Assistant Director of Advancement

Job Description

Job Description

The Frederick Gunn School, founded in 1850, is a co-ed boarding and day school for students in grades 9-12, as well as a post-graduate year. Mr. Gunn had a deep appreciation for the natural world, believing that in nature students understand themselves as humans and their place in the world. He took a principled stand against slavery and spurred students (and the town at large) to examine their beliefs. In addition to the habits and skills students will need in college and life beyond, we teach them to follow Mr. Gunn’s example: to cultivate wisdom, to be trailblazers, to act with conviction, and to value character as highly as intellect and achievement.

Our continuous focus on moral character development intentionally engages all members of our school in the work of creating an inclusive and equitable living and learning ecosystem. Community and citizenship are at the heart of our aspiration to both social justice and academic excellence, with individual diversity integral to the strength of that community. When we embrace difference and pursue school life with respect, equity, and compassion, we build a foundation for engaged citizens.

In keeping with the tenets of our founder Frederick Gunn, who was himself a prominent abolitionist and progressive educator, The Frederick Gunn School seeks to provide a pluralistic learning environment for all inclusive of (but not limited to): culture, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, national origin, learning differences, physical difference, political affiliation, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic differences.

We invite applicants who resonate with our mission and who will foster an environment of cultural and intellectual richness and an active participant in advancing equity and inclusion.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship, the Assistant Director of Advancement manages the systems, timelines, and materials that keep the School's stewardship program running accurately and on schedule, while also supporting events and programming across the entire Advancement office. This role is responsible for the annual stewardship calendar, donor impact reporting, gift acknowledgment processes, and production of the On The Go (OTG) e-newsletter, and provides support to the Director of Special Events as needed. The successful candidate will bring strong organizational skills, sound writing and editing judgment, and the independence to manage recurring deadlines with minimal oversight. There is room for the role to grow: a candidate who demonstrates strategic judgment and donor relations instincts will have the opportunity to take on a greater role alongside the Director.

Primary Responsibilities

Stewardship Timeline, Tracking and Reporting

• Collaborate with the Director of Donor Relations and Stewardship on annual stewardship strategy and calendar
• Own the annual stewardship timeline, including deadlines, deliverables, and follow-up
• Track endowed fund reporting requirements and ensure timely completion
• Maintain tracking systems so that every stewardship commitment is documented and on schedule
• Gather information and stories from across campus for donor impact reports and online newsletter 
• Coordinate with faculty and departments to collect content and updates
• Draft impact reports and related donor communications
• Assemble and finalize materials for distribution to donors
• Conduct prospect research on alumni and parent constituents and prepare briefing documents ahead of donor meetings and cultivation visits

Acknowledgment Systems

• Manage the weekly gift acknowledgment letter process from draft through mailing
• Draft and execute acknowledgment letters for a range of gift types
• Collaborate with Development Operations on report management and data accuracy
• Maintain accurate, up-to-date data tracking for all acknowledgments
• Identify gifts that may warrant more stewardship

On The Go (OTG) Newsletter Production

• Develop the yearly content strategy and production schedule for OTG
• Collect content from across the Advancement office and campus partners
• Manage layout, production, and distribution of each issue

Office and Special Projects Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for answering general phone calls and greeting guests at the door
• Support the Director of Special Events as needed
• Support Parents Council communications and other volunteer leadership programming as needed
• Assist with other events and programming 
• Take on special projects for the team as they arise

Growth Opportunity

• Support broader stewardship initiatives as capacity and experience develop
• Opportunity to take on expanded ownership of stewardship, volunteer management, and/or other communication strategy 

Preferred Knowledge and Skills

• Bachelor's degree required
• Excellent writing, editing, and proofreading skills
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines independently
• High level of accuracy and attention to detail
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite; database experience (Raiser's Edge or equivalent) preferred
• Sound judgment and discretion in handling confidential donor information
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach and excellent interpersonal skills
• A self-starter who takes initiative and follows through with minimal supervision
• Highly motivated and enthusiastic, with good time management skills, a sense of humor, and the ability to multitask in a dynamic environment
• Ability to work evenings and weekends as necessary

Job Details 

Opening to be filled as soon as possible. Offer of employment will be contingent upon a successful background check.

Compensation

The Frederick Gunn School offers an attractive compensation package that includes a salary commensurate with experience, medical and dental insurance, and retirement plan contributions.

To Apply

This position is a 12-month, full-time, exempt opening, paid on a salary basis. Compensation is competitive, and the employment package includes excellent benefits, including outstanding health and dental coverage and a retirement plan. To apply, please complete our online application and upload a cover letter- including the response to the below prompt, resume, and three professional references (references will not be contacted without notifying you). Application materials are being accepted now, and qualified applicants will be invited to interview on a rolling basis.

Prompt - In your cover letter, please share what motivates you about relationship-based and philanthropy work, and why this role at The Frederick Gunn School aligns with the kind of work you find most meaningful. We invite you to describe a moment or experience—professional or personal—that sparked your interest in advancement or relationship development work, and explain how that influences your enthusiasm for this role. Finally, this role requires a high degree of independent initiative. Please describe why this style of work appeals to you and how you stay motivated in similar environments.

Please submit the following materials: 

● Resume 

● Cover letter 

● Transcript(s) 

● Two to four letters of recommendation

The Frederick Gunn School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Except in cases of a bona fide occupational qualification or need, or except as otherwise permitted or required by law, The Frederick Gunn School does not discriminate against applicants for employment on the basis of race, color, religious creed, age, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, present or past history of mental disorder, intellectual disability, learning disability or physical disability, gender identity or expression, genetic information, victims of domestic violence or any other protected class status under applicable law with respect to hiring, compensation, promotion, discharge from employment or other terms and conditions of employment. Position announcements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees assigned to the job title and the education and skills required. Descriptions are not intended to be a complete list of all responsibilities, duties and skills that are required or may be required in the future. 

BACKGROUND SCREENING: The Frederick Gunn School conducts background checks on all job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent offer, which includes using a third-party administrator to conduct the checks.