Director of BB&N Fund

Job Description

Job Description

Position Title: Director of the BB&N Fund

Starting Date: August 2026

About Buckingham Browne & Nichols:

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Buckingham Browne & Nichols is a day school that engages students in grades Pre-K through 12 in a rich and invigorating educational experience of the highest quality. The school excels at helping students discover their unique talents and passions and develop those strengths to the fullest. The curriculum is challenging, forward-thinking, innovative, and flexible, designed to help qualified students, from a range of backgrounds and with a wide spectrum of talents and interests, reach new levels of accomplishment. Co-curricular opportunities in athletics, the arts, community service, and other areas add important dimensions to students’ learning. Students learn on three age and developmentally-appropriate campuses. At every grade, BB&N takes full advantage of the range of opportunities its locations afford.

BB&N is committed to becoming an anti-racist institution. This commitment is integral to the mission and vision of the School. BB&N is an academically excellent, diverse, and inclusive community where students develop into lifelong learners who lead with kindness, curiosity, and integrity. We prepare students to be responsible and open-minded as they engage with the world around them. Our school is guided by the core values of:

• Inquiry, in which we promote curiosity and critical thinking to inspire a lifelong love of learning.

• Integrity, in which we strive to be honest, conscientious, and accountable in our actions, even when no one is watching.

• Belonging, in which we foster a culture of respect, well-being, and connection that values all individuals and empowers them to discover and be their authentic selves, and

• Kindness, in which we strengthen our communities by recognizing our common humanity and treating ourselves and others with respect and compassion.
  

The vibrancy and vitality we feel in the classrooms, hallways, stages, and playing fields of BB&N derive from the people who are here. At its root are the varied interests and experiences, the different backgrounds, cultures, religions, views, and perspectives that our students and faculty bring to their classes and families bring to myriad activities. Each of us adds to the richness of another’s experience. Working and playing together teaches us lifelong lessons about appreciating, knowing, understanding, and learning from each other.

Summary Description:

BB&N is seeking an innovative leader of The BB&N Fund who values strategic impact and transcends traditional, "check-the-box" fundraising. The ideal candidate balances analytical acumen with creative agility and collaborative energy. You will design and execute highly targeted, segmented messaging strategies that speak directly to our diverse, multi-generational community. By transforming data into powerful stories, tailoring your approach to distinct constituent cohorts, and collaborating cross-departmentally, you will drive the philanthropic growth necessary to sustain and exceed the school’s institutional needs. Your leadership will ensure The BB&N Fund remains a vibrant, essential resource supporting the diverse programming that defines BB&N's unique educational excellence.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Strategic Design & Execution: Lead the multi-channel strategy (direct mail, digital, social, and personal solicitation) for the BB&N Fund. You won't just follow a template; you will use strategic analysis to segment our donor base and optimize the donor journey.

• Creative Campaigning & Strategic Annual Fund Appeal Blending: Bring ingenuity to the annual giving cycle within a comprehensive campaign environment. Collaborating with the Campaign Director and the Director of Development, you will design "out-of-the-box" appeals, participation challenges, stewardship initiatives, and giving days that seamlessly integrate traditional annual fund messaging with larger campaign priorities. By executing sophisticated, blended-ask strategies, you will capture the unique spirit of BB&N while maximizing a donor’s total philanthropic impact across both immediate operational needs and long-term campaign goals

• Reunion and Affinity Giving Program: In collaboration with the Associate Director of Alumni Engagement, reimagine and revitalize a comprehensive Reunion Giving program. Partner with alumni leaders to set ambitious class goals and leverage milestone years as a catalyst for increased philanthropic support, ensuring that Reunion becomes a cornerstone of the BB&N Fund’s annual success. Partner with the Director of Development and the Major Giving Team to elevate Affinity Giving as a method of increasing targeted engagement and support.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Manage and inspire a dedicated BB&N Fund Parent Volunteer Committee to drive fundraising momentum across all grades, ensuring a cohesive and energetic approach to peer-to-peer solicitation.

  • Partner closely with Major Gift Officers to identify and pipeline emerging leadership donors, ensuring a seamless transition and a holistic "one-school" donor experience.

  • Exhibit the highest level of professionalism while serving as a key liaison to high-net-worth volunteers and Board members.

• Adaptability in Action: In an ever-evolving philanthropic landscape, you will demonstrate flexibility—pivoting strategies based on real-time results and shifting institutional priorities without losing momentum.

• Volunteer Management: Recruit, train, and inspire a robust network of the BB&N Fund Parent Volunteer Committee. Equip them to act as highly effective fundraising parent-to-parent ambassadors by providing strategic motivation, clear goals, and comprehensive training on a newly acquired volunteer management system.

• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements, Skills, and Competencies:

The ideal candidate will be an advancement professional who thrives at the intersection of data and storytelling with 5 to 7 years of experience in development, annual giving, or a related field (higher ed or independent school experience is a plus). A Bachelor’s degree is required, though an advanced degree or relevant certifications are preferred. The following qualifications are sought in the ideal candidate:

• Bachelor’s Degree required; advanced degree or relevant certifications preferred.

• At least 5-7 years of experience in development, annual giving, or a related field (higher-ed or independent school experience is a plus).

• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding revenue and participation goals.

• Knowledge and successful use of Social Media applications as they relate to annual fund outreach.

• A strategic thinker who stewards collaborative work and progress toward goals.

• Requires superior oral and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively and interact with all personality types and levels of management.

• Effective relationship builder, preferably with local, regional, and national connections

* Please note that the standard hours for this position may vary based on operational and departmental needs. Candidates must be willing and able to work an adaptable schedule, which may include occasional evening and weekend hours as required.

Salary: $100,000.00 - $110,000.00

BB&N offers competitive salaries and benefits, employing equitable and consistent compensation practices. The starting salary for any hired candidate is based on experience within salary bands.

Compensation for eligible full-time and part-time employees includes a 403(b) plan with up to a 10% match of salary and other competitive benefits offerings. Benefits offered to eligible employees include health & dental insurance, commuter benefits, long-term disability insurance, and more.

To Apply:

Please visit the Careers at BB&N page to complete your online application. Please upload your Cover Letter, Resume, and Reference List. Successful candidates submit complete applications, inclusive of all requested materials, and respond to all posting questions completely and thoughtfully.

Buckingham Browne & Nichols School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, age, gender identity, national origin or ancestry, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any non-job-related physical or mental disability. We welcome candidates who will increase our diversity; we encourage candidates of color and all diverse candidates to apply.