Director of Advancement, Southpointe Academy
Gerard Search, Canada
Job Description
Job Title: Director of Advancement
Job Category: Leadership
Primary Duties: Advancement
Secondary Duties: Support with Communications, Alumni Relations
Reports To: Head of School
Position Type: Full time, Permanent
Supervises: Advancement Assistant
ABOUT US
Our beautiful campus is located in the heart of South Delta, a growing community rich in history, surrounded by nature reserves and boundless ocean views. Established in 2000, Southpointe has grown into a world leading school delivering the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme (Kindergarten to Grade 12), which encourages students to think critically, engage in global conversations, and is recognized by universities around the world.
With a foundation built on community, Southpointe has grown into an internationally recognized school, seeking to expand the boundaries of what is possible while staying committed to its founding mandate. Shaped by experienced faculty and staff who bring diverse perspectives and extensive knowledge to every department, an internationally recognized curriculum framework, and a state-of-the-art campus, Southpointe looks ahead to a bright future while continuing to provide a world leading education for our students to learn, lead and succeed.
Learn more about our mission, vision, and values.
DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT
The Director of Advancement is responsible for overseeing the advancement initiatives of the school, ensuring a successful Annual Enrichment Fund, Special Campaigns and other fundraising efforts. The Director of Advancement strategically plans and implements a diverse portfolio of fundraising strategies to support the school’s development needs and to develop a culture of philanthropy.
Role and Responsibilities:
- Lead, develop and manage all fundraising deliverables: planning, implementing, and coordinating annual giving (Southpointe Enrichment fund) and major gifts programs to include capital campaigns;
- Evaluate the effectiveness of the major gifts and Enrichment Fund programs, using appropriate criteria and methodology and ensuring all metrics and reports are targeted and used appropriately for analysis and benchmarking;
- Develop and lead the long-range plan to achieve the school’s advancement goals;
- Raise monies for the school by overseeing all aspects of the donor cycle: donor engagement, cultivation, solicitation and stewardship, managing the School’s prospect pipeline, existing and new donor base;
- Ensure a strong program of gift stewardship;
- Use data analytics to inform fundraising strategies;
- Develop a compelling case for support by involving volunteers, donors, prospects, parents, staff, alumni, students and other groups in order to communicate the rationale for supporting the School’s fundraising priorities;
- Build and maintain effective relationships with all school stakeholder groups;
- Lead, mentor, develop and inspire the Advancement team and volunteers;
- Oversee and implement the systems and processes required to carry out the school’s advancement function;
- Work with the Director of Community Relations to coordinate the school’s communications, event planning and publications in relation to fundraising;
- Support the alumni relations strategy;
- Ensure timely collection of pledges;
- Act as a member of the School’s Leadership Team and work to achieve the mission, vision and values of the school;
- Manage the advancement team and budget;
- Assume primary responsibility for tax receipting donations;
- Plan and prepare grant applications to charitable foundations;
- Liaise with advancement professionals at other independent schools, especially ISABC schools.
Requirements
Skills and Abilities:
- Demonstrated leadership and team-building skills, including experience in goal setting, motivating, leading, evaluating and developing a team of advancement professionals;
- Demonstrated understanding of diversity and the importance of an inclusive community;
- Demonstrated professionalism and discretion in handling sensitive/confidential matters;
- Establish and maintain positive working relationships with others, both internally and externally, to achieve the school’s goals;
- Understand ethical behaviour and business practices and ensure one’s own behaviour and that of others is consistent and aligns with these standards and the School’s values;
- Speak, listen, present and write in a clear, thorough and timely manner using appropriate and effective communication tools and techniques;
- Anticipate, understand, and respond to