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Director of Advancement

Employer
Sayre School
Location
Kentucky, United States
Salary
Competitive Salary
Date posted
Oct 25, 2021

 

Sayre School seeks candidates for the position of Director of Advancement. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Advancement is a member of the Leadership Team, and is responsible for all facets of fundraising, alumni and parent relations, campaign planning and implementation, and foundation relations.  The Advancement Director partners with other campus offices as well as the Board of Trustees, Alumni Council and the Sayre Parent Association to foster and promote a culture of philanthropy across a base of more than 425 current families and over 2,500 alumni.

Founded in 1854 in Lexington, Kentucky, Sayre School is the preeminent, independent college preparatory day school in the Bluegrass, serving 610 students from Preschool through twelfth grade. The next Director of Advancement will join an educational community where joyful, articulate, and self-confident students are guided and nurtured by dedicated and passionate faculty and staff committed to the social, emotional and intellectual growth of each child. Sayre School is committed to equity and justice, and aspires to be a community in which every member feels engaged, heard, and valued. We embrace the contributions of all members of our community as we foster a culture of respect.

At the heart of our success lie the strong relationships between faculty and staff, and students and their parents. We all share the same goal of providing the best educational and social experience for our students as we prepare them to thrive in life beyond Sayre. This is a wonderful opportunity to join a community operating from a position of strength and growth, and to partner with a dynamic leadership team that values candor, commitment and humor.

Key Responsibilities

  • Creating strategies and programs to expand and strengthen the School’s current base of philanthropic support, including an anticipated capital campaign.
  • Acting as a strategic partner with the Head of School in identifying and cultivating relationships with high-capacity potential donors through the implementation of a major gifts program.
  • Manage the daily operations of the Advancement Office, including the oversight and mentoring of a three-person team responsible for fundraising, alumni affairs, event planning and the parent association.
  • Supporting and guiding the Board of Trustees and volunteers in outreach efforts and activities.
  • Utilizing technology creatively and effectively to ensure that administrative systems and procedures such as database management, stewardship, and prospect research perform optimally.

Qualifications

  • 3-5 years of experience as an Advancement or Development Director at an educational institution or other non-profit organizations.
  • A Bachelor’s Degree, excellent written and oral communication skills, and an ability to speak compellingly on behalf of the school.
  • Experience in all areas of a comprehensive fundraising program.
  • A proven ability in cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding leadership gifts.
  • A track record of working effectively with a variety of constituencies, including trustees, administrators, faculty, parents, and students.
  • An understanding of the key principles of branding
  • A willingness to maintain a visible presence in the daily life of the school.

Interested candidates for this position available in January 2022, should send a cover letter expressing their interest and qualifications for the position, a resume with supporting material including a list of three references including contact information (References will not be contacted without the candidate’s knowledge).  All material should be sent electronically to Stephen Manella, Head of School, at smanella@sayreschool.org with the subject line “Advancement Search”.

  

Sayre School actively seeks qualified individuals with diverse backgrounds and talents who will make a positive contribution to school life. Sayre School does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial affiliation or any other characteristic protected by law. Sayre School values a diverse community and complies with all applicable laws regarding nondiscrimination.

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