Director of Annual Giving

Title: Director of Annual Giving  

Department: Advancement

Supervisor: Director of Advancement 

Status: Full-time, Exempt, 12-month

Founded in 1784, Moses Brown School has been a leader in education for over 235 years. We have a proven tradition of academic excellence, a commitment to great teaching, and a dedication to fostering character and confidence in young people. Our stunning 33-acre campus—formerly the farm of 18th-century Quaker abolitionist leader Moses Brown—provides expansive academic, artistic, and athletic facilities right in the heart of Providence. 

We are a Quaker school, one of the oldest and largest of a network of 80 Friends schools in the U.S. While each is independent, we all share the same essential mission: to nurture and celebrate each child’s special gifts, talents, and identities—what Quakers refer to as their Inner Light. Rooted in the Quaker values of simplicity and integrity, community and equality, care and peace, we apply these values every day to create an academic culture of deep reflection, expansive curiosity, and spirited inquiry. 

At Moses Brown School,100 faculty members serve nearly 800 students ages 3-18, with a student-to-teacher ratio of 8:1. We offer a rigorous academic program, and highly motivated Upper School students can also choose from among dozens of AP and honors courses for additional challenge. Small classes and advisories help cultivate the strong connections with faculty that are a hallmark of the Upper School.

The student experience is incredibly varied, including 17 musical and performance groups across the school, 50 clubs and activities, and 63 athletic teams competing in 17 different sports. And while individual achievement is celebrated, learning at Moses Brown is shared enterprise. We foster a close sense of community, evident in collaborative relationships between students and teachers and in our weekly meeting for worship.

Our diverse community is strong enough to hold hundreds of brilliant, unique, independent-minded people. With $7 million awarded annually in need-based financial aid, Moses Brown partners with many families to make a shared investment in bright, caring, and thoughtful children from all socioeconomic backgrounds. And with 28% of our student body being people of color, our community reflects the demographics of our drawing area. Ours is an education that is time-tested, fully immersive, and ever more relevant to today’s world. To learn more about Moses Brown School, please visit www.mosesbrown.org.

Purpose/Objective:

The Director of Annual Giving is charged with building a comprehensive annual giving program that engages and inspires annual philanthropic support from families, alumni, and other Moses Brown constituencies. The Director creates, implements, evaluates, and refines an annual plan to maximize retention, increase leadership giving, and enhance a culture of philanthropy across the school. 

Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Director of Annual Giving will guide the overall strategic, creative, and organizational direction of the Moses Brown Fund (MB Fund), the school’s $1.2M+ annual giving effort, across multiple mediums (print, digital, social, and interpersonal). The Director will partner with various members of the MB Community to execute their plan, which should reflect MB’s values as a Quaker school, and will oversee MB’s gift processing program. 

Responsibilities Include:

Managing, reporting, and evaluating the Moses Brown Fund annual plan in order to maximize contributions, increase leadership giving, and enhance a culture of philanthropy across the school community. 

This position is charged with reaching a targeted annual giving dollar goal setting and monitoring progress against those objectives, with a focus on donor acquisition, retention, and upgrading.

Perform ongoing data analysis and reporting related to all aspects of the Moses Brown Fund program, using statistical analysis to evaluate current annual programs and to make recommendations for program modifications or enhancements. Develop inspiring strategies to grow the leadership donor community, including specialized cultivation and stewardship programs. Partner with the Director of Leadership Giving to facilitate growth within the leadership giving area and identify long-time loyal donors who may be ready for planned gift conversations.  Communicate across the Advancement Office to ensure a smooth understanding of the calendar of appeals and communications. Share how others can offer support to the Moses Brown Fund.  Recruit, train, and support annual giving volunteers from members of the Board of Trustees to the 1784-Minute Challenge so that volunteers understand their roles and feel successful in their work. This position will have one direct report; the Gift Processing and Data Associate. Manage a pool of leadership annual giving prospects and maintain an active schedule of in-person and virtual visits. Prepare materials with the Gift Processing and Data Associate for the Director of Advancement to share with the Development Committee, Head of School, and/or Board of Trustees around the progress of the Moses Brown Fund.  Evaluate all annual giving activities and initiatives through an ROI lens. Share data analysis with the Advancement team at weekly meetings. Develop reunion appeals and fundraising materials in partnership with the Director of Alumni Programs and the Communications Department. Pursue professional development opportunities to remain up to date on best practices in the industry, and selectively pilot innovative approaches to evaluate for effectiveness. Build effective relationships with faculty and staff as active member of the school community, and serve as an ambassador for the impact of giving at Moses Brown School. Contribute actively to a creative, dynamic, collaborative Advancement Team committed to building a highly effective comprehensive fundraising program for one of the top independent schools in the region. And, other duties as assigned, including but not limited to working school-wide Advancement related events as requested and needed. This position may require travel.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience.

Experience and Competencies:

At least five years of relevant experience preferably in education annual giving programs recognized for their strength and effectiveness, or similar experience in a non-profit complex environment that emphasizes broad-based fundraising, donor acquisition, volunteer management, and stewardship. Demonstrated experience using data to guide fundraising efforts. Conversant with robust data analytic skills to guide a comprehensive and intricate fundraising program. A sophisticated understanding of digital communications strategies including social media, fundraising software, and email-based solicitations, and an understanding of how they may be used to increase alumni participation rates and revenue. Prior experience working with staff and volunteers, the ability to manage complex relationships, and proven collaboration and teamwork skills to leverage activities, initiatives, and programs for multiple purposes. Demonstrated ability to think and plan long-term while successfully attending to more immediate goals and tasks; strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills; demonstrated ability to meet multiple simultaneous deadlines and work in a fast-paced environment. Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, including superb relationship skills and the ability to work with people with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Must be flexible, have great attention to detail, show initiative, and have a results-driven philosophy with the ability to problem-solve. Proficiency with fundraising/alumni relations databases and technology. Familiarity with IRS regulations—as they relate to philanthropic giving—and accounting and reporting standards. Willingness to travel and to work hours outside the normal working day (i.e. nights and weekends). A valid driver’s license is required.

Compensation

Compensation is competitive and based on education and number of years of experience. The school offers its faculty and staff a competitive package of benefits, including vacation, sick and personal days, health insurance, and a retirement plan.

To Apply: Please submit a resume, cover letter that serves as a statement of interest, and the names and contact information for 3 references to mcarlone@mosesbrown.org. It is very important that you indicate Director of Annual Giving in the subject line of the email. Once we have read and discussed applications, we will be in touch with select candidates to arrange interviews.

Moses Brown School is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.