The Associate Director of the Kent Fund is integral to the success of Kent’s advancement program. This is a unique opportunity to work with a committed alumni base and a dynamic alumni & development team. The successful candidate will guide and motivate alumni volunteers across all decades, providing leadership to ever-evolving annual giving trends and strategies. Goals include increasing donor support in terms of dollars raised and overall participation, as well as deepening alumni engagement. The Associate Director of the Kent Fund develops and executes innovative strategies to engage, inform, and inspire Kent alumni celebrating special anniversaries with the School. This leader will advance the School’s Reunion program and help ensure a memorable and meaningful experience for alumni. 

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Coordinates and oversees the Reunion Giving program. Provides valuable insights to gift officers as they solicit leadership reunion gifts. Facilitates peer-to-peer fundraising among alumni volunteers and their classmates.
• Manages and motivates the 5th – 45th Reunion Committees by presenting training materials, communicating regular updates, sharing best practices, and guiding volunteers as they leverage available resources. 
• Recruits and leads Reunion Committees (5th – 45th) to engage milestone classes in experiences that will deepen their connection with the School.
• Proactively develops and enhances relationships with alumni to further their connection to and support of Kent and facilitate connections among alumni themselves.
• Partners with the Director of the Alumni Fund and the Advancement Services team to evaluate donor behavior and fundraising goals to determine ask amounts for alumni in Reunion years.
• Partners with the Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement teams to produce meaningful Reunion touchpoints on and off campus throughout the year, culminating in Reunion Weekend (June).
• Partners with the Director of the Alumni Fund and the Director of Alumni & Parent Engagement to evaluate and measure the success of reunion strategies focused on engagement, fundraising, communications, volunteer training, and retention.
• Monitors Reunion metrics and partners with the Director of the Alumni Fund to refine strategies as needed.
• Attends alumni events and school-wide functions as needed to represent the Reunion program and deepen relationships with constituents.
• Stays informed about reunion and alumni giving best practices, industry trends, and emerging technologies. Cultivates a professional network of colleagues at other institutions to serve as a resource for new ideas. 
• Performs other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS 

The successful candidate will have excellent communication and social skills, as well as be a team player and collaborator, eager to support the work of others and to pitch in when needed, even if outside this job description.  

This position is a full-time, full-year position. The successful candidate will engage fully in the life of the School and be able to represent the School with credibility, positivity, and energy to the external world. The successful candidate will also have the maturity to deal respectfully with dissonance and challenges to the School. Top communication skills and good personal judgment are requirements.

The successful candidate will have the ability to develop effective relationships and excellent rapport with all members of the Kent School community to include Advancement team members, and to interact with them on a professional and social basis with ease and comfort. Above all, the successful candidate must be earnestly dedicated to the mission of Kent School.

SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles of fundraising

• Successful experience working with volunteers and advisory boards to engage and solicit alumni and other constituents

• Excellent communication (written and verbal) skills; ability to present complex information in a clear, and compelling manner, in writing and in person; ability to document meetings and write briefings
• Ability to synthesize and analyze data (primary and secondary sources) to analyze information and develop effective strategies
• Ability and willingness to travel (approximately 25% of working days)
• Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusivity and to serving the needs of a diverse and inclusive community with empathy and tact
• Strong interpersonal skills with ability to develop and maintain collegial relationships
• Demonstrated ability to create, foster, and work within a collaborative environment
• A passion for excellent customer service and commitment to exceptional quality
• Initiative, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit
• Strict adherence to policies regarding confidentiality is required
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously
• Proficient in Google Suites. Willingness and ability to learn additional applications as needed, e.g. Raisers Edge
• High degree of organizational skills with the ability to be flexible and multi-task with accuracy
• Always maintains a professional demeanor and restraint, including in stressful situations

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

• 3+ years of development or related experience, with a preference for education, alumni relations and/or volunteer management preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required.  
• Experience with Blackbaud products preferred.

Additional information:

The essential functions and basic skills have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exclusive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills, and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

Kent School is committed to making equal employment opportunities available to all qualified persons. In accordance with federal, state, and local laws, we recruit, hire, promote, and evaluate all personnel without regard to race, color, religion, age, gender, ancestry, citizen status, veteran status, physical or mental handicaps, sexual orientation, or any other factors protected by law. Candidates from historically underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply.

About Kent School

Kent School is a coeducational boarding school located in northwestern Connecticut, serving 570 students, grades 9-12.

Connections working at Kent School