Director of Advancement

About the role

The Advancement group encompasses SA teams responsible for all aspects of retaining and building a loyal and generous community of philanthropic supporters. This includes individual giving, corporate and foundation giving, events, data analytics/operations, donor engagement, online communications, business development, marketing, and strategic planning. The group's priorities encompass: securing critical financial support to undergird growth, scaling, and innovation priorities and capital projects; expanding SA's network of support (financial and influencer); and deploying sophisticated branding, digital, and marketing strategies to secure a segmented donor base and position SA externally as an organization that stewards philanthropic support at the highest level

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer and working closely with SA Founder and CEO, Eva Moskowitz, the Director is responsible for ensuring that SA's fundraising strategy is executed with fidelity, efficiency, and success. The position is responsible for maintaining and expanding SA’s diverse, strong, and growing base of funding and for managing the administration of systems that make our work more efficient and effective. The Director will support the CEO and CAO in ensuring collaboration across the various fundraising verticals, directly manages all aspects of individual, corporate, and foundation giving, and works closely and seamlessly with the data and operations team and the donor engagement team (events and communications).

Key responsibilities include

• Owns and drives day-to-day progress toward fundraising goals, grounded in industry best practices.

• Oversees staff responsible for individual giving, foundation and corporate giving, and ensures close collaboration and integration of their workstreams.

• Grows pipeline of major and principal gift donors and manages portfolio of individual and institutional donors, including direct solicitation of gifts.

• Operationalizes fundraising strategies for the organization’s most pressing needs and ensures fundraisers are equipped with resources they need to execute against strategy.

• Ensures the entire Advancement team is fully informed of all key Schooling and Network initiatives.

• Coordinates workflow, prioritizes operational efficiency, strengthens collaboration with partners and clients, and actively supports and develops direct reports.

• Uses data as a primary tool, including tracking performance measures, monitoring results, and continuously evaluating the efficacy of the development program.

• Develops strategy and execution plan for developing all affinity groups, including young professionals and individuals interested in planned giving.

• Supports the CEO and CAO in fundraising and other development-related initiatives as needed.

• Strengthens collaboration with other SA departments to maximize efficient workflow, ensure alignment, and reinforce a culture of philanthropy.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive experience (10+ years) as a fundraiser, with a proven track record of success in personally cultivating, soliciting, and securing major gifts from individuals, foundations, and corporations.

• A proven track record of success in leadership and people management, including:

  • Ability to set and communicate clear priorities, strategies, and long-term vision

  • Ability to support and develop high-performing teams and individuals.

• Deep experience in using data to inform strategies and drive decision-making in fundraising.

• Strong commitment to excellence and continuous improvement while achieving results.

A successful applicant will have the following traits:

Required Traits

• A strategic thinker with a strong focus on excellence and a change leader.

• An exemplary reputation with stature and credibility.

• Proven ability to influence and galvanize groups outside of reporting lines.

• Flexibility and a proven ability to innovate and find creative solutions to challenges.

• Excellent oral and written communication skills.

• A passion for driving towards SA’s mission and commitment to our families and scholars, and a firm ideological commitment to excellence in K-12 education.

Preferred Qualifications & Traits

• Experience with Raiser’s Edge.

• A working knowledge of the New York City funding community, its leaders, and trends is a plus.