Watkinson School is an independent day school in Hartford, Connecticut, serving students through a mission-driven, close-knit community. Founded in 1881, Watkinson is Hartford's oldest independent school, with a campus featuring buildings on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and a legacy rooted in progressive education. Today it serves approximately 225 students from over forty Connecticut towns in grades six through twelve, as well as The Academy at Watkinson, a unique postgraduate program. Watkinson's mission is to develop in its students the power to shape their own lives and the world around them, supported by a low student-to-teacher ratio and small class sizes.
About the Role
Watkinson School seeks an Associate Director of Annual Giving to join a collaborative, four-person Development team. This role is central to the school's fundraising success; owning the Fund for Everyday Excellence (Watkinson’s Annual Fund) donor pipeline, leading the school's signature Day of Giving campaign, and working fluently within the team's donor database to support outreach and reporting. The ideal candidate is equal parts relationship-builder and detail-oriented operator, someone who is as comfortable soliciting a gift face-to-face as they are managing a clean, accurate database record.
Key Responsibilities
Stewardship of the Fund for Everyday Excellence
● Campaign Management: Plan and execute annual giving appeals, mailings, and digital fundraising campaigns, working with the Director on messaging, segmentation, and timing.
● Donor Relations: Serve as primary owner of the $100–$1,500 donor pipeline; cultivate, solicit, and steward donors in that range, with a focus on growing participation and upgrading giving over time.
● Data Tracking & Analysis: Track gift progress and analyze donor trends within the school's CRM to inform outreach strategy and identify upgrade and re-engagement opportunities.
● Strategic Partner: Work closely with the Director of Development on strategy and goal-setting.
Day of Giving
● Own the coordination, growth strategy, and execution of the school's annual Day of Giving campaign from start to finish.
● Identify and implement opportunities to grow participation, dollars raised, and campus/community engagement year over year.
Database Operations
● Work fluently within Bloomerang (the school's CRM) to support donor outreach, gift tracking, and reporting.
● Maintain data integrity within areas of ownership and flag system issues or inefficiencies as they arise.
Events
● Support the planning and execution of Development events, including major fundraising events, cultivation receptions, and donor stewardship activities.
● Attend events as needed, which may include occasional evening and weekend work.
General Office Support
● Provide general operational support to the Development team as needed.
Qualifications
● Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
● 3+ years of experience in development, annual giving, or a related nonprofit/fundraising role.
● Proven experience working face-to-face with donors and soliciting gifts of $1,000 or more.
● Fluency with a modern donor database or CRM required; Bloomerang experience a plus.
● Strong project management skills and comfort owning a campaign from planning through execution.
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an ability to connect authentically with donors.
● High attention to detail and a genuine interest in data integrity and process improvement.
● Ability to work collaboratively within a small, fast-paced team.
● Willingness to attend evening and weekend events as needed.
The position is full-time, 40 hours a week. Compensation includes competitive salary
and benefits. This is an immediate opening and the search will continue until the
position is filled.
Watkinson School is an equal opportunity employer and an open and affirming
community. We seek candidates of diverse backgrounds. Qualified candidates are
encouraged to send a letter of interest, resume, and a minimum of three references
Job Type: Full-time
Work Location: In person
