Director of Advancement

(Permanent – Full Time) 

Do you enjoy working with a team of people who are innovative, dynamic, collaborative, progressive and global-minded?  If so then we are looking for you to join our community as the Director of Advancement! The York School offers an inclusive culture and values creativity, individuality and new ideas. 

Like our students, staff at The York School are inquiring, knowledgeable, caring and engaged citizens of the world. Leaders and experts in their field, they are open to change and committed to improving lives through education. 

JOB PURPOSE:

The Director of Advancement is responsible for the development and implementation of donor programs and strategies to strengthen and build Annual, Leadership and Major Gift giving programs. As a leader within the External Relations Team, the Director of Advancement will work towards achieving the school’s annual fundraising objectives and grow and deepen the culture of philanthropy within the school community.  

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the creation and implementation of plans and strategies for Annual Fund campaigns, Major Gift prospecting, cultivation and solicitations, and Alumni Engagement activities to ensure revenue targets and KPIs are successfully achieved;
• Establish and oversee donor and alumni stewardship and engagement strategies for donor and alumni recognition initiatives and events, reporting and thank you letters;
• In collaboration with Communications & Marketing, ensure the development of Annual Fund and Major gift materials including proposals, appeals, Donor Impact Reports and Annual Report;
• Work closely with the Associate Director of Marketing and Communications to develop, distribute and maintain communication materials and provide content for the school’s external website, school community portal and directories as required;
• Provide leadership, management, and guidance to direct reports in the Advancement Team, including Manager, Major Gifts; Manager, Alumni & Donor Engagement, Coordinator and more as the team grows, including establishing annual goals and targets in collaboration with the Associate Head, External Relations and supporting employee growth and development;
• Identify and execute on new opportunities for growth and participation in Annual Fund and Major Gift giving (e.g., Staff Campaign, Alumni Parents, etc.);
• Lead the identification, recruitment, training, management, and stewardship of volunteer teams and cabinets, ensuring they are well informed and supported to assist with fundraising efforts;
• Build relationships with parents, alumni, staff and faculty members, volunteers, and community partners to enhance the School’s culture of philanthropy;
• Oversee and manage daily activities of the Advancement Team regarding data management, gift processing, finance reconciliation, pledge reminders and tracking activity in the school’s fundraising database, Raiser’s Edge;
• Ensure that the process of moves management across Advancement maintains best practice procedures;
• In collaboration with the Manager, Major gifts, oversee the development of cultivation and solicitation plans and gift proposals for Major Gifts projects, including written proposals, oral and digital presentations, and volunteer management;
• In collaboration with the Manager, Alumni & Donor Engagement, oversee the development of stewardship plans, including the appropriate publicity and recognition of gifts, impact reporting, and long-term engagement of donors;
• Ensure all policies and procedures for Advancement processes, including gift processing, are up to date and adhered to, in accordance with school policy and CRA regulations;
• Manage, plan, develop, implement, and evaluate fundraising strategies for a significant pool of high potential Major Gift prospects;
• Participate in prospect identification, review, research, management, clearance, and coordination.

QUALIFICATIONS AND ATTRIBUTES:

• Post-Secondary Education, CFRE certification would be an asset;
• Minimum of 5-7 years of management experience in fundraising and advancement;
• Demonstrated success in meeting and exceeding fundraising goals;
• Exceptional computer skills – proficiency using Raiser’s Edge and Google Suite;
• Strategic and creative approach in planning short-term and long-term programmes;
• Astute analytical, financial, and problem-solving skills;
• Proven ability to recruit, retain and motivate volunteers;
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to interact with all members of the school community, including parents, faculty and staff and students cheerfully, enthusiastically, courteously, patiently and with discretion and tact;
• Strong organizational and time management skills.

THE YORK SCHOOL’S CORE COMPETENCIES:

• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Breadth of Contribution
• Relationship Focused
• Service Orientation
• Communication & Collaboration Inclusivity
• Integrity & Trust

LEADERSHIP COMPETENCIES:

• Influence & Inspiration
• Leading with Purpose
• Champion Change
• Coach & Develop Others
• Managerial Courage

WORKING REQUIREMENTS:

• TYS Campus, Toronto
• Occasional weekend and evening work required
  

JOIN OUR COMMUNITY:

Employees at The York School are inquiring, knowledgeable, caring and engaged citizens of the world. Leaders in their field, they are collaborative, open to change and committed to improving lives through education. We are committed to professional development, and provide a competitive compensation, Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) and benefits package to our employees. 

THE YORK SCHOOL VALUES DIVERSITY: 

At The York School, our mission is to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who are engaged citizens of the world. As such, we are an equal opportunity employer and encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We are committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace. The York School will provide support in its recruitment processes to applicants with disabilities, including accommodation that takes into account an applicant’s accessibility needs. If you require accommodation during the interview process, please contact Human Resources by email at yorkhr@yorkschool.com or by phone at 416- 926-1325. 

HOW TO APPLY:

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply and express their interest in confidence via email to info@tealandco.com. Please reference the position you are applying for in the subject line. We thank all candidates for their applications; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.