Director of Institutional Advancement

Charles Wright Academy has engaged DovetailED to lead this search. Interested candidates

should email a cover letter (addressed to Chief Financial Officer, Stephanie Cisakowski),

a resume, and a list of at least three professional references consolidated as a single PDF

document to Lynda Hamilton-Kirk at lynda@doevtailedsourcing.com . Please do not contact the school directly.

Charles Wright Academy (CWA) seeks a strategic, relationship-driven, and visionary leader to

serve as its next Director of Institutional Advancement. This position offers an exciting opportunity to shape the future of philanthropic engagement at a thriving independent school

and to strengthen the partnerships that sustain its mission. Located on a beautiful, wooded

107-acre campus in Tacoma, Washington, CWA serves approximately 570 students in Preschool

through Grade 12.

Renowned for its rigorous college-preparatory academics and deeply relational culture, CWA

combines intellectual challenge with experiential education, the arts, athletics, and meaningful

service opportunities. The school fosters curiosity, character, confidence, and purpose in every

student, supported by close, respectful relationships between faculty and students.

Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a member of the senior leadership

team, the Director of Institutional Advancement will lead the CWA’s comprehensive

advancement program, including annual giving, major gifts, alumni relations, parent

engagement, donor stewardship, and philanthropic communications.

The Director will oversee advancement operations and lead the design and implementation of strategic fundraising initiatives that deepen relationships across the school community, expand philanthropic support, and ensure effective donor engagement. Through these efforts, the Director will advance the CWA’s mission and strengthen the school’s long-term financial sustainability.

Partnering closely with the Head of School, trustees, school leadership, alumni, parents, and community stakeholders, the Director will cultivate a culture of philanthropy and secure sustainable support for the school’s mission and strategic priorities. As CWA continues to

strengthen its programs and pursue strategic priorities, this role offers a pivotal opportunity to ensure the financial resources and community engagement necessary to sustain the school’s

long-term success.

This is an inspiring opportunity for an experienced independent school advancement professional to lead with vision, amplify CWA’s presence and impact, and contribute

meaningfully to a school where excellence, joy, and community are deeply intertwined.

The Role

Strategic Advancement Leadership

• Develop and execute a long-term advancement strategy aligned with the school’s
  
  

strategic priorities.

• Lead the overall vision, planning, and execution of CWA’s advancement program.
• Partner closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to cultivate, solicit, and
  
  

Steward major donors, providing targeted strategies for leadership gift prospects.

• Oversee Board Development Committee meetings and collaborate on strategy
• Ensure timely and strategic solicitation and stewardship efforts to maximize donor
  
  

engagement and giving.

• Identify opportunities to expand philanthropic support for strategic initiatives.
• Plan and position the school for future comprehensive or capital campaigns.
• Establish clear goals, benchmarks, and performance metrics for advancement programs.
• Plan and lead capital campaigns, major gift initiatives, and other fundraising efforts to secure philanthropic support for institutional needs.
• Build and sustain a culture of philanthropy at CWA
  
  

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Oversee all areas of advancement, including alumni engagement, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations, events, and parent engagement.
• Establish and implement fundraising strategies to increase donor participation across all giving levels, including grant funding.
• Identify and steward a portfolio of major donors and prospects, ensuring personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Oversee donor stewardship efforts, including impact reports, donor appreciation initiatives, and exclusive engagement opportunities for key supporters.
• Identify and steward a portfolio of major donors and prospects, ensuring personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
• Serve as the primary liaison between the school and key constituencies, articulating the impact of philanthropy and strengthening donor relationships.
• Partner with trustees and other key stakeholders to expand the donor pipeline, leveraging their networks to engage new prospects.
• Plan and implement donor events, regional gatherings, and on-campus engagement opportunities to cultivate community and support.
• Ensure best practices in donor recognition, stewardship, and relationship management are consistently applied across all advancement efforts.
• Prospect identification and development, including working with enrollment and Division Directors on prospect identification.
• Identify mid-level donors and work to guide them through the pipeline to major gifts
• Oversee and implement planned giving strategies and communications
• Work with CFO to identify and foster scholarships, as well as provide required annual reporting for all scholarships
  
  

Alumni and Community Engagement

• Expand alumni engagement and foster lifelong relationships with graduates.
• Develop programs that connect alumni with current students and faculty, enhancing mentorship and community involvement.
• Engage parents, grandparents, and friends of the school as partners in advancing the school’s mission.
• Support events and initiatives that build community and encourage philanthropic participation.
• Oversee Family Association and work with the head of school to finalize incoming prospects and yearly nominees
• Oversee community awards
  
  

Stewardship and Advancement Communications

• Ensure thoughtful and consistent stewardship of donors and volunteers.
• Communicate the impact of philanthropy on students, programs, and faculty.
• Partner with school leadership to develop compelling advancement messaging.
• Support the creation of materials that inspire philanthropic support and engagement.
• Ensure that stewardship and recognition practices reflect the CWA’s values and strengthen long-term relationships with donors and volunteers.
  
  

Team Leadership and Collaboration

• Supervise and mentor advancement staff, supporting professional growth and performance excellence.
• Encourage collaboration with enrollment, marketing, communications, and school leadership teams to align engagement strategies.
• Support trustee committees and volunteer leadership involved in fundraising initiatives.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and shared purpose across the advancement program and the broader school community.
  
  

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of increasing responsible management positions in fundraising, development, and advancement in independent schools.
• Proven experience developing solicitation strategies and a track record of success cultivating and soliciting high-level donors and securing major gifts.
• Exceptional communication, storytelling, and relationship-building skills.
• Broad exposure to all facets of advancement, including data management and analysis, annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, corporate and foundation relations and capital campaign planning and implementation.
• Strong leadership skills with experience mentoring, evaluating, and motivating teams
• Knowledge of the Puget Sound educational landscape and the independent school market is preferred.
• Strong management skills, both strategic and operational, and a demonstrated ability to build, manage, mentor, and motivate an effective team, while effectively engaging and staffing volunteers.
• A team player and team builder who has a passion for and commitment to achieving excellence in all aspects of CWA’s mission while fostering a high level of respect for colleagues.
• Must be willing and able to travel regionally and work nights and weekends when necessary.
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and belonging.