Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving

Who We Are:

Ashley Hall, South Carolina’s only independent all-girls private school serving students in grades kindergarten through 12, with a coeducational preschool, seeks a Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving whose primary responsibility will be to strategically develop, implement, and manage a plan to strengthen and cultivate relationships with the School’s 3,300+ alumnae across the country and around the world. This work will place emphasis on support for the Alumnae Association Board (AAB) and Young Alumnae Council (YAC), Alumnae Weekend, alumnae programming, and support for the School’s fundraising priorities. 

Who You Are: 

• A professional who believes in the power of making genuine, meaningful relationships.

• A natural connector and skilled organizer who thrives when able to bring people together in ways that deepen their involvement with each other and to a shared mission

• An experienced fundraiser with 5-7 years of success  in annual and/or major gift fundraising and the demonstrated ability to effectively cultivate, solicit, and secure gifts from a prospect portfolio to raise a minimum of $1 million annually

• An excellent communicator with the ability to connect with a wide range of constituencies through sharp interpersonal skills

• An experienced candidate with a working knowledge of an independent school environment and a dedication to developing relationships with alumnae, faculty, senior academic and administrative leaders, board members, volunteers, and the Office of Institutional Advancement

• A person driven by a  strong sense of responsibility for achieving personal fundraising goals while engendering strong relationships

• A possessor of a positive and uplifting attitude that inspires colleagues and faculty

Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving Overview:

The Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving is a critical member of the Ashley Hall Institutional Advancement department. This person will work closely with the Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement, the Head of School, the Board of Trustees, the AAB, and YAC  to develop and implement individualized strategies for prospects and donors to meet short and long-term goals. The primary objective of the Director of Alumnae Engagement & Giving is creating, managing, and growing an engaged and active alumnae base to increase alumnae engagement and investment with the School. 

What You’ll Do:

• Create  and implement alumnae communications including direct contact through e-newsletters, email social media, the alumnae website, and alumnae portal

• Communicate with alumnae both reactively and proactively

• Manage the Ashley Hall Alumnae Association Board (AAB) and the Young Alumnae Council (YAC) - supporting their work around diversity, equity, and inclusion as it pertains to communication engagement, and event planning

• Co-manage The Loyalty Fund with the Director of the Loyalty Fund and meeting the goals set each year for alumnae and parents of alumnae

• Help to create innovative and engaging Loyalty Fund materials to support the campaign, bringing relevant contact to alumnae

• Manage a prospect list that includes all stages of the gift cycle - cultivation, solicitation, stewardship with a focus on alumnae and parents of alumnae

• Work closely with the Major Gifts Officer to co-manage identification, qualification, cultivation, and solicitation, and stewardship of alumnae and alumnae parent major gift prospects and donors.  

• Manage a team of constituent volunteers who help build a culture of philanthropy within their constituencies (phonathons, letters, notes, event attendance, etc.)

• Manage Alumnae Weekend, including Reunion giving

• Collaborate with the entire IA team strategically selecting, creating, and managing local, regional, and national events to connect constituents including alumnae, current parents, parents of alumnae, and grandparents

• Work with the Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement and the Head of School to develop and execute tailored cultivation and proposal strategies to further engage each prospective donor

• Facilitate meaningful relationships between donors and key influencers

• Educate and inform donors on ways to support the school that are aligned with their philanthropic goals

• Meet with donors and prospects locally, regionally, and nationally as appropriate

• Track moves and actions on a weekly and monthly basis through contact reports that detail cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities

• Meet monthly, quarterly, and annual goals and targets

Preferred Experience and Skills:

Preference will be given to candidates that also display one or more of the following:

• Bachelor’s degree required

• Commitment to honoring the mission of Ashley Hall

• Experience with donor relations, fundraising, and an understanding the principles of donor cultivation

• Project management skills including planning, budgeting, and delivery of work on schedule

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal skills

• Strong computer skills and knowledge of database research and maintenance

• Ability to cross collaborate across the team and across campus, be trustworthy, use discretion, be accountable, and an excellent team player

• Must be willing to work nights and weekends as needed

Interested candidates can send their cover letter, resume and list of references to Lynsey Barrows, Director of Human Resources, at barrowsl@ashleyhall.org 

Ashley Hall is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability or genetic information.