Director of Family Engagement and Philanthrop

Director of Family Engagement and Philanthropy

Role Details

● Department: Advancement

● Reports To: Director of Advancement

● Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 AM – 4:30 PM (additional hours required as needed)

● Status: Exempt, July – June

Position Summary:

Working in conjunction with the Nichols School Advancement Operational

Plan, the Director is responsible for developing and executing strategic, sustainable family

programs. This involves the annual solicitation of current families, parents, grandparents, and

parents of alumni, as well as managing non-solicitation programs for these groups. The Director

partners with the Director of Advancement to establish strategy, review prospective donors,

determine solicitation processes, and oversee relevant programs and events. A core focus is

working collaboratively with the Nichols community to cultivate long-lasting, mutually beneficial

relationships with families.

Primary Duties:

● Develop and execute an annual fundraising plan for assigned constituencies, which

includes setting goals, targeting solicitation amounts, identifying volunteer assignments,

and organizing appeal timelines.

● Utilize wealth screening and yield analysis to map engagement and visit plans.

● Implement strategies to increase Nichols Fund participation across all parent,

grandparent, and alumni-parent groups.

● Manage all family records within the Raiser’s Edge database.

● Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team to create targeted family

support materials and manage family-focused social media messaging.

● Recruit, train, and support family volunteers to serve as school ambassadors who

facilitate communication and giving.

● Conduct personal, annual visits with donors and assigned prospects for cultivation,

solicitation, and stewardship.

● Write and prepare solicitation letters for initiatives such as the Grandparent and Friends

Appeal, Senior Family Gift Appeal, and Alumni Parent Appeal.

● Coordinate relevant family events (e.g., networking gatherings, Alumni Family Event)

alongside the Associate Director of Advancement Events and Marketing.

● Work collaboratively with Parent Council Leadership, Parent Reps, and At-Large

members to promote events, plan social activities, and communicate with the broader

parent community.

● Establish a working relationship with Parent Board committees and assist the

Advancement team with department-wide initiatives.

● Maintain frequent in-person and written communication with family volunteers.

● Travel when necessary and attend meetings or events on nights and weekends.

● Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills & Qualifications:

● A Bachelor's degree is required.

● A minimum of four years of experience in parent relations and external affairs, with a

proven track record of managing a fundraising program and developing volunteer

leadership.

● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to collaborate courteously with

colleagues, parents, other constituents, and the public.

● Demonstrated ability to strategize, build constituency programs, and motivate

volunteers.

● Strong writing, planning, analytical, and problem-solving skills.

● Ability to work independently while thriving in a team environment to achieve strategic

goals.

● High professional and ethical standards for handling confidential information.

● Strong organizational and prioritization skills to manage multiple tasks simultaneously

with close attention to detail.

● Extensive experience with the Microsoft Suite, the Google platform, and a constituent

database such as Raiser's Edge.

● Flexibility to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Salary : $40,000 - $80,000