Laurence School seeks an experienced, collaborative, and relationship-driven Associate Director of Development & Annual Giving to help lead a comprehensive fundraising program that advances the school's philanthropic priorities and strengthens community engagement.
Working closely with the Director of Development, this position plays a role in planning, implementing, and managing the school's annual giving program while supporting capital, scholarship, and special fundraising initiatives. The Associate Director oversees campaign operations, donor stewardship, volunteer engagement, fundraising events, constituent data management, reporting, and development communications. This individual serves as a key partner in fostering a culture of philanthropy throughout the Laurence community.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Annual Giving & Fundraising
In partnership with the Director of Development:
- Manage all aspects of the Laurence Fund annual giving campaign, including campaign strategy, timelines, solicitations, donor segmentation, participation goals, stewardship, and campaign analysis.
- Help develop and execute fundraising strategies that increase donor participation and philanthropic support across all constituencies.
- Coordinate annual giving appeals through print, email, social media, and digital platforms in collaboration with the Communications Department.
- Draft compelling donor communications including appeals, acknowledgments, stewardship pieces, impact reports, and recognition materials.
- Develop strategies that cultivate a culture of philanthropy throughout the Laurence community.
- Build and maintain meaningful relationships with parents, grandparents, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty, staff, trustees, and friends of the school.
- Coordinate donor recognition and stewardship efforts, ensuring timely gift acknowledgments and personalized follow-up.
Database Management & Reporting
- Serve as the primary administrator for the Development database (Veracross or comparable CRM), ensuring the integrity and accuracy of constituent records.
- Process and acknowledge charitable gifts while maintaining accurate donor records and campaign tracking.
- Create, analyze, and maintain fundraising dashboards, reports, and campaign performance metrics.
- Produce detailed participation reports, donor lists, giving analyses, pledge reports, and other development reports for school leadership and the Board of Trustees.
- Partner with the Business Office to reconcile gifts, pledges, and financial reports across all fundraising initiatives.
- Assist with preparation of the Annual Report, donor recognition publications, and campaign reporting.
Special Events & Community Engagement
Collaborate with the Director of Development to plan and execute fundraising, stewardship, and cultivation events, including:
- Annual Spring Gala & Auction
- Parent Association fundraising events
- Donor appreciation events
- Alumni events and reunions
- Capital campaign events
- Volunteer recognition activities
- Other school-wide fundraising initiatives
Responsibilities include:
- Developing event timelines and project plans.
- Assist in managing event logistics, budgets, vendors, catering, rentals, décor, and event production.
- Coordinating volunteers and event committees.
- Working closely with Operations, Facilities, Communications, and Business Office teams to ensure successful event execution.
- Supporting event setup, breakdown, and onsite management.
Parent Association & Volunteer Leadership
- Serve as the Development liaison to the Parent Association on fundraising initiatives and community-building events.
- Recruit, train, and support parent volunteers for annual giving campaigns and fundraising activities.
- Coordinate the annual Laurence Fund Phonathon, including volunteer recruitment, training materials, scripts, and campaign reporting.
- Support Parent Association committees with fundraising planning and implementation throughout the school year.
Alumni & Constituent Relations
- Assist in developing and implementing a comprehensive alumni engagement program.
- Maintain accurate alumni records and communication lists.
- Coordinate alumni fundraising appeals, events, reunions, and volunteer opportunities.
- Strengthen relationships with grandparents, alumni parents, and other key constituent groups.
General Development Responsibilities
- Participate in strategic planning for development initiatives.
- Collaborate across departments to ensure consistent messaging and donor engagement.
- Assist with capital campaigns, scholarship fundraising, and other institutional priorities as assigned.
- Perform additional duties in support of the Development Office and school leadership.
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of progressively responsible fundraising, advancement, or nonprofit development experience; independent school experience strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated success managing annual giving campaigns, fundraising events, and volunteer programs.
- Experience working with fundraising databases such as Veracross, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Blackbaud, or similar CRM platforms.
- Strong analytical skills with the ability to create and interpret fundraising reports, dashboards, and campaign metrics.
- Exceptional organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
- Excellent written, verbal, editing, and interpersonal communication skills.
- High level of professionalism, discretion, and customer service.
- Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office Suite.
- Ability to work collaboratively while exercising sound judgment and initiative.
- Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends for school events.
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer.
- Ability to stand for extended periods during events.
- Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, climb, and reach.
- Frequently lift and carry up to 10 pounds and occasionally up to 25 pounds.
Nondiscrimination Policy:
Laurence School is an equal opportunity employer.
Consistent with applicable laws, Laurence School does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, age, religious belief, physical or mental disability, color, national or ethnic origin, or other protected basis in any fashion, including, but not limited to, in the educational instruction, administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid or scholarships, athletic or other School-administered programs, and any other activities generally accorded or made available to students at the School. In addition, consistent with applicable laws, Laurence School prohibits discrimination against employees or applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religion (including all aspects of religious beliefs, observance or practice, including religious dress or grooming practices), sex (including gender, gender identity, gender expression, transgender, pregnancy and breastfeeding), national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, marital status or registered domestic partner status, uniformed service member or veteran status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic characteristics or information, or any other basis protected by law. The School will afford equal employment opportunity to all qualified employees and applicants as to all terms and conditions of employment, including, without limitation, compensation, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination.
Pay: $90,000.00 - $120,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
