Job Description
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provide leadership for, and manage all cultivation and fundraising activities of the school, including major gifts efforts, annual giving, endowment giving, planned giving, and all related events and activities to generate and increase revenue while meeting established fundraising goals and objectives.
- Identify and cultivate major donors, building and retaining key donor relationships.
- Provide leadership to an advancement staff of four, including establishing annual goals, providing regular performance reviews, and facilitating appropriate recognition.
- Lead the school in a comprehensive capital campaign.
- Maintain a portfolio of leadership donors to various funds, including the annual fund, capital projects, restricted scholarships, planned gifts, endowment gifts, and other special funding initiatives.
- Manage and develop the annual advancement and work plan: track and report results to the head of school, chief financial officer, and board of trustees regularly.
- Work collaboratively with the head of school, chief financial officer, board of trustees, and other school employees and volunteers to meet the comprehensive annual fundraising goals of the school. Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects to grow, strengthen and nurture the donor base.
- Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the school, and articulate its mission to external constituents.
- Strategize with colleagues, head of school, trustees, marketing/communications and volunteers on current and future initiatives within the advancement program.
- Collaborate with the office of enrollment management to help advance the collective work of both departments.
- Serve as the conduit for new fundraising initiatives as recommended by trustees, key administrators, and faculty.
- Model a leadership style that is open, supportive, collaborative, and respectful of all employees.
- Partner with the business office to accurately report and acknowledge all gifts in accordance with fundraising best practices while overseeing departmental budgets and necessary reporting.
- Assume other duties as required.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- A high level of integrity, warmth, confidence, and positive attitude
- Creative, independent, and strategic thinker
- Outstanding management and communication skills and the ability to work with other Advancement Office team members and all levels of volunteers and staff at the school.
- Understanding of fundraising software and database management. Experience with Raiser’s Edge preferred.
- Ability to travel locally and nationally is required, as is evening and weekend work as necessary
- This position requires a valid driver’s license, vehicle and insurance
- Strong interpersonal skills; capable of using tact and diplomacy in dealing with others
- High level of maturity, confidentiality, and assertiveness
- Ability to work collaboratively with others and maintain positive professional relationships
- Excellent organizational skills with a strong degree of self- direction, motivation, and idea generation
- Ability to provide outstanding customer service
- Flexibility
Education and Experience:
- Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
- At least 10 years of fundraising experience, with an emphasis on creating strategy for meeting dollar and participation goals; significant experience working with volunteers
- Prior experience leading a team
- Experience with staff and board management, engagement, and development
- Past leadership experience representing an organization to external audiences
- Demonstrated success in developing and implementing effective fundraising strategies
- Experience in an educational or non-profit environment
- Experience leading a comprehensive campaign
About University School of Milwaukee
University School of Milwaukee is an independent, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students from prekindergarten (age 3) through grade 12. Current enrollment is 1,150 students. We welcome candidates that add to our diversity. University School of Milwaukee is an equal opportunity employer. More information may be found at
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Job Tags
Full time, Weekend work, Afternoon shift,