Jobs

The Director of Parent Giving, reporting directly to the Director of Annual Giving and Parent Relations, will oversee all aspects of parent giving and programming at Thayer Academy. They will work with parent volunteers to build parent engagement, raise Annual Fund support as well as capital, and restrict money from current parents, past parents as well as grandparents. The Director will oversee both the Senior and Middle School Legacy programs as well as coordinate volunteers for parent-giving initiatives for each class. Working closely with the Director of Annual Giving and Parent Relations and the Director of Advancement & Engagement, the Director of Parent Giving will ensure that we are maximizing parent giving and will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individuals capable of making gifts of $1,877 – $25,000 to support the mission of Thayer Academy. This person will create strategies for existing supporters, as well as new prospects to move them along the continuum of giving to achieve annual financial goals. Additionally, they will attend select Thayer Academy Parents Association (TAPA) meetings as appropriate when parent giving is discussed.

Responsibilities & Roles

Parent/Guardian/Family Engagement (85%)

• Will develop a comprehensive strategy to best engage current parents, former parents, and grandparents to maximize giving potential from each of these major constituencies.

• Facilitate a class-giving program for parents through recruitment of Parent Co-Chairs and class-giving chairs with a goal of building stronger participation (86%) and higher total Annual Fund giving ($1.45M) in FY25 from parents.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward prospects for General’s Council level annual gifts of $1,877 to $25,000 to steadily increase parent giving to the Annual Fund. Develop a portfolio of ~150 prospects capable of General’s Council level giving annually.

• Prioritize work to have a primary focus on face-to-face meetings with current and prospective donors to complete 80-100 visits and 40-50 solicitations with the aim of $250K raised.

• Ensure all parents and guardians are personally contacted regarding Annual Fund support through 1:1 outreach and the strategic use of parent volunteers.

• Strategize with faculty, senior leadership, and fellow development staff on the appropriate engagement of prospects.

• Participate in cultivation and stewardship events, including the General’s Council Reception.

• Steward donor relationships so that donors feel highly appreciated by Thayer Academy.

• Research new parents each year to identify potential donors.

• Launch a grandparent giving program with engagement strategies including a revamping of our annual Grandparents Day as well as potential events in Florida and on Cape Cod.

Volunteer Management and other development (15%)

• Participate in select TAPA meetings, coordinating with the Director of Special Events and Parent Programming, to offer support and guidance to parent giving volunteers as needed.

• Recruit Parent Co-Chairs and class giving representatives. Oversee Senior Legacy and Middle School Legacy volunteer solicitation efforts.

• Partner with Communications to update and send the New Parent/Guardian brochure.

• Identify organizational needs, innovations, and other funding opportunities that would appeal to appropriate donors.

• Responsible for data integrity in Raiser’s Edge donor, including updating all personal information, keeping actions and proposals up to date, date and ensuring all notable information is recorded.

• Work with the gift processing team to ensure the integrity of donor files, records, tracking, pledge reminders, and communication.

• Attend and assist with all Development Special Events (occasionally on weekends or evenings).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required

• 3-5 years of a proven track record in major gifts fundraising relationship building for a non-profit.

• Proven ability to identify, cultivate, and solicit leadership gifts ($1,877 -$25,000).

• Work earnestly in a team environment, and possess the ability to give and receive feedback.

• Demonstrated ability to use good judgment to handle confidential information sensitively.

• Natural ability to establish rapport with donors and the parent/grandparent community.

• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize, and meet deadlines.

• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Office Suite, and Google Suite preferred.

Skills & Abilities

• Superb written and oral communication skills are essential.

• The ability to communicate to diverse constituencies in an effective and compelling manner.

• The ability to build successful professional relationships with faculty, staff, and external constituents.

• Mature professional judgment.

• Analytical thinking capacity.

• Ability to work independently in a self-directed manner and in collaboration with others.

• Superior follow-through and ability to meet deadlines.

• Strong organizational capabilities.

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.

Application Information

• Please click here to complete an application and upload your resume, cover letter, and the names and contact information for three to five references including two present or past supervisors.

• Equal Opportunity Act: Thayer Academy is an equal opportunity employer. The Academy complies with and adheres to all state and federal anti-discrimination laws with respect to its employment practices. Thayer Academy does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin or ancestry, age, or disability, or any other category protected under state or federal law. This policy extends to recruiting, hiring, compensation, benefits, assignment, working conditions, promotions, transfers, termination, re-employment, education, tuition assistance, employee treatment, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All employment-related decisions are made on a nondiscriminatory basis so as to further the principle of equal employment opportunity.

• Americans with Disabilities Act: Thayer Academy complies with all aspects of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and state disability laws. This means that we will not discriminate against qualified individuals with a disability in any phase of the employment relationship including application for employment, hiring, promotions and/or advancement opportunities, termination, compensation, training, and any other conditions or privileges of employment.