The Advent School, located in the Beacon Hill section of Boston, Massachusetts, serves 200 students in pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. A mission-focused school founded in the principles of social justice, Advent has served the students and families of Boston since 1961. Through its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Advent's faculty deliver authentic, rigorous, and experiential learning opportunities that encourage students to "learn with passion, act with courage, and change the world."

The Advent School seeks a Director of Development. This individual works closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to plan, implement, and sustain all aspects of the School’s upcoming capital campaign, in addition to overseeing the annual fund and planned giving. The Director of Development is part of the Advancement team and collaborates with the Director of Communication and the Associate Director of Advancement. This individual is an active member of the School’s leadership team, representing the development needs of the School, and reports directly to the Head of School.

The Director of Development is a full-time, salaried position that includes medical and dental insurance, a retirement plan, professional development opportunities, and paid time off.

Responsibilities & Duties

Fundraising

• Lead a comprehensive and strategic fundraising program, including annual and planned giving, capital campaigns, alumni relations, stewardship, and research to reach goals
• Oversee all capital campaign activities, including support of the steering committee, volunteer management, funding priorities, expenses, and campaign events
• Serve as a thought partner with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to develop and execute a vision, strategy, and goals for philanthropic giving at the School
• Provide materials, strategy, and support for the Head of School’s donor prospect meetings, attending donor meetings as needed
• Identify, cultivate, and strengthen relationships with alumni, potential donors, and others in the community

Marketing & Communications

• Work in partnership with the Director of Communication to create development-specific communications, including campaign communications, the Annual Report, and other related publications
• Keep up-to-date on major School topics and issues, serving as an ambassador

Management & Outreach

• Serve as a direct liaison with the Business Office on all development-related funding and expenses, including reconciliation and reporting
• Serve on the Board Advancement Committee and produce frequent annual and capital fundraising progress reports and analyses for the Head of School, Advancement Committee, and the Board of Trustees
• Serve as a liaison to the Committee on Trustees, recommending trustee candidates, recruiting new trustees, and training trustees in development functions
• Maintain the School's development database in Raiser's Edge, including entering gifts and processing acknowledgment letters 
• Work directly with the Advancement Team on goal setting, team meetings, and staff support, and participate in supervision, evaluation, and professional growth
• Serve as a leader for the school community, participating in the daily life and operation of the school, extending beyond the responsibilities of the development role
• Attend school-wide events to meet and engage with members of the Advent community, including the occasional evening and weekend event

Required Skills & Characteristics

The Advent School is a good fit for professionals who believe in the School's mission of education for equity and social justice. Candidates should possess strong personal drive and motivation, demonstrate exemplary professional behavior and values, and be resourceful, responsible, and collaborative.

The ideal candidate will have three to five years of experience as a development professional, ideally in education or a non-profit setting, in addition to:

• A proven track record in fundraising and constituent relations
• Excellent analytical, time management, and organizational skills, including ability to prioritize projects based on School goals
• Capacity to work effectively and collaboratively with colleagues, members of the board, donors, volunteers, consultants, and all other constituents
• Familiarity and experience with Blackbaud products, including Raiser's Edge
• Knowledge of best practices in independent school fundraising
• Ability to maintain a high level of confidentiality
• Strong oral and written communication skills
• Bachelor's degree required

Interested candidates should email their resume and cover letter to Nicole A. DuFauchard P'20, Head of School, at ndufauchard@adventschool.org. In your cover letter, describe your connection to The Advent School mission.

About The Advent School

The Advent School, located in the Beacon Hill section of Boston, Massachusetts, serves 200 students in pre-Kindergarten through Sixth Grade. A mission-focused school founded in the principles of social justice, Advent has served the students and families of Boston since 1961. Through its Reggio Emilia-inspired curriculum, Advent's faculty deliver authentic, rigorous, and experiential learning opportunities that encourage students to "learn with passion, act with courage, and change the world."

Connections working at The Advent School