Assistant Director Annual Fund & Stewardship

Founded in 1961, Sandy Spring Friends School is a progressive, coed, academically-rigorous day school serving students from age three through 12th grade. The campus is located on 140 acres in the historic Sandy Spring area of Montgomery County, Maryland, and the School is approved by the Maryland State Board of Education and accredited by the Association of Independent Maryland Schools.

Our school’s culture, rooted in the idea that collaboration engenders achievement, can be traced to our Quaker heritage and abiding belief in the Quaker values of simplicity, equality, integrity, stewardship of the environment, and peaceful resolution of conflict.

Summary: The Assistant Director Annual Fund & Stewardship plays a key role in strengthening philanthropic support for Sandy Spring Friends School by leading the Springers Fund (Annual Fund), advancing donor stewardship, and ensuring an exceptional giving experience for all members of the community. The Assistant Director Annual Fund & Stewardship manages annual appeals, Day of Giving, leadership-level annual donors, and stewardship programs across constituencies, and partners with the Director of Advancement to set annual fund goals and track progress.This position blends strategic planning with hands-on implementation, balancing creativity, data-driven decision-making, and relationship-building. This role is ideal for someone who enjoys building relationships, crafting compelling messages, and bringing structure and creativity to donor engagement. The strongest candidates will bring a mix of data fluency, donor-centered communication, and enthusiasm for community-building.

Essential Job Functions:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive annual fund strategy that aligns with SSFS’s mission, advancement priorities, and campaign messaging.

• Create and manage the annual communication calendar, segmenting outreach across parents, alumni, faculty/staff, grandparents, alumni parents, and friends of the school.

• Oversee GiveCampus strategy, including challenges, matches, custom pages, videos, social media assets, and targeted segmentation.

• Identify new prospects for annual leadership giving, upgrades, and stewardship opportunities, including conduct prospect research that informs solicitation strategies, including capacity indicators, affinity markers, and philanthropic patterns. 

• Conduct regular outreach, visits, and stewardship touches to secure renewed and increased support, and track activity, gift conversations, and next steps in Veracross with timely, accurate data entry.

• Develop and manage a comprehensive stewardship program that reflects Quaker values and prioritizes gratitude, transparency, and impact. 

• Collaborate across departments to collect stories, data, and student/faculty highlights that illuminate the impact of philanthropy.

• Partner with Marketing & Communications to produce annual fund materials, donor stories, social media content, and print/online appeals, and ensure integration between annual fund and campaign priorities. 

• Collaborate with the Alumni Relations Coordinator and the Parent Association and volunteers to activate parent ambassadors and grassroots fundraising.

• Prepare weekly, monthly, and annual fundraising reports related to the annual fund and donor engagement.

• Ensure accurate tracking of gifts, pledges, recognition preferences, and stewardship activities.

• Monitor LYBUNT/SYBUNT data and identify re-engagement opportunities.

Knowledge and Skill Set Requirements:

• 3-5 years experience in annual fund management, donor relations, or related advancement roles (independent school or nonprofit preferred).

• Strong writing, communication, and storytelling skills, combined with comfort with leading through both strategy and hands-on implementation.

• High proficiency with CRMs, preferably Veracross; experience with GiveCampus a plus.

• Ability to manage multiple deadlines with accuracy and attention to detail, and an interest in using data to inform strategy.

Physical Requirements: Daily desk work includes significant amounts of telephone and computer time as well as mobility around the entire campus. This includes frequent walking inside and outside, maneuvering stairs as a part of daily routines. Bending and squatting as required to participate in activities; lifting/carrying boxes up to 25 pounds; and the ability to maneuver as necessary within a regular classroom and office setting. 

Summary of Benefits:

Annual salary: $75,000-85,000

At SSFS, we offer a competitive benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and professional growth. Our benefits include:

• Comprehensive Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision coverage to keep you and your family healthy.

• Disability & Life Insurance: Short-term and long-term disability coverage, along with life insurance for peace of mind at no cost to employees.

• Retirement Savings: 403(B) plan with employer contributions to help you save for the future.

• Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off, including holidays and parental leave.

• Employee Assistance: Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for personal and professional support.

• Tuition: Financial aid available to children of SSFS employees.

• Childcare Discounts: Discounted After Care and Summer Camp programs for employees' children.

• Convenience Perks: Free parking, free lunch, and access to our library and gym facilities.

• Professional Development: Opportunities for growth through tuition reimbursement, wellness programs, and ongoing professional development initiatives.

• Campus Amenities: Work in a beautiful, historic campus with walking paths. We are a smoke-free, environmentally conscious community.

Commitment to Diversity: Sandy Spring Friends School embraces the Quaker testimony of Equality and seeks applicants who represent all backgrounds and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We greatly value our diverse student population and we actively seek faculty representatives of our students’ diversity. Click to learn more about diversity at Sandy Spring Friends School. Special consideration may be given to members of The Religious Society of Friends.

Salary : $75,000 - $85,000