Christchurch School | Annual Fund Manager

annual fund manager

About Christchurch School

Christchurch School is a co-ed Episcopal boarding and day school serving grades 9-12.

Founded in 1921, Christchurch is located on a 125-acre waterfront campus on the

Rappahannock River in Virginia. The school’s mission is to inspire and guide each student’s unique journey to self-confidence, purpose, and identity within a caring, structured community, where they discover their infinite value and develop the skills to become compassionate, successful, and engaged global citizens.

Position Overview

Under the guidance and supervision of the Chief Development Officer, the Annual Fund Manager oversees all aspects of Christchurch School’s annual fund efforts. This dynamic leader is responsible for planning, executing and growing the School’s annual fund, known as The Bell Tower Fund, by creating engaging strategies for all of the Schools’ constituencies. The Annual Fund Manager collaborates with the development team to increase annual fund revenue, broaden the base of support, retain and upgrade donors through appropriate stewardship, and strengthen the major gift pipeline through multichannel efforts such as direct mail, email campaigns, giving days, and on and off-campus engagement opportunities. This position also provides guidance and support to the annual fund’s volunteers. The Annual Fund Manager’s primary responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Develop and grow The Bell Tower Fund that meaningfully articulates the importance of philanthropic support to the school using multi-channel outreach to engage each of the school’s audiences.
Track donor performance, manage audience segmentation and targeting, and explore new and innovative strategies to maximize revenue.
Work in partnership with the Assistant Director of Development and Chief Development Officer to develop and manage programs to support alumni engagement and philanthropy.
Maintain a portfolio of approximately 100 prospects with strategies to cultivate and steward annual gifts, identifying and prioritizing prospects for annual fund donors of $250-$10,000 with a focus on next-generation donor cultivation.
Collaborate with the Chief Development Officer to steward donors through the arc of cultivation to build a pipeline of major gift donors.
Educate and inform donors on ways to support the School that are aligned with their philanthropic goals.
Work closely with the Chief Development Officer to develop and position annual fund goals and priorities consistent with the School’s operating needs.
In conjunction with the Director of Communications, develop all collateral materials to brand, solicit and steward annual prospects and donors, and assist with all other development communication pieces.
Serve as the primary point of contact for our annual parent and alumni giving campaigns, with special emphasis upon increasing young alumni giving.
Develop, inspire, and manage the faculty and staff annual giving campaign.
Oversee reunion-based fundraising program in close collaboration with the development team and class agents. Determine overall reunion giving strategy, help recruit volunteer leadership, and monitor class progress to ensure reunion financial goals are met.
Attend development related events and schoolwide functions as needed to connect with constituents.
Assist with compiling donor lists for the website and any other communications.
Embrace our mission, vision, core values, and its place in the Episcopal Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia school system.
Understand the School’s academic program and its campus culture.
Possible engagement in the school community through duty, advisory, or a co-curricular activity.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree with at least three years of experience in non-profit or educational fundraising or sales.

Employ a donor-centric mindset that informs daily and strategic decisions.
Team player with a positive attitude, proactive approach, customer service mindset, courage, and ability to motivate.
Demonstrated ability to both independently and collaboratively raise significant financial support for an educational institution, or equivalent entity.
Experience leading and engaging all stakeholders - leadership, trustees, colleagues, faculty, parents, students, alumni, friends, and volunteers.
A disciplined, results-oriented self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fluid environment.
Well-developed strategic, critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
Proficient interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, confidentiality, and judgement.
Excellent project management skills – ability to take the lead on multi-functional projects, manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities and competing demands, and adapt to frequent and unexpected changes.
Adept at attention to detail and able to develop, implement and analyze strategies.
Knowledge with Word, Excel, Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud, Constant Contact and Evite, and any other related or relevant technology.
Strong verbal and written communication skills.
Willingness and ability to travel, domestically and possibly internationally.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The School is an equal opportunity employer. The School provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and job applicants without regard to an individual’s race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions including lactation, age, disability, genetic information or any other factor prohibited by applicable law. All aspects of personnel management – including hiring, promotion, demotion, transfer, recruitment, layoff, discipline, termination, compensation, benefits, training and working conditions – will be administered in accordance with this policy. Each employee is expected to do their part to maintain a working environment free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.

Conditional Offers

An offer of employment for this position is contingent upon the applicant’s right to work in the United States, authorization for and completion of successful background checks as may be requested by the school or required by law.

Compensation and Benefits

Christchurch School offers a highly competitive compensation package with benefits to include excellent health plan options, retirement benefits, professional development, and networking opportunities. This is a 12-month full-time exempt position.

Hours of Work

Monday through Friday from 8:00-5:00 p.m. Evening and weekend work and occasional travel may be required as job duties demand.

Please submit a resume, salary requirements, and a cover letter to Michelle S. Schroeter, Chief Development Officer, at mschroeter@christchurchschool.org.