Director of Leadership Giving

The Hotchkiss School•Lakeville, CT

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Hotchkiss School seeks a Director of Leadership Giving to join the Leadership Giving team and play a key role in building on the momentum of its recently concluded comprehensive campaign. The campaign, Hotchkiss’s first in more than 30 years, raised $304 million against a goal of $250 million. The ideal candidate for this high-profile position will be a thoughtful, articulate, and experienced major gifts officer with a strong ability to form and maintain relationships, build consensus, and eloquently communicate the School’s strengths and objectives. We seek a team player who will personally manage a select portfolio of over 100 major-gift donors and prospects. The Director will develop strong relationships with School constituents and demonstrate an ability to secure capital, endowed, and planned gifts to support the School’s mission. The Director will have frequent interactions with senior members of the School community and will work closely with the Head of School and the Chief Advancement Officer. The Director will also work closely with other development staff, department chairs, faculty, administrators, and volunteers to identify prospective donors, cultivate relationships, solicit gifts, and provide proper stewardship in support of The Hotchkiss School.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree plus a minimum of 5-10 years of experience raising major gifts.
Significant capital gift/annual fund experience and a working knowledge of planned giving fundamentals required.
Proven success in securing gifts of $100,000 or more.
Mission-driven team player with excellent analytical, organizational, and time management skills.
Excellent and persuasive oral and written communication skills.
High energy, ambition, and initiative, with a growth mindset.
Strong attention to detail and ability to perform tasks independently.
Proficiency in G-Suite, knowledge of Raiser’s Edge preferred or similar fundraising software, along with an ability to learn new systems.

Nice To Haves

Capital campaign experience in an educational setting preferred.

Responsibilities

Craft high-end solicitation strategies for identified donor prospects and submit thoughtful and well-written proposals and in-person solicitations of gifts of $100,000 and above.
Build and maintain communications with key stakeholders, constituents, and prospects.
Implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward assigned constituents.
Closely collaborate with Leadership Giving team members and contribute to the team’s overall strategic objectives.
Manage a portfolio of up to 125 donors and donor prospects.
Provide regular, detailed reports and information to the Executive Director of Leadership Giving and Chief Advancement Officer.
Work closely with members of the Alumni and Development Office to support fundraising goals and objectives.
Engage campus colleagues in the cultivation and solicitation process.
Demonstrate a commitment to the value of education and the Hotchkiss mission.
Successfully articulate a compelling case for leadership support.
Perform other duties as needed and assigned.