Leadership Giving Officer

About Catlin Gabel School

Catlin Gabel School seeks to employ the best qualified individuals from available applicants and to provide them with opportunity for advancement in a manner that does not discriminate because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status protected under local, state, or federal equal employment opportunity laws or regulations.

The School believes that each employee makes a significant contribution to the school’s success. That contribution should not be limited by the assigned responsibilities. Therefore, this position description is designed to outline primary duties, qualifications, and job scope, but not limit the incumbent nor the organization to just the work identified. It is our expectation that each employee will offer their services wherever and whenever necessary to ensure the success of our endeavors.

Position Summary

The Leadership Giving Officer (LGO) is a dynamic, relationship-driven fundraiser responsible for securing leadership-level annual gifts ranging from $3,000 to $10,000, bridging the gap between broad-based annual giving and major gifts. As a key member of the Annual Giving team within the broader Advancement Department, the LGO manages a portfolio of prospects—including current parents, alumni, parents of alumni, and grandparents—to build a robust pipeline of sustainable, high-impact annual support.

While the primary focus is individual gift solicitation, the LGO is an integral part of a collaborative team. Reporting directly to the Director of Annual Giving, the LGO helps execute the Director’s overarching vision and will actively pitch in on comprehensive annual giving initiatives, including appeals, giving days, events, and community-wide advancement activities.

This position requires diplomacy and good judgment in working with a wide range of backgrounds and in dealing with highly confidential and sensitive information. The LGO must be able to simultaneously manage multiple relationships and programmatic details, such as communications and events. The LGO requires cultural competency and skill in facilitating conversations with volunteers, donors, and staff on issues that may arise.

Salary Range: $73k-$80k

Essential Responsibilities

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approx. 150 leadership annual giving prospects and donors.
• Conduct a high volume of strategic moves management actions, including face-to-face visits, video calls, phone calls, and personalized correspondence.
• Achieve explicit annual goals for continuous giving, upgrades, and new donor acquisition within the $3k–$10k leadership tier.
• Collaborate with Major Gifts and Alumni Relations colleagues to ensure seamless donor transitions through the fundraising pipeline.
• Work closely under the direction of the Director of Annual Giving to champion and execute the school’s yearly annual giving strategy.
• Actively contribute to the annual Gala-Auction under the direction of the Annual Giving Director, which include functions like package/item procurement, soliciting and stewarding paddle raise commitments, volunteer management, drafting communications, and event logistics.
• Pitch in as an all-hands-on-deck team member to support macro-level annual giving efforts, including writing appeal copy, coordinating giving days, and managing volunteers.
• Assist in analyzing donor data to identify emerging trends and leadership-level prospects within the broader community.
• Support and attend major Advancement and school-wide events (e.g., Homecoming, Alumni Weekend, Grandparents Day, etc.) to network with prospects and build community rapport.
• Represent the Advancement Team and the school's mission authentically to internal and external stakeholders.
  
  

Other Responsibilities

• Other duties, as assigned by the Annual Giving Director
• Work collaboratively with team on departmental goals and events
  
  

INTERPERSONAL CONTACTS

• Interactions occur most routinely with employees in all divisions and departments, current parents, external constituents (i.e., alumni, parents of former students, donors), administration team, Board of Trustees, and school volunteers.
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Does not supervise other employees
• Supervises volunteers with a wide range of experience/knowledge. Volunteers include parents, students, grandparents, and alumni, many of whom are also generous donors to the school.
  
  

COMPETENCIES

• Experience: 1-3 years of successful fundraising or relationship-management experience, preferably in an independent school, higher education, or non-profit setting. Experience with leadership annual giving or direct solicitation is highly desirable.
• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills. Ability to articulate the unique value of a PK-12 independent school education compellingly.
• Collaboration & Mindset: A true team player with a "no task too small" attitude. Must be comfortable balancing independent portfolio goals with shared team objectives.
• Technical Savvy: Proficiency with fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Veracross, or similar CRM software) and data-driven moves management.
• Flexibility: Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events or donor visits.
  
  

Our Team Culture: The Advancement Team operates on a foundation of collaboration, shared vision, and mutual support. While each team member has distinct performance metrics, we celebrate collective wins and regularly cross-train to support one another during peak fundraising seasons and major school events.

Working Conditions And Physical Requirements

The requirements listed below are representative of physical requirements and may not be all-encompassing. Incumbents must be able to perform job duties with or without accommodations.

• Work is primarily performed in a school office setting with moderate heat, sound, and light.
• Ability to remain in a stationary position (primarily at a desk) for prolonged periods of time.
• The ability to move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces. Some events may take place outside.
• Frequent and consistent operation of a computer and other standard office machinery requiring manual dexterity.
• Infrequent bending, squatting, stooping and kneeling
• Occasional lifting of up to 20 pounds
• Regularly attends school events requiring a lot of standing, walking, carrying and other physical activity
  
  

SCHEDULE

This is a full time, twelve months per year position. Occasional early morning, evening and additional hours on weekends are needed to facilitate and attend events outside of normal business hours.