Advancement Officer

Rye Country Day School is seeking an Advancement Officer beginning November 2024. Rye Country Day School is a coeducational, Prek-12, college preparatory school located in Westchester County, New York dedicated to providing students with an excellent education using both traditional and innovative approaches. We are actively committed to creating and sustaining a school community that is nurturing, supportive, diverse, and inclusive, one in which all students can participate fully and achieve their maximum potential through academic, athletic, creative, and social endeavors. We expect and promote moral responsibility and strive to develop strength of character within a respectful school community.

Rye Country Day School seeks a dynamic and strategic Advancement Officer to join its Advancement Team at this time. The primary focus of this role is to develop and implement comprehensive strategies to increase annual philanthropic support from constituents with an emphasis on alumni. The ideal candidate will possess strong relationship-building skills, a track record of successful fundraising, and the ability to inspire and engage constituents to support the mission and initiatives of our school.

Specific responsibilities of the position include:

• Strategy Development: Collaborate with the Director of the Annual Fund to develop and execute a strategic plan to enhance alumni giving, setting goals and benchmarks for participation, dollars raised, and donor retention.
• Alumni Engagement: Collaborate with the Manager of Alumni Relations to cultivate and steward relationships with alumni through personalized communication, outreach events, and volunteer opportunities. Develop strategies to deepen alumni engagement and increase donor participation rates.
• Fundraising Campaigns: In collaboration with the Director of Annual Fund, plan, execute, and evaluate annual giving campaigns targeted specifically at alumni, including direct mail, email, social media, and phone outreach. Coordinate with the Marketing/Communications team to ensure consistent messaging and branding.
• Event Coordination: Support the planning and execution of fundraising events and cultivation activities for all constituents, including logistics, RSVP tracking, and on-site support—some night and weekend work is required.
• Major Gifts Cultivation: Identify and qualify donors with the capacity to make major gifts. Work closely with the Director of the Annual Fund to develop strategies for solicitation and stewardship of major gift prospects and build a major gift pipeline.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Utilize donor data and analytics to segment populations effectively, measure campaign performance, and inform future strategies. Prepare regular reports on fundraising progress and outcomes for senior leadership, Board Members, and the Alumni Executive Board.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Collaborate with colleagues across the Advancement team to ensure an integrated and cohesive fundraising effort.

Desired qualifications:

Experience, Skills & Knowledge 

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• A minimum of three to five (3-5) years of relevant experience. Academic fundraising and Annual Fund experience are a plus.
• Keen attention to detail and the ability to maintain discretion with respect to confidential information is essential.
• Self-directed individual who is solution-oriented, flexible, and works well with teams and individuals while possessing a positive attitude. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook), Apple Mac OS, the Google Drive platform, and a CRM such as Raiser’s Edge and/or Veracross preferred.
• Must be willing to work in a fast-paced office and be able to manage simultaneous priorities effectively with exceptional judgment and integrity.
• Must be a strategic thinker capable of developing, implementing, and coordinating policies and procedures related to fundraising and donor strategy.
• A successful track record of working effectively with a wide range of constituencies.

Personal Attributes 

• A community member who will live the school’s values, effectively blends candor, care, and empathy in relationships with others, and whose style is rooted in honesty, transparency, and collaboration. 

• An approachable, collaborative professional, who values teamwork, builds meaningful relationships, listens well, and respects differences of opinion. 
• A thinker who possesses excellent communication skills and a high level of emotional intelligence. 
• A hard-working professional who thrives in a fast-paced work environment with high expectations. 

RCDS seeks faculty and staff who support our mission to foster a lifelong passion for learning, understanding, and service in an ever-changing world, and who share our commitment to creating and sustaining a vibrant, thriving, and inclusive multicultural learning community. The school is committed to providing invigorating and supportive work experiences for its diverse community of employees. Faculty and staff are offered meaningful opportunities for professional development, growth, and leadership; highly competitive salaries; and extensive benefits. RCDS is committed to diversity and inclusion throughout the community and curriculum. Please visit our website-http://www.ryecountryday.org – to learn more about the school’s rigorous curriculum, values, and strategic initiatives.

Rye Country Day School is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all federal, state, and local laws, which prohibit discrimination in employment because of race, color, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, religion, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, and veteran status.

Interested candidates should apply by submitting a resume and cover letter via the following link: https://rcds.workable.com/.

Salary range: $75,000-$85,000 based on experience