Trinity is a school with a distinctive mission, and that mission drives all we do. Now in its 30th year, the school seeks an experienced advancement professional whose heart resonates deeply with our mission.  In this important phase in the life of the school the board, the Head, and all the leadership are focused on passing the mission along to the next generation.  In that work, a strong, faithful, skilled advancement partner is essential.  The Director of Advancement reports directly to the Head of School and works closely with the Head on all fundraising (annual fund and capital projects), supervises a strong team of development, marketing, and communications staff, and works closely with the Chair of the board’s Advancement Committee to develop strategy and policy to secure and strengthen the mission of the school. 

RESPONSIBILITIES

This full-time position bears overall leadership responsibility for the school’s advancement program as adopted by the Board of Trustees and directed by the Head of School. Responsible for all internal and external relations programs, the Director of Advancement directly oversees Trinity School’s development and fundraising and supervises a team that coordinates all development and marketing/communications efforts. Working with and through the Advancement team, the Director of Advancement has responsibilities that include the following:

Overall Advancement Leadership

• Oversee all development and fundraising activities, including annual giving, major/planned giving, capital and/or endowment campaigns, special projects, and other school-related solicitations. In this capacity, serve as chief development officer. 
• Provide leadership for internal and external marketing, communications, and public relations activities related to development and enrollment, as well as other programs important to maintaining positive constituent relationship with Trinity, in cooperation with the Assistant Director of Advancement for Marketing and Communications.
• Create and administer the school’s advancement plan and budget, including generation of annual department goals aligned with Trinity’s strategic planning documents, ensuring that the budget is directly linked with the priorities of the department and the school.
• Participate in the policy making of the school. The Director of Advancement must be an individual with a substantial background in school administration, with the experience and gravitas to be able to sit in for the Head of School in his absence and to accompany the Head of School and volunteer leadership in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major donors and prospects. The Director of Advancement communicates a broad understanding and awareness of Trinity’s mission and programs.
• Support the Chair of the board’s Advancement Committee to plan agendas, distribute materials ahead of the meeting, run the meetings, follow up with assigned actions, bring reports and proposals to the board, and see that the minutes of the meetings are taken and approved.

Development and Fundraising

• Ensure that Trinity’s development efforts are directed at increasing donor support and advancing the school.
• Review annually the funds raised and develop strategies for increasing annual fundraising goals.
• Recommend funding goals for the fiscal year to the Advancement Committee.
• Oversee the annual fund planning and yearly solicitation strategies among various constituencies.
• Lead major gift strategies and coordinate the identification, cultivation, solicitation, recognition, and stewardship of nucleus fund (top 50) prospects, many of whom will be giving to the Leadership Division of the annual fund.
• Bring donations to Trinity either through direct solicitation or by working with the Head of School, Board members, and volunteers as they reach out to prospective donors.
• Develop an effective planned giving program, creating a legacy program.
• Oversee gift reporting, acknowledgments, accounting, and data management in cooperation with the Business office.
• Oversee events (e.g., parent receptions, recognition events, special celebrations, alumni and friend receptions) that promote the connection of individuals to Trinity, in cooperation with the Assistant Director of Advancement for Special Events.
• Write grant applications and reports as appropriate.
• Steward endowment gifts, with data provided by the Business Office.
• Oversee the school’s strategy and plans for engaging alumni.

Communications and Admission

• In coordination with the Assistant Director of Advancement for Marketing and Communications, plan and implement a comprehensive marketing/communications plan, with annual review and evaluation.
• Determine the plan, focus, and potential markets for admission, with annual review.
• Oversee all electronic constituent and school-wide communications and the maintenance of the school’s web presence.
• Supervise the planning and production of all internal and external school publications/digital communications.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Attend all Board meetings and serve as a member of the Advancement Committee.
• Prepare Board reports and oversee the writing of individual reports that are prepared by other members of the Advancement Team.
• Work with the Chair of the Advancement Committee to set agendas, provide data, and coordinate all fundraising efforts.
• Attend, when appropriate, meetings of the Trustees Committee, providing all research and data needed for the recruitment and training of new Board members.
• Support the Head of School in casting vision, telling powerful stories, connecting the hearts of donors and prospects with the school’s mission and core values, and cultivating and stewarding long-term relationships in all areas of advancement.
• Work with the Head of School and the other members of the Leadership Team to develop priorities and strategies for the school and to implement Trinity’s goals and vision.
• Provide research, background information, appropriate materials, and recommended strategies for dealing with specific constituents and donors.