Laurel Fund Manager (Annual Fund)

Description

Reports to: Director of Advancement

Ready to land a career where every day is rewarding and contributing to a larger purpose in our school community? Laurel School is searching for a bright, emerging superstar—maybe you!—to take the lead on our annual giving program. Forget the boring desk job; this is a hands-on role where you'll get to turn great ideas and data into real-world impact. We're looking for someone who loves connecting with people, is excited about education, and is ready to make a huge difference right away.  If you are looking for the right platform to accelerate your career in development and lead a critical institutional priority, we want to hear from you.  This is your chance to lead our annual giving program, gaining hands-on experience by translating data into strategic campaigns and fostering a culture of generosity within our community.  

Position Summary

The Laurel Fund Manager leads Laurel’s annual giving program, engaging parents, alumnae, and friends in sustaining support for the School’s mission and strategic priorities. This role plays a central part in building broad-based philanthropic participation and fostering a culture of generosity across Laurel’s community.

The ideal candidate is both analytical and relationship-driven, with the ability to translate data into strategy and strategy into action. This position is well-suited for a development professional who enjoys motivating donors and volunteers, testing new approaches, and strengthening donor loyalty through thoughtful engagement.

Annual Giving Strategy & Execution

• Plan and execute all Laurel Fund initiatives, including appeals, challenges, and targeted campaigns.
• Develop and manage annual giving timelines, messaging, and solicitation strategies in collaboration with Advancement colleagues.
• Develop and implement a monthly giving program

Donor & Volunteer Engagement

• Manage volunteer involvement in annual giving efforts, including committees, ambassadors, and peer solicitors.
• Maintain and manage assigned donor portfolios, supporting cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts.

Analysis & Growth

• Analyze giving data to inform strategy, set annual goals, and track progress toward participation and revenue targets.
• Drive donor acquisition, retention, and upgrade strategies across key constituencies.
• Monitor trends and recommend adjustments to strengthen performance year over year.

Collaboration & Teamwork

• Partner across the Advancement team to ensure annual giving aligns with broader fundraising and engagement strategies.
• Contribute to a collaborative, goal-oriented team culture grounded in Laurel’s mission and values.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 1 year of experience in fundraising or related role
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret and act on data.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills.
• Experience in an educational or nonprofit environment is preferred.

Salary

Laurel offers competitive compensation and a comprehensive benefits package.

To Apply

Please see www.laurelschool.org for further information and a job application.

Work Environment

Laurel School is a dynamic, forward-thinking, K-12 girls’ school with a co-ed early childhood division, where every child is well known.

Laurel enjoys an outstanding local and national reputation and is home to the Laurel Center for Research on Girls. In a highly competitive school landscape, Laurel is fortunate to be a school of choice in Cleveland. Our emphasis on the whole child and our legacy of excellence in the teaching of girls set us apart. Located in Shaker Heights, OH (15 minutes from downtown Cleveland) with an additional rural campus 17 minutes away, the school has a suburban/rural advantage. The work environment is noted for being family-friendly and flexible. The feeling in the school is joyous, collaborative and innovative. Our curricular philosophy emphasizes community-based, interdisciplinary and experiential learning. Collaboration and reflective practice are key to pedagogy at Laurel. The school is fully committed to a culturally diverse faculty and student body.

Laurel School is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities to all personnel and applicants for employment without regard to race; color; religion; sex; gender identity; national origin; handicap or disability; sexual orientation; or status as a veteran, Vietnam era, or special disabled veteran.