Director of Advancement
Buffalo Seminary
The Director of Advancement is responsible for leading Buffalo Seminary’s advancement program and for developing and maintaining active and productive relationships with board members, donors and all members of the SEM community. The Director of Advancement is a member of Buffalo Seminary’s senior administrative team, manages a current staff of three to five people, and reports to the Head of School.
Buffalo Seminary is planning to launch a comprehensive campaign early in 2015 and has retained experienced campaign counsel to support the internal development team.
Specific areas of responsibility include:
Fundraising
- Designs, implements and manages all fundraising activities including annual giving, endowment and capital campaigns, special projects, and other school-related solicitations.
- Develops strategies and manages activities to support engagement and cultivation of donors and key donor prospects.
- Directly solicits key donors and oversees effort to support solicitation throughout the organization.
- Maintains contact with and develops grant proposals for foundations and corporations.
- Develops and implements parent and alumnae-based fundraising programs within the Annual Fund.
- Develops a comprehensive planned-giving program as the need becomes appropriate.
Board of Trustees Relations
- Works with the Development Committee of the Board of Trustees and the Head of School to develop strategies to initiate and meet aggressive fundraising goals.
- Develops fundraising training for Trustees and other leadership volunteers.
- Assumes responsibility for all Development reports to the Board and other agencies.
- Assists the Board with recommending and researching potential new members.
Development Office Infrastructure
- Creates office systems and supervises staff to support all Development projects and operations.
- Supervises donor and gift record-keeping.
- Coordinates development research activities.
- Oversees the management of databases and all records, files, and gift processing.
- Manages the pledge reminder and acknowledgement programs.
Alumni Relations
- Manages and maintains the alumni database.
- Organizes and supports the school’s alumnae association.
- Organizes alumni events, collects news and information about the members of the alumni for publication, and keeps accurate records of the school’s alumni.
Parent Relations
- Works with the Parent Association to identify and train a core group of volunteers to assist in the Annual Giving, special events and other fundraising programs as needed.
Communications and External Relations
- Works closely with the Assistant Head of School, the Director of Communications, and the Director of Admissions to ensure consistent branding and messaging across all communications
- Oversees production of major publications supporting development initiatives including the Annual Report, certain content on the School’s website, and works with the Director of Comunications to promote the school’s fund and friend raising goals and activities.
- Works with the Head of School, campaign counsel, and others to plan and execute targeted communications to support campaign across multiple phases.
- Develops and implements strategies to promote Buffalo Seminary’s mission to both the internal constituencies of the School and the community at large.
Qualifications:
- A minimum of 5 years professional fundraising experience.
- Proven experience in designing and managing development and alumni relations programs.
- Experience with developing and maintaining productive working relationships with board members, donors, parents, administrators and faculty in an educational environment.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work as a leader and as part of a team.
Please send resume to humanresources@
Attn: Kim Trow, Assistant to the Head of School.