The Director of Development (DoD) is a senior administrative position reporting to the President and charged with directing and expanding the organization’s maturing fundraising program, which includes the ASSIST Fund, major gifts, sponsorships (financial aid), and planned giving. The DoD works closely with the President and the Board of Directors to establish funding strategies and objectives for the organization to accomplish its fundraising goals. In addition to their fundraising responsibilities, the DoD oversees projects relating to the Board of Directors, marketing and communications, and alumni relations.

The successful candidate will have the ability to work in a hybrid schedule: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays in the office in Suffield, Connecticut with the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead annual giving program, including setting fiscal and donor goals; recruit and prepare staff and volunteers for solicitations; conduct personal visits; research and cultivate prospects; manage direct fundraising appeals and communication schedule and meet the fiscal and donor targets established each year.
• Ensure that ASSIST’s Annual Fund continues to grow and meet the goals set in the strategic plan.
• Expand and coordinate fundraising and constituent effortsin the United States and key international markets.
• In collaboration with the President and the Boardof Directors, work to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects for annual gifts and sponsorships.
• Supervise the Advancement Services Coordinator and Director of Development – Germany.
• Work with the Governance Committee to identify potential Board of Directors candidates.
• Manage, with the support of the Advancement Services Coordinator, the Raiser’s Edge database and the Graduway alumni portal. Manage protocols for using both systems.
• Plan special events appropriate to annual giving strategies.
• Serve as staff liaison to the Development and Governance committees.
• Create and deliver quarterly fundraising reports to the Board of Directors.

DESIRED QUALITIES AND QUALIFICATIONS

ASSIST seeks a Director of Development who possesses proven leadership, communication, collaboration, entrepreneurial spirit, and interpersonal skills and can lead with imagination, vision, energy, and drive. The following qualities are recommended:

• A bachelor’s degree is required.
• 5 years of fundraising experience, including with annual funds and major gifts, ideallyin an independent school.
• Experience with Raiser’sEdge software program.
• Proven track record for developing tactical plans to meet a variety of metrics that include calls, visits, mailings, solicitations, and meeting those goals on a monthly basis.
• Strong work ethic and success in meeting regular goals.
• Ability to conceptualize, plan, and cohesively integrate a full range of development programs.
• A firm believer in ASSIST’smission and valuesand the capacity to articulate its case for support.
• Contributor to the overall strategic planning of the organization.
• Excellent communication skills,both oral and written.
• A decisive and confident leader,embracing the organization’s culture.
• Highly professional team-player, with a strong sense of integrity and desire to work effectively with colleagues, volunteers, and Board members.
• Experience managing and motivating other staff members.
• Experience in communications and/or alumni relations desirable.
• Experience fundraising in international markets preferred.
• Ability to travel extensively in the U.S. and internationally.

TO APPLY

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultant in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

• A cover letterexpressing their interestin this particular position.
• A current résumé.
• A list of three professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:

Jonathan Ball

Managing Associate: Advancement

Carney, Sandoe & Associates

617-933-3450 (dir)

jonathan.ball@carneysandoe.com