Build and Develop ‘The Gunn Network’
• Maintain and refine criteria for special acknowledgment letters based on giving levels and volunteer roles.
• Prepare annual reports for leadership donors on behalf of the Head of School and Chief Advancement Officer (CAO).
• Collaborate with the Business Office on financial reporting, ensuring accurate designation and tracking of endowed funds.
• Work with campus partners, including the Business Office, to track and report on the impact of endowed funds, including scholarship aid, teaching chairs, faculty and student prizes.
• Partner with senior school leadership, including the Dean of Faculty, Dean of Students, and Dean of Athletics and Co-Curricular Education, to facilitate transparent communication regarding donor impact.

Strategic Initiatives:

• Manage a selected stewardship caseload of high-capacity donors to appropriately recognize and engage Frederick Gunn’s most loyal supporters.
• Lead strategic initiatives that increase donor engagement and philanthropic opportunities, as well as other high-level strategic projects as assigned.
• Develop personalized yearly stewardship plans for the School’s most generous donors, defined as those who have contributed $1M or more, and execute all elements of these plans in collaboration with frontline fundraisers.
• Partner with assigned Gift Officers to identify stewardship opportunities for current donors and those approaching the $1M giving threshold.
• Ensure timely and personalized donor reporting, working in coordination with campus partners.
• Identify and implement creative engagement opportunities for major donors, such as video thank-you messages, personal tours, School news features, and virtual meetings with program administrators.

Leadership and Collaboration:

• Supervise the Assistant Director of Engagement and Director of Special Events, ensuring alignment with overall donor relations strategies.
• Oversee the accurate production of special acknowledgment reports and letters, collaborating with the Alumni & Development team to personalize communications.
• Draft personal letters, reports, and emails to select donors on behalf of the CAO and Head of School, including special acknowledgments.
• Lead/Partner on the planning of key donor recognition events.
• Manage the preparation and distribution of annual reports for endowed fund donors, including follow-ups with scholarship and teaching chair recipients.
• Ensure stewardship data is accurately maintained in the donor database system, conducting routine audits of endowment reporting data.
• Coordinate with the Finance Office on endowed fund records.
• Manage vendor relationships and assist in executing various donor gifts and recognition materials.
• Coordinate with Director of Special Events to execute events including Holiday Receptions, Parents Weekend, Commencement, Alumni Weekend, and other on and off-campus events.
• Lead the Alumni Alumni Association, in collaboration with President and members of the Executive Committee, to organize and deploy the various association subcommittees.
• Undertake other special projects as assigned.

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in donor relations, stewardship, advancement, or related fields.
• Strong understanding of fundraising principles, donor stewardship best practices, and engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in managing donor recognition events and personalized stewardship plans.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling written and verbal communications for a variety of audiences.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to handle multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Experience working with donor databases, financial reporting tools, and CRM systems (experience with Blackbaud is a plus).
• Ability to work collaboratively across departments and with senior leadership.
• High level of discretion and professionalism in handling confidential donor information.

To Apply:

This position is a 12-month, full-time, exempt opening. Salary is competitive, and the employment package consists of excellent benefits, including outstanding health and dental coverage and a retirement plan. To apply, please send a cover letter, resume, and three professional references (references will not be contacted without notifying you) to: goettingm@Frederickgunn.org. Application materials are being accepted now through May 30, 2025, and qualified applicants will be invited to interview. Candidacy for the position will be kept confidential through the initial rounds of the search. This position has a start date of July 1, 2025.

Core Values 

Integrated Humans 

Thriving people learn to integrate the intellectual, the physical, the spiritual, and the emotional through an examination of the place of each, discernment about their relative role, and a commitment to balance and flourishing. 

Hopeful Faculty 

We prize faculty who believe resiliently, optimistically and with good humor in the students’ and faculty’s collective ability to grow and learn; know their discipline and practice, and understand character development. A faculty oriented around these principles will earn the confidence of students and create a place of purpose and fun where faculty and students want to be. 

Learning Ecosystem 

Thriving communities recognize the interdependent nature of their parts. Therefore, The Frederick Gunn School is a school that champions the interdisciplinary and inter-experiential nature of life and learning - one that incorporates the outdoors, athletics, and arts, as well as academics, into everyday life. 

Moral Character Development 

We are a school that nurtures Mr. Gunn’s belief in character as the driving force in a life well-lived, and that character emerges through the intentional pursuit—in knowledge and practice—of what is good, right, true, sustainable, and beautiful. 

Engaged Citizens 

The Frederick Gunn School is a school that, despite growing cultural apathy, 

cynicism, consumerism and distraction, produces people who care deeply - who become wise, engaged, active citizens.

About The Frederick Gunn School

Connections working at The Frederick Gunn School