Director of Development

Position Description:

Wye River Upper School (WRUS) seeks a Director of Advancement effective immediately.

Wye River is an independent, college preparatory school serving bright students with learning differences. Students who learn differently discover through innovation, develop with rigor, and celebrate the strengths at Wye River Upper School while preparing for success in college, career, and life. We focus on raising annual funds and financial aid to provide this educational experience for students and their families who need the education we provide but can not afford the tuition. WRUS is located in a historically renovated 1926 National Guard Armory in lovely Centreville, MD, on Maryland’s beautiful Eastern Shore.

The Director of Advancement is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy to support the organization's mission and goals. This role will lead the planning and execution of fundraising initiatives, donor cultivation and stewardship, and building strong relationships with alums, supporters, and the community.

This position has the opportunity to positively impact all aspects of the school through near and long-term planning and actions to raise fiscal resources through collaboration with peers, Trustees, and donors. The Director of Advancement will report to the Head of School and indirectly to the Board of Trustees. It is a full-time position and is an administrative leadership role.

The Director must demonstrate the ability to be an outstanding communicator with superb interpersonal skills and a team player open to learning and engaging with most facets of the school.

Essential Functions:

Leadership in Fundraising and Stewardship

The Director oversees operating and fundraising for the School, coordinating and directing the work of a team of internal and external resources to support Wye River’s short- and long-term needs. In addition, the Director works to engage the larger Wye River community by implementing and utilizing cultivation and stewardship strategies.

Design, implement, and manage—in collaboration with the Head of School and Board of Trustees—a comprehensive development program to successfully raise annual, capital, and endowment support to achieve the School’s mission and strategic goals.
Personally cultivate and solicit gifts that result in the financial support of Wye River Upper School.
Develop and oversee a planned giving program to secure long-term philanthropic support for the organization.
Provide leadership and direction in building programs to support prospect research, major gifts, planned giving, and stewardship.
Engage the national Wye River Upper School community by traveling to cultivate and steward relationships.
To identify human interest stories within the school, document those stories in oral, written, and visual form, and disseminate them across a range of communication platforms.
To seek professional development for the purpose of staying current with development initiatives
Provide input into the School’s strategic direction.

Management and Administration:

The Director manages and contributes to a series of critical advancement-related processes while managing and coordinating a team of internal and external professionals.

Oversee the development office budget and administrative systems to accurately manage donor/prospect information, gift processing, acknowledgment, accounting, data, and reporting systems.
Oversee hiring and development of staff responsible for annual and capital giving, alum relations, international relations, auction/gala, events, database management, and prospect research.
Serve as staff liaison to Board committees, including the Advancement Committee. Provide regular fundraising reports to the Board of Trustees.
Assist the Head of School with trustee candidate identification.
Oversee the planning and execution of constituent-related activities and special events.
Provide a development perspective to the School’s communications and marketing efforts.
To oversee the use of and production through eTapestry or a designated fundraising platform to maximize fundraising campaigns.
Serve as a member of the School’s Leadership Team.
Understands and supports the mission and motto of Wye River Upper School.

Other duties as assigned

Qualifications and Competencies:

Wye River Upper School seeks an individual who can balance a wide range of experiences in fundraising with a willingness to become an active member of our community. The following qualifications are encouraged but not mandatory requirements:

Bachelor's degree required, Master's degree in a related field preferred.
Three to five years of non-profit development experience, preferably in a school/college setting.
Strong leadership and team-building skills to collaborate with various colleagues and constituencies.
Proven management experience with demonstrated success as a development professional.
Comfortable in a strategic capacity, management role, and/or hands-on contributor.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills with experience developing compelling fundraising proposals and donor communications.
Excellent editing and public speaking skills.
Proven organizational skills, attention to detail, and respect for confidentiality.
Familiarity with fundraising software and database management tools.
Ability to work independently and collaboratively with a diverse group of stakeholders.
Skilled in promoting a vision, communicating a strategy, and implementing goals.

Salary and Benefits

Salary commensurate with experience
This is a full-time, 12-month position with full benefits.
- Full benefits include: Health, Dental, and Life Insurance, an Individual Retirement Account with up to a 3% employer contribution match, and two weeks of vacation and 8 Personal Days.

Wye River is an equal-opportunity employer. We welcome diverse candidates of all backgrounds. Please visit our website, https://www.wyeriverupperschool.org/ to learn more about our school community and vision.

Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to the Head of School, Stephanie Borges Folarin, at StephanieFolarin@WyeRiverUpperSchool.org.

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