“As a community of learners, Dwight-Englewood School strives to foster in each student a passion for life-long learning. We seek excellence, honor integrity, and embrace diversity in order to develop the skills, values and courage to meet the challenges of a changing world and make it better.”

Providing Vision

Establishing and implementing strategies to build a “culture of giving” among the various constituencies of Dwight-Englewood, including educating the community about the importance of philanthropy and fostering motivation to support the school financially among current and former families, faculty and staff, alumni, and the local community.

Building the development program through establishing or strengthening key fundraising initiatives – such as Annual Giving, Major Gifts, Capital and Endowment Campaigns, Alumni Programs, Planned Giving, Corporate Giving, and Foundation Grants – and developing long- and short-term plans to meet goals in each of these areas.

Collaboration with the School Community

Providing staff support for volunteer committees leading advancement projects, including coordinating and managing such efforts as required.

Working closely with the Head of School and Development Committee to keep them informed of fundraising progress and to advise and coach them with regard to their involvement in development activities.

Cultivating relationships with key community members and creating strategies that will bring donations to the school either through direct solicitation or by facilitating the Head of School, Board members, or other volunteers in securing gifts.

Management of the Department

Building the department’s infrastructure by recruiting new members to strategic positions, guiding and mentoring the staff, and ensuring that information systems and department processes and procedures are efficient and effective, thereby optimizing donor research and identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship as part of a comprehensive institutional advancement program.

Managing day-to-day development activities to enable the smooth functioning of the office.

Determining the school’s near- and long-term goals for donor support in conjunction with the Head of School, the Director of Finance and Operations, the Development Committee, and the Board of Trustees.

Leadership

A strategic thinker with the ability to translate concept into action and the intellectual curiosity and vision to anticipate future needs and to plan and execute accordingly.

A collaborative and service-oriented leader who engenders support among a variety of constituencies by virtue of his or her experience, knowledge, creativity, and dedication to the mission of the School.

An executive who empowers staff and volunteers, thereby creating in them a sense of ownership and dedication to a cause.

An individual who thinks globally and sees the “big picture,” and whose management approach welcomes new ideas and embraces change.

Experience

At least ten years in the field of institutional advancement, ideally with independent schools, including leadership roles in annual and major gift programs, multi-million dollar capital and endowment campaigns, planned giving, foundation grants, alumni relations, and special events.

Experience in and enthusiasm for donor cultivation and major gift solicitation, especially within culturally and socioeconomically diverse constituencies.

A background hiring, mentoring, and uniting a diverse group of professionals in common purpose by using a collaborative style that creates excitement, an expectation of success, and high standards of performance.

A history of recruiting, training, motivating, and working with volunteers in leadership roles.

A proven track record of building and refining programs and transforming organizations to make them more successful.

Skills and Knowledge

Broad and deep knowledge of fundraising principles, moves management programs incorporating major gift solicitations, annual and capital campaigns, planned giving, and foundation grants.

Excellent written and oral communications skills, including the ability to speak compellingly on behalf of an organization.

Skilled in assessing existing fundraising strategies, creating plans to strengthen areas of need, and building new programs “from the ground up” as part of increasing the overall financial support for an institution.

The ability to interact successfully with people from wide-ranging backgrounds.

Strategic planning skills marked by creative thinking, extensive research and analysis, critical reflection, tough-mindedness, and practical execution.

Networking capabilities that result in the identification of major donors, the development of meaningful relationships with them, and the commitment of financial contributions.

The ability to identify, recruit, nurture, mentor, inspire, and motivate a talented staff and volunteers.

Personal Traits

A person of unquestioned honesty and integrity.

A good listener who is intuitive, perceptive, and able to read both people and situations well.

One who is incisive, clear thinking, practical, and outcome-oriented.

An accessible and approachable “people person” who enjoys teaming with others and is comfortable in both large social venues and one-on-one relationship building.

A self-directed, goal-oriented and well-organized person who is nevertheless flexible, resilient, and able to move gracefully in response to unexpected changes and challenges.

A mature executive who is poised and polished when interacting with people of power, influence, and wealth.

A mission-driven individual who is passionate about education, interested in the total life of the school, and excited about his or her role in supporting D-E’s goals.