Associate Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement

Job Description

Job Description

Located at the foot of the Wasatch Mountains, Waterford School, with an enrollment of 1,100 is Utah’s premier liberal arts, college preparatory independent school for students in Preschool through High School. Waterford School’s liberal arts program provides a strong academic foundation, and the campus culture prepares students to pursue lives of meaning and purpose. Since its founding, the School has instilled habits of independent thought, critical thinking, responsibility, passionate learning, and service to others. Waterford delivers a world-class education distinguished by a rich curriculum, an outstanding faculty, a deep commitment to student growth, and a learning environment that is caring, nurturing, and inspiring.

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Associate Director of Annual Giving and Alumni Engagement will be responsible for the strategy and implementation of Waterford’s annual giving program. We are looking for someone who is passionate about philanthropy and who enthusiastically appreciates the crucial role of annual giving and alumni engagement. The person who fills this role should have a strong foundation in annual giving and/or alumni engagement, but also seek to iterate upon current best practices. Working closely with members of the Development & Events team, Institutional Advancement team, and volunteers, this position is an essential element to our comprehensive fundraising program. The position will primarily interact with parents and alumni, but it will also interact with parents of alumni, faculty members and staff, and students, as well as senior administration, including the Head of School.

Essential Functions Direct Marketing 

• Develop a comprehensive annual giving plan from campaign awareness to post-gift stewardship in order to achieve annual goals for our annual fund, The Waterford Fund. 
• Utilize direct response communication and fundraising tools (direct mail, email, website, social media) to inform, engage, connect, and solicit current, lapsed, and prospective donors. 
• In collaboration with the Director of Development and Waterford’s Marketing Communications team, develop, write, and produce donor materials that support the Waterford Fund campaign. 
• Develop and maintain reports from Waterford’s philanthropy database, Blackbaud RENXT, that communicate fundraising progress. 
• Evaluate results, refine plans, and implement new strategies based on ongoing analysis and best practices. 
• Coordinate with the Director of Marketing Communications to identify impact stories about students, alumni, parents of alumni, donors, and faculty and write compelling pieces to be used on social media, email, and the website.

Volunteer Management

• Recruit for and lead the Waterford Fund Council, consisting of parent volunteers.
• Recruit and lead the faculty and staff reps for the faculty and staff campaign for the Waterford Fund.
• Prepare for Waterford Fund Council and faculty and staff rep meetings, organize agendas, create materials, and coordinate meeting follow-up.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Development Operations to utilize Waterford’s volunteer management system, GiveCampus, to provide volunteers with lists for outreach and timely updates on giving metrics. 
• Draft and share compelling solicitation and stewardship templates (email, text) for volunteers to utilize.

Alumni Engagement

• Responsible for the execution of an alumni engagement strategy that maintains strong and mutually beneficial relationships with graduates and fosters their ongoing connection to Waterford, through a broader, inclusive Alumni Association model.
• Interact with alumni to assess their interests so that they will joyfully support Waterford through volunteerism, networking/connection building, financial support, and potential alumni family enrollment.
• Identify alumni to be solicited at leadership annual giving level ($1,981-$4,999) and major giving level ($5,000+). Communicate on progress with the Director of Development to ensure timely follow up on referrals.
• Connect with alumni class representatives and encourage their engagement with their classes. For classes without representatives, identify and recruit potential volunteers for this role.
• Liaise with Alumni Association President and Vice President. 
• Ensure effective use of the Waterford philanthropy database, Blauckbaud RENXT, to capture up-to-date information about alumni.
• Complete the onboarding of a digital engagement and event management platform, Almabase, that integrates with the Development database. Develop an engagement plan that utilizes this platform in alignment with the overall alumni engagement strategy. Launch the platform in anticipation of Alumni Weekend, May 2027. 
• In coordination with the Events Department, coordinate and execute 2-3 virtual Alumni Town Halls, the Alumni Holiday Party, and Alumni Weekend, which includes milestone class reunion programming. Plan and execute small-scale regional events and other engagement activities as needs and opportunities arise. 
• Develop a reunion-giving strategy as part of Alumni Weekend and milestone class reunions.
• Collaborate with campus partners to determine opportunities for alumni to serve in mentorship roles to support current students.

Other Functions

• Attend and support Development and Admissions events, as well as signature school-wide events such as Commencement, Parents and Grandparents Visiting Days, the Waterford Gala, Opening Family Brunch, and Spring BBQ.
• This position requires some evening and weekend work

Working Conditions/Physical Requirements 

Position involves sitting, although frequent movement is necessary. Computer usage involving repetitive hand/wrist motion is also necessary. The ability to move around campus and interact with faculty, staff, students, alumni, and external constituencies regularly is crucial. Activities may require loading, unloading, and carrying materials, supplies, and furniture, and require standing/walking for long periods of time. Travel and work outside of normal business hours are required. Assist in planning alumni events and attend all alumni events . Assist in Development and Institutional Advancement events. 

Competencies and Skills Preferred 

• Bachelor’s degree or the equivalent in education and experience
• Minimum 3-5 years experience in development, nonprofit administration, volunteer management, sales/business development, or related field. Experience with annual giving and frontline fundraising preferred.
• Ability to build strong relationships and rapport with parents and alumni 
• Ability to communicate effectively within the school community, including through public speaking and presentations.
• Ability to work collaboratively as a member of a diverse community and make an impact in a complex, fast-paced, and team-oriented environment
• Flexibility, excellent attention to detail, initiative, and a results-driven philosophy with the ability to problem-solve required
• Excellent organizational skills including experience independently overseeing complex projects and programs
• Outstanding written and oral communication skills. Active and present listening. 
• Time management skills; Following up and following through is critical.
• Commitment to maintaining high professionalism, including discretion and good judgment with confidential information
• Willingness and ability to work outside normal working hours
• Must be willing to travel locally and nationally; valid driver’s license required

The successful candidate will be able to develop a healthy rapport with parents and alumni and will embrace Waterford School’s mission, vision, and values in curriculum, teaching, and membership in the community. The Waterford campus is set on 45 acres at the foot of Utah’s Wasatch Mountains in Sandy Utah, a suburb of Salt Lake City. Waterford is proximate to one of North America’s premier outdoor and recreational areas. Utah boasts a growing and vibrant culture, featuring a lively arts scene, diverse cuisine, and a thriving sports entertainment industry that enriches the community. The school offers an outstanding working environment. The atmosphere is collegial; both families and faculty show a genuine commitment to learning. Benefits include medical, dental, 403(b).

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