Director of Annual Giving

St. Stephen's Episcopal School•Austin, TX

About The Position

St. Stephen’s Episcopal School, a day and boarding school of 705 students (grades 6–12), seeks a dynamic, creative, and experienced professional to lead the strategy and execution of the Annual Fund. This year, St. Stephen’s celebrates its 75th anniversary and launches the public phase of Lasting Impact: The Campaign for St. Stephen’s, an $85 million comprehensive campaign — the most ambitious in the school's history. Growing the annual fund is among the campaign's priorities, and the Director of Annual Giving has an exciting opportunity to build on the campaign’s momentum with a goal of raising over $2 million annually by the 2027–28 school year. Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Director of Annual Giving (DAG) is responsible for developing a data-driven, segmented, and strategic plan to engage and inspire donors from all constituencies to support the annual fund. The DAG will lead efforts to increase donor retention, acquire new donors, and grow leadership-level annual giving to build a robust donor pipeline for future major gifts. Historically, 50% or more of the Annual Fund’s success is thanks to parent giving; the DAG has a strong mandate to implement new and revitalized strategies for alumni, grandparent, and parent of alumni giving. The ideal candidate is a highly organized, systematic, and strategic thinker who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and enjoys both building new programs and working directly with donors and volunteers. Duties include: Strategy, Goal Setting & Analysis Lead the planning, implementation, and achievement of goals for a comprehensive and innovative Annual Fund; Partner with Advancement colleagues to develop and execute a plan for donor segmentation and appeal strategy, cultivation and stewardship events, solicitation schedules, and volunteer recruitment and management; Analyze giving trends and responses to multi-channel efforts and adjust strategies accordingly; In partnership with the Director of Advancement and Director of Advancement Services, identify key performance indicators and track both short- and long-term goals; Manage the Annual Fund budget, including initial planning and ongoing expense tracking; Stay current on trends, innovations, and best practices in independent school fundraising and apply them to enhance program success. Relationship Building Personally manage a portfolio of 50–75 households annually, focusing on leadership gift solicitations. ($5,000+ for parents; $1,000+ for alumni); Conduct 12-15 meaningful donor visits per month focused on cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship; Recruit, train, and support 25–50 Annual Fund volunteers, including faculty/staff, alumni, grandparents, and parents of alumni, to facilitate peer-to-peer appeals, donor engagement, and event attendance; Attend Advancement and community events and maintain a visible presence at school functions to build strong relationships with parents, alumni, and colleagues; Design and oversee stewardship plans for donor recognition and appreciation; Attend all Parent Association meetings and serve as liaison to that group for Annual Fund engagement. Communications Oversee and write all Annual Fund communications and collaborate with MarComm colleagues on design and branding; Manage multi-channel appeals, website content, social media outreach, acknowledgment letters, stewardship and cultivation event invitations, and the quarterly parent of alumni newsletter; Represent the Annual Fund publicly at school events and donor gatherings. Community In alignment with the school's mission and values, employees are expected to collaborate with integrity, promote respect and inclusion, contribute to a vibrant, caring school community, and demonstrate the following behaviors in the performance of their duties: Approach work with initiative and creativity, and work collaboratively across roles and departments to benefit and strengthen the school community. Pursue ongoing professional growth and model a love of learning for colleagues and students; communicate clearly, constructively, and maintain professional behavior in all interactions Demonstrate sound judgment, reliability, and self-awareness; follow school policies, safety protocols, and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment. Honor the dignity of all community members, seek to understand and value diverse perspectives, and support a culture of inclusion that contributes to people feeling valued and connected. Act ethically in decisions and interactions, and use community resources responsibly.

Requirements

A bachelor’s degree and at least 5 years of professional fundraising experience
Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
Strong interpersonal, analytical, and organizational abilities
Ability to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
Familiarity with fundraising databases
A collaborative spirit and ability to work both independently and as part of a team
Professionalism, discretion, and maturity in handling confidential information and complex situations
Flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends for events and meetings
Desire to actively engage in the life of the school community
A clear understanding of and commitment to St. Stephen’s mission and values

Nice To Haves

Experience in independent schools or higher education preferred
Demonstrated success managing an annual giving program
experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, implementation, and achievement of goals for a comprehensive and innovative Annual Fund
Partner with Advancement colleagues to develop and execute a plan for donor segmentation and appeal strategy, cultivation and stewardship events, solicitation schedules, and volunteer recruitment and management
Analyze giving trends and responses to multi-channel efforts and adjust strategies accordingly
In partnership with the Director of Advancement and Director of Advancement Services, identify key performance indicators and track both short- and long-term goals
Manage the Annual Fund budget, including initial planning and ongoing expense tracking
Stay current on trends, innovations, and best practices in independent school fundraising and apply them to enhance program success
Personally manage a portfolio of 50–75 households annually, focusing on leadership gift solicitations. ($5,000+ for parents; $1,000+ for alumni)
Conduct 12-15 meaningful donor visits per month focused on cultivation, solicitation, or stewardship
Recruit, train, and support 25–50 Annual Fund volunteers, including faculty/staff, alumni, grandparents, and parents of alumni, to facilitate peer-to-peer appeals, donor engagement, and event attendance
Attend Advancement and community events and maintain a visible presence at school functions to build strong relationships with parents, alumni, and colleagues
Design and oversee stewardship plans for donor recognition and appreciation
Attend all Parent Association meetings and serve as liaison to that group for Annual Fund engagement
Oversee and write all Annual Fund communications and collaborate with MarComm colleagues on design and branding
Manage multi-channel appeals, website content, social media outreach, acknowledgment letters, stewardship and cultivation event invitations, and the quarterly parent of alumni newsletter
Represent the Annual Fund publicly at school events and donor gatherings
Approach work with initiative and creativity, and work collaboratively across roles and departments to benefit and strengthen the school community
Pursue ongoing professional growth and model a love of learning for colleagues and students; communicate clearly, constructively, and maintain professional behavior in all interactions
Demonstrate sound judgment, reliability, and self-awareness; follow school policies, safety protocols, and contribute to a positive and supportive work environment
Honor the dignity of all community members, seek to understand and value diverse perspectives, and support a culture of inclusion that contributes to people feeling valued and connected
Act ethically in decisions and interactions, and use community resources responsibly.