Senior Advancement Officer

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title : Senior Advancement Officer

Department : Advancement

Location : Claremont, CA / Onsite

Employment Type : Full-Time, Exempt

Why Webb?

At The Webb Schools, our mission and values shape daily life. Grounded in the pillars to think boldly and creatively, act with honor and moral courage, lead with distinction, and serve with a generous spirit, Webb is a vibrant, purpose-driven boarding and day school community. With a 104-year legacy and a culture rooted in character, intellectual curiosity, and authentic relationships, Webb is a place where faculty and staff are empowered to do meaningful work that advances both student growth and institutional excellence. 

Summary

The Webb Schools seek a dynamic, inventive, and experienced fundraising professional to serve as Senior Advancement Officer at a time of great promise. This role serves as a senior frontline fundraiser responsible for managing a portfolio of major gift prospects and advancing philanthropic support for the school’s strategic priorities. This role builds and sustains meaningful, trust-based relationships with alumni, parents, and friends of Webb, with the goal of securing philanthropic support for capital, endowment, and annual initiatives.

Working closely with the Chief Advancement Officer and other campus leaders, the Advancement Officer / Senior Advancement Officer plays a key role in advancing a culture of philanthropy through proactive, high-touch engagement. The position requires frequent domestic and international travel for in-person donor visits, as well as close collaboration with colleagues, volunteers, and school leadership to advance donor relationships and institutional priorities.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Major Gift Strategy & Portfolio Management

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 100–125 major gift prospects, including alumni, parents, and friends of the school. 
• Achieve annual targets, developed in collaboration with the Chief Advancement Officer, for key performance indicators including dollars raised, proposals submitted, and substantive donor meetings. 
• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through research, referrals, and engagement activity. 
• Develop and execute individualized strategies for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of assigned prospects.

Donor Cultivation, Solicitation, & Stewardship

• Build and sustain strong, long-term relationships with donors through proactive, personalized engagement. 
• Solicit and secure major gifts of $50,000 and above in support of Webb’s strategic priorities. 
• Partner with the Chief Advancement Officer, Head of School, and volunteer leaders on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies. 

Collaboration & Institutional Engagement

• Collaborate with Advancement colleagues to coordinate donor engagement strategies and strengthen the pipeline from alumni engagement and annual giving programs, including leadership annual gift solicitations. 
• Represent Webb and actively staff key institutional and Advancement events, including Move-In & Family Orientation, Family Weekend, Alumni Weekend, Commencement, Giving Day activities, and donor cultivation and stewardship events. 
• Prepare and support school leadership and volunteers for donor meetings and solicitations. 
• Partner with Marketing & Communications to develop compelling donor messaging and materials. 
• Engage with campus partners to deepen understanding of programs and priorities.

Other Role Responsibilities

• Travel locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally to meet with donors and prospects. 
• Evening and weekend work required as needed. 
• Fulfill administrative responsibilities associated with the role, including timely expense reporting and related tasks. 
• Maintain working knowledge of school programs, priorities, and community developments. 
• Additional duties as assigned. 

Required Qualifications

• Education : Bachelor’s degree required
• Experience : Minimum 5 years of progressive fundraising or advancement experience with demonstrated success securing five- and six-figure gifts

While this position is posted at the Senior Advancement Officer level, the school will consider candidates with a minimum of 3 years of relevant experience for an Advancement Officer role. Compensation and title will be commensurate with qualifications and experience. (Salary $110,000 – $125,000)

Preferred Qualifications

• Education : Advanced degree preferred
• Experience : Ten or more years’ experience progressive fundraising or advancement experience with demonstrated success inclusive of independent schools or higher education advancement environments

Core Competencies/Skills

• Advanced relationship management and interpersonal skills
• Strong strategic thinking and execution
• Excellent written and verbal communication
• Proficiency with CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge

Other Requirements

A criminal background check is required and must be successfully completed before employment can begin.

MISSION & VALUES

Webb’s mission is to provide a dynamic learning community that nurtures and inspires our students and alumni to:

• Think boldly, mindfully, and creatively;
• Act with honor and moral courage;
• Lead with distinction;
• Serve with a generous spirit.

As part of this work, we are committed to fostering an inclusive school community characterized by openness, acceptance, and empathy, where all members are valued, respected, and supported. Our community is strengthened by the diverse views, beliefs, backgrounds, and experiences of our students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Embracing diversity in all its many forms is essential to our mission to create a nurturing learning community that fosters tomorrow’s leaders.

Physical Requirements

The physical requirements are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. As prescribed by law, reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Compensation & Benefits

The estimated pay scale represents the typical pay range The Webb Schools reasonably expects to pay for this position, with offers determined based on several factors which may include, but not be limited to, the candidate’s experience, expertise, skills, education, job scope, training, internal equity, geography/market, etc. This pay scale applies to the current posting only.

The Webb Schools provides a competitive and comprehensive benefits program, including medical, dental, and vision insurance; generous sick and vacation time; paid holidays; and participation in retirement programs designed to support employees throughout their careers.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Webb Schools are an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities and do not discriminate based on perceived or actual race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, pregnancy (or any related conditions), age, marital status, military or veteran status, medical condition, gender/identity/expression, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by state or federal law. 

Employment

This position is “at-will”. This means that both Webb and the hired employee have the right to terminate the employment relationship at any time, with or without advance notice, and with or without cause. There is no employment contract, actual or implied.