Advancement Director

Job Title: Advancement Director

Reports To: Head of School

Position Overview

Shalom School, a Jewish community day school in Sacramento serving 180–200 students in preschool through 6th grade, seeks an experienced, highly organized, and relationship-driven Advancement Director. This senior leadership role is best suited for a candidate with a demonstrated track record in admissions, enrollment management, fundraising, or nonprofit advancement, and the ability to manage multiple high-level responsibilities with professionalism, discretion, strong judgment, and consistent follow-through.

The Advancement Director leads the school’s enrollment and advancement efforts, serving as a primary ambassador to prospective families while also overseeing development initiatives that generate approximately $700,000–$1,000,000 annually. This includes leadership of admissions and retention efforts, the Annual Campaign, donor stewardship, and major fundraising events, including the Annual Benefit.

The ideal candidate is a polished communicator, confident public speaker, and strong writer who is capable of building trust with families, donors, volunteers, and community partners. Successful candidates will bring meaningful relevant experience, thrive in a fast-paced school environment, manage complex projects independently, and represent the mission and values of Shalom School with warmth, professionalism, and credibility. This is not an entry-level position and requires a candidate who has successfully owned significant admissions, fundraising, or relationship-based responsibilities in a school, nonprofit, or similarly mission-driven setting.

Admissions Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for prospective families, leading them through the admissions and enrollment process with responsiveness, professionalism, and strong attention to detail.
• Lead and conduct school tours, ensuring that each prospective family experiences a warm, informative, and mission-aligned introduction to the school.
• Plan and lead admissions outreach efforts, including orientations, retention events, and community-facing admissions events designed to strengthen enrollment and family engagement.
• Partner closely with school administrators, including the Director of Curriculum and Instruction and Preschool Director, to manage inquiry and application workflows, schedule student assessments, and facilitate classroom visits.
• Oversee the accuracy and integrity of enrollment records, track admissions and retention data, and prepare reports and updates for the Head of School and Board of Trustees.
• Lead the re-enrollment process for current families and implement thoughtful strategies to strengthen year-to-year retention.
• Work closely with the Office Administrator and Director of Business Operations to ensure effective management of enrollment systems, deposits, and payment setup.

Development Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of fundraising strategies, in partnership with the Head of School, to strengthen donor relationships and advance development goals established by the Board of Trustees.
• Oversee the school’s Annual Campaign, including strategy, messaging, campaign materials, and execution, with the goal of encouraging meaningful participation and gifts at all levels.
• Lead the planning and execution of the Annual Benefit in partnership with the volunteer Benefit Chair and Benefit Committee to meet or exceed fundraising goals.
• Partner with the Director of Business Operations to track donations, monitor progress toward goals, and prepare regular fundraising reports for the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and other key stakeholders.
• Oversee accurate donor record-keeping, gift tracking, and reporting in collaboration with the Office Administrator and through the school’s database systems.
• Lead donor recognition and stewardship efforts, ensuring timely acknowledgment of gifts and thoughtful ongoing engagement with supporters.
• Advance a strong culture of philanthropy by building relationships with parents, alumni, grandparents, and community members in support of the school’s mission.
• Develop and implement strategies to expand the school’s donor base and strengthen long-term philanthropic support.

Marketing and Communications Responsibilities

• Supervise and direct the Marketing and Communications Associate in the creation of print and digital materials that support admissions, retention, fundraising, and community engagement goals.
• Provide strategic oversight of messaging, promotional planning, and content development to ensure consistency, professionalism, and alignment across enrollment, donor, and school-wide communications.
• Oversee the Marketing and Communications Associate’s management of the school’s website, digital presence, and key communications platforms in support of admissions and advancement priorities.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional experience in admissions, enrollment management, fundraising, development, or nonprofit advancement required.
• Demonstrated success managing multiple high-level priorities, projects, and relationships simultaneously, with strong judgment, discretion, and follow-through.
• Demonstrated experience planning and executing admissions, fundraising, or community engagement events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including strong public speaking and presentation ability.
• Strong relationship-building skills and a demonstrated ability to work effectively with prospective families, current families, donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively.
• Experience with donor databases, CRM platforms, student information systems, and spreadsheets for recordkeeping, reporting, and workflow management.
• Ability to clearly and compellingly articulate the value of Jewish day school education.
• Familiarity and comfort with Jewish culture, traditions, and communal life, and the ability to serve as a thoughtful public-facing representative of a Jewish day school community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree preferred.
• Experience in an independent school, Jewish nonprofit, or similarly mission-driven organization preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.
• Experience leading fundraising campaigns, donor stewardship efforts, enrollment events, and community engagement initiatives preferred.

Schedule

• Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.
• 12-month employee; position available for immediate start
• Occasional evenings and weekends for donor events and school functions, averaging 1–2 per month

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary range: $67,000–$85,000/year, depending on experience
• Tuition remission: 40% discount for preschool and pre-k; 100% discount for K–6
• Medical, dental, and vision benefits
• Retirement contribution after two years of service
• 10 PTO days per year

To Apply

Please submit a cover letter and resume to Head of School Jilian Bar-or at jbar-or@shalomschool.org.