Director of Advancement

George Jackson Academy, NYC’s only independent middle school serving academically-talented boys from predominantly economically-disadvantaged families, seeks a passionate professional to join our dynamic senior leadership team in a role that requires strategic vision, broad development and fundraising experience, exceptional work ethic, and superb interpersonal skills.

GJA provides 100 bright young men in grades six through eight with an intellectually-rigorous program in a safe and loving environment. 100% percent of students graduate from high school and 95% from college, many from the most prestigious schools in the nation. Families pay what they can afford in tuition, most $750 per year or less. With tuition accounting for only 5-8% of the school’s income, the advancement office collaborates with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to raise 90% of GJA’s $2.8 million budget from generous individuals and foundations. 

The Director of Advancement will join GJA at an exciting time as the school approaches its twentieth anniversary and builds on strong new development initiatives, including its Scholars Celebration virtual event, which raised over $400k each year over the past two years. The Director of Advancement will help develop a short and long term fundraising strategy to guide annual and anniversary fundraising campaigns over the next 3-5 years. As part of the school’s leadership team, the Director of Advancement will lead all development and communications initiatives, supervise one staff member and multiple consultants, and work closely with the Board of Trustees, Head of School, and other administrative leaders. Within this critical role, the Director of Advancement has responsibilities in several areas:

Strategic planning and development vision:

• Work with the Board Strategic Planning Committee to develop and implement short and long-term fundraising strategy that fits within GJA’s Strategic Plan and sustainability goals
• Analyze fundraising and budgetary data to inform decision-making and strategy
• Work closely with the Head of School and Board Finance Committee to align fundraising goals and budgetary needs
• Contribute to school-wide decisions from a development and communications perspective

Annual Fund Fundraising:

• Carry out a digital and print Annual Fund Appeal in December, and smaller appeal at graduation
• Oversee and execute the annual Scholars Celebration each Spring
• Grow GJA’s corporate support, in particular in relation to the spring Scholars Celebration
• Manage foundation relationships, write annual grant proposals and reports, and identify and submit proposals to new foundation prospects
• Conduct outreach to key audiences and individual donors at varying levels of giving
• Develop cultivation and stewardship activities for varying levels of giving

Anniversary Campaign:

• Work closely with the Board Development Committee to develop an 18 month Anniversary Campaign strategy that includes goals, messaging, events, and potential major gifts
• Support and carry out cultivation and major gift asks in association with the campaign
• Develop a communications strategy and produce communications materials for the campaign
• Plan and host key events throughout the 18-month campaign
• Celebrate and cultivate key audiences as part of the Anniversary Campaign

Alumni Engagement:

• Oversee the Advancement Associate in expanding the alumni program and alumni engagement
• Track and analyze alumni engagement and giving over time

Board Relations:

• Work closely with the Board of Trustees to foster involvement with the school and an understanding of advancement needs and opportunities
• Collaborate with the Board Development Committee to develop and carry out the school’s development strategy
• Produce fundraising data, analyses, and reports for the Head of School and Board of Trustees as needed
• Participate regularly in Board of Trustee meetings

Communications:

• Produce the school newsletter and periodic school communications to key audiences
• Oversee the management of the website
• Develop a social media strategy and supervise Advancement Associate’s implementation of SM strategy
• Produce an annual report
• Harmonize communications and messaging across all areas of the school
• Provide accurate and timely communications to prospects, donors, and other stakeholders

Volunteerism:

• Facilitate the operation and engagement of GJA’s Associate Board
• Manage GJA’s partner relationships with community and other organizations, including First Presbyterian Church NYC, Impact100nyc, and Youth Inc.
• Expand and manage GJA’s corporate volunteer days, including mock interview days, service days, and other opportunities of engagement
• Expand and manage GJA’s engagement of individual volunteers, in close coordination with the Associate Head of School and other key administrators
• Oversee annual Career Day

Administrative:

• Ensure accurate donor and donation record-keeping and tracking
• Oversee the production of necessary fundraising and donation records for annual audit
• Ensure donors are appropriately acknowledged in a timely manner
• Participate in regular senior administrative and other school-wide meetings
• Supervise the Advancement Associate and manage key development consultants
• Oversee and manage the development budget
• Participate in regular school budget meetings
• Carry out other tasks as directed by the Head of School

Qualifications and Qualities:

• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Self-starter with strong commitment to racial, economic, and social equity and justice.
• Five to ten years’ professional experience in fundraising, event-planning, external relations, donor relations, or other pertinent areas of development work in a school or non-profit setting required
• Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to interact and work collaboratively with a range of individuals;
• Experience and comfort with the solicitation, closing and stewardship of major gifts
• Excellent oral and written communications skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with all stakeholders of the school
• Proven experience in foundation research and grant writing
• Strong management skills with the ability to prioritize work
• Strong organizational skills, with great attention to detail and accuracy
• Experience with fundraising-related communications and communications campaigns
• Experience executing fundraising events

The position is full-time with some evening and weekend work expected.

George Jackson Academy is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, national origin, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.