Philanthropy Officer

The Frederick Gunn School • Washington, CT

8h

About The Position

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. Summary The Frederick Gunn School seeks an energetic, strategic, and relationship-driven Philanthropy Officer to join a high-performing and joyful Advancement team responsible for raising between $6–10 million annually. The Philanthropy Officer will manage a portfolio of alumni, parents, and friends with the capacity to make gifts ranging from $10,000 to $100,000, and will play a key role in strengthening donor participation at all levels. This position is ideal for a motivated, collegial professional who thrives on meaningful, in-person engagement, enjoys frequent travel, domestic and international, and can balance independent work with strong collaboration across a dynamic team. The position reports to Melissa Remley ‘87, Gunn’s Director of Principal and Leadership Gifts.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Previous professional experience in advancement, sales, or business development preferred.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to travel frequently and work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working both independently and collaboratively.

Nice To Haves

• Familiarity with fundraising databases (such as Raiser’s Edge or other CRM systems) and research tools preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a personal portfolio of approximately 250+ prospects, focused primarily on alumni and parents across domestic and international regions.
• Conduct a minimum of 100 meaningful, in-person visits annually with the goal of soliciting and closing four- and five-figure gifts, and increasing participation among other assigned prospects in support of school priorities.
• Partner with Advancement colleagues to strengthen donor participation across all constituencies.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of leadership-level annual donors, helping individuals align their philanthropic goals with the mission and strategic priorities of The Frederick Gunn School.
• Use prospect research tools to identify, qualify, and verify the philanthropic capacity of existing and potential donors.
• Maintain timely and accurate documentation of all contacts, strategies, and outcomes in the advancement database.
• Represent The Frederick Gunn School at on-campus and off-campus events, including regional receptions and community gatherings.
• Contribute to a collaborative, results-oriented, and supportive culture within the Advancement Office.
• Seek ongoing opportunities to improve processes, systems, and donor engagement strategies.
• Adhere to all School policies as outlined in the Employee Handbook.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Compensation is competitive, and the employment package includes excellent benefits, including outstanding health and dental coverage and a retirement plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level