Director of Advancement
- Posted
- 11 days ago
- Employment type
- Full-Time
- Location
- Santa Monica, CA
- Closing date
About this organization
New Roads School, an academically vigorous, progressive K–12 independent school in Santa Monica, CA.
Founded in 1995 by educators Paul Cummins and David Bryan, New Roads was born from a bold belief that students learn best in an authentically inclusive environment where differences are celebrated and every voice matters. New Roads is more than just a school — it is a true educational village where intellectual curiosity meets social consciousness.
About this job
At this pivotal moment in the school’s history, New Roads seeks a dynamic Director of Advancement with proven skill in the field who can build meaningful partnerships across the entire community. Under the leadership of Interim Head of School Dan Vorenberg, a seasoned and well-respected independent school Head, the school is ready to establish a comprehensive culture of philanthropy — one that honors the school’s mission and vision while securing the financial resources needed for lasting impact. New Roads is currently operating from a position of strength and stability — they have strong enrollment, annual giving that has surpassed target goals, and an operating budget surplus despite the recent Southern California wildfires.
Salary Range $150,000-180,000
Roles & responsibilities
- Work with the HOS, Director of Finance, and Board Development Committee to establish fundraising goals for each year.
- Develop and implement short- and long-term advancement plans to meet established advancement goals and objectives. This includes but is not limited to: strategic initiatives for securing major gifts; donations to The New Roads Fund; corporate and foundation grants; endowment gifts; alumni giving program; defining stewardship and prospecting tactics and strategies; designing and implementing fundraising/cultivation events including Kaleidoscope; and approaches to supporting fundraising initiatives.
- Manage prospect research and cultivation initiatives with special emphasis on pursuing strategies to secure or increase giving from donors. This includes a review of strategies and contact reports for potential donors.
- Develop strategies for existing donors to effectively move them through a meaningful cycle of giving.
- Manage the Advancement office, staff, and processes, including oversight of day-to-day operations; establish and monitor budget as well as key performance metrics; provide regular performance reviews; lead hiring process for new staff as needed; provide/encourage participation in appropriate professional development opportunities.
- Oversee gift processing and donor acknowledgments, donor database, and financial reporting.
- Work collaboratively and creatively with Parent Village and key constituencies, including Board members, alumni, alumni parents, former board members, grandparents, friends, community members.
- Attend meetings of the Board of Trustees to report on Advancement activities; serve as the administrative liaison to the Board Advancement Committee; educate and engage the Board of Trustees to participate in fund development; serve on or attend other Board committee meetings as required.
- Participate in at least one conference for professional development annually (ISANNE, CASE, Blackbaud Conference, etc.).
Qualifications
The next Director will be a proven leader in advancement work, energized by forging new relationships and building community; excited to share the compelling story of New Roads School; and skilled at forming and nurturing a culture of philanthropy. Demonstrating a high level of integrity, initiative, and innovative thinking, the Director will be a visible and known presence in the community, a seasoned and transparent communicator, and a deft collaborator.
Additionally, the Director will:
- Be perceptive and flexible, able to read the room, adapt to different stakeholders, and handle complex social dynamics
- Be values-driven, authentically embracing and championing the school’s mission, vision, and culture
- Be adept at building trust
- Have a strong aptitude for using technology and data to inform effective advancement decisions and efforts
- Be highly principled, sharing responsibilities and successes with a spirit of generosity; always putting the interests of the school first
- Strive for sustainability, beyond personal tenure
- Be proactive, continually looking for ways to avert problems and improve systems
- Approach challenges with a problem-solving, forward-thinking, flexible mindset, asking for help when needed
- Maintain a calm demeanor in the midst of challenge
- Demonstrate trustworthiness in dealing with confidential matters
QUALIFICATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s Degree required
- A minimum of five years of experience, with increasing responsibility, in a broad range of fundraising activities – annual campaign, major gifts fundraising, events, and related fundraising activities, including: Experience in developing a strategic fund development plan; Experience in establishing strategies for identifying, qualifying, and cultivating prospective donors; proven and measurable track record of successful face-to-face interactions with prospective donors; record of successful stewardship of existing donors
- Experience managing projects and a department
- Facility with Raiser’s Edge or comparable software
- Knowledge and understanding of advancement best practice trends and challenges; drive to continuously update knowledge and skills in this area
- Previous experience working on a capital campaign and/or with a capital campaign consultant
- Familiarity with independent schools is a plus
To apply
Interested candidates should to following materials via the direct link.
- A cover letter indicating the candidate’s particular interest in and qualifications for the position
- A current resume
- The names, email addresses, and telephone numbers of five professional references, including at least two recent supervisors. References should speak to the applicant’s ability to be an effective administrator and to work collaboratively and collegially with all relevant stakeholders (references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission). Please indicate your relationship with each reference (i.e. supervisor, colleague, or direct report).
Please address any questions by email to ara@strategenius.org.