Associate Director, Advancement
We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced professional to join our organization as the Associate Director, Advancement. The Associate Director will play a pivotal role in ensuring the success of our fundraising initiatives, which include the annual fund, donor relations and stewardship, prospect research, and various community events. In this position, you will report to and work closely with the Director of Development and collaborate with all departments to build and enhance our fundraising program. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, an excellent communicator, and possesses a strong passion for philanthropy.
Responsibilities:
Fundraising Strategy: Support the development and execution of comprehensive fundraising strategies to achieve our philanthropic goals. This includes creating an annual fund campaign plan, prospect research strategies, and donor stewardship plans.
Annual Fund: Oversee the annual fund campaign, including developing solicitation strategies, managing donor segmentation, creating compelling appeals, and monitoring progress towards fundraising targets.
Donor Relations and Stewardship: Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with existing and prospective donors. Implement donor recognition and stewardship activities, ensuring timely and personalized communication, acknowledgment, and engagement.
Prospect Research: Conduct thorough research to identify and evaluate potential major gift prospects. Provide comprehensive prospect profiles, wealth assessments, and strategic recommendations to support donor cultivation and solicitation efforts.
Community Events: Coordinate and manage various fundraising and community engagement events, including galas, auctions, donor appreciation events, and other initiatives. Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure successful event planning and execution.
Collaboration and Relationship Building: Collaborate with all departments to integrate fundraising efforts into the organization’s overall strategy. Build strong relationships with key stakeholders, including program directors, board members, volunteers, and community partners.
Reporting and Analysis: Track and analyze fundraising metrics, prepare regular reports on progress towards goals and provide recommendations for enhancing fundraising performance. Ensure accurate and up-to-date data management in the donor database.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
Experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a focus on annual fund campaigns, donor relations, and event management.
Proven track record of successfully meeting or exceeding fundraising goals.
Strong knowledge of fundraising principles, techniques, and best practices.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
Proficiency in donor management software and databases; experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge, an asset.
Ability to think strategically, analyze data, and make informed decisions.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines.
Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors, board members, and other stakeholders.
Flexibility to work evenings and weekends, as required for events and donor meetings.
A genuine passion for the organization’s mission and a commitment to philanthropy.
School Description:
SJK is the leading co-educational independent school in the Waterloo Region of Ontario. The School, which was founded in 1972, is located on a beautiful 36-acre natural campus offering enriched educational programming for day students from JK-Grade 12 and international boarding students from Grades 9 – 12 through our accredited
International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme. The School’s co-ed Boarding Residence is located in close proximity to the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University.
SJK offers a world of learning where we embrace innovation, diversity and internationalism. We have dedicated and inspirational educators, attentive to the needs of individual students and their families. Our expectations are high; students are encouraged to find balance through academics, sports, arts, service and leadership. As the only accredited IB World Continuum School in Southwestern Ontario, our students love to learn and graduate as confident, well-rounded individuals fully prepared for post-secondary education and life beyond. Our graduates take their passions to the world as leaders and global citizens.
As a community, we believe in the importance of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. We strive to be a place where every student, faculty and staff member, parent and alumni feel that they are welcome and valued. We achieve this by living our core values and by appreciating that our learning community is enhanced by human differences. We value the unique experiences that each individual brings to our community and the myriad of perspectives that our diversity provides. We also recognize that it is our common humanity that binds us together as a community. We welcome applications from individuals who feel that they could make a positive contribution to our diverse community.
This is a full-time, onsite position based at St. John’s – Kilmarnock School. The compensation package will be commensurate with qualifications and experience.
To apply, please submit your resume, cover letter, and references addressed to Cheryl Boughton, Head of School to employment@sjkschool.org, with the subject line: “Associate Director, Advancement Application” by Monday, August 14, 2023.
Note: This job description is intended to convey essential information about the scope and requirements of the position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, and skills. Additional tasks may be assigned as needed to support the organization’s fundraising efforts.