Primary Function          

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Annual Giving leads Phillips Academy’s effort to raise restricted and unrestricted current use support of approximately $12 million and to grow donor participation. He/she/they will provide strategic direction to annual fundraising efforts, including increasing leadership annual donor support, growing alumni donor participation, and leading a sophisticated segmenting and marketing effort.

The Director leads a department of eight professional and administrative staff and collaborates with colleagues in Development, Alumni Engagement and Academy Communications to achieve results.

Position Description     

Specific Responsibilities of the Director of Annual Giving:

• Oversee a class-and-reunion based program that solicits gifts annually through volunteers and staff;
• Lead Andover’s strategies to increase the Andover Fund, meeting and/or exceeding both unrestricted and restricted current use goals;
• Provide strategic direction to segmentation and messaging directed toward growing donor count through acquisition of new donors and retention of current donors;
• Participate in leading the development initiatives of Phillips Academy under the direction of the Director of Development and in partnership with key colleagues;
• Manage and mentor Annual Giving Team: including skill development, professional development, goal setting and collaboration;
• Provide comprehensive oversight of marketing and communications efforts to drive total annual fund support and donors, using industry best practices and analytics to drive decisions and strategy;
• Demonstrate effective front line fundraising by working a portfolio, demonstrating full understanding and implementation of the process, qualification through stewardship;
• Lead all aspects of volunteer management: creating and managing to expectations, effective communication, goal setting and efficient support;
• Produce compelling and strong communications;
• Night and weekend work is required for events and donor engagements, both on campus and off;
• Travel—including overnight travel—is required, both locally off-campus as well as out of state.

Ideal Skills and Experience:

• The role requires 7 to 10 years of direct or transferrable experience;
• Track record of team leadership and personal action in three key areas: managing fundraising volunteers, direct solicitation of leadership annual gifts, and growing donor participation.
• Excellent written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills;
• Ability to take initiative and collaborate with others;
• An understanding of private education;
• Demonstrated proficiency with common business productivity and analysis tools as well as familiarity with customer base segmentation techniques;
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree

Critical Competencies for Success

• Effective solicitor and portfolio manager who can lead by
• Demonstrated understanding of marketing, solicitation and donor
• Demonstrated history of making effective, informative, and persuasive presentations; work effectively and diplomatically with a diverse group of internal and external constituents, including guiding a team through changes and transitions;
• The ability to motivate and lead a group of individuals at various levels towards a common goal by establishing clear expectations, reviewing performance and providing guidance when
• History of managing large groups of volunteers efficiently and with meaningful outcomes for those

Other Characteristics

The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker with the ability to execute in multiple channels simultaneously: direct and volunteer solicitation, print and electronic direct marketing, and social media. He/she/they will have a passion for innovation and risk-taking, balancing these qualities with an appreciation of the traditions that are the legacy of decades of Andover donors and volunteers.

The next Director will be a high energy and charismatic leader who will guide the Annual Giving Department which is very team-oriented. This position at the same time requires strong leadership and team-building skills. The Director of Annual Giving will demonstrate a strong work ethic and put in extra effort when needed, serving as an example to the team. He/she/they will build on existing relationships on campus and with donors and prospects within the Phillips Academy community. The ideal candidate will have a strong intellectual curiosity and the ability to institute initiatives to build growth in the annual fund.

 About PHILLIPS ACADEMY                                                                                                     

 Andover is an independent high school that stands ready to meet, match, and expand the minds and passions of some of the brightest students in the nation and the world. Andover has a roster of 300 courses, more than 150 electives, and opportunities for pursuing independent study and study abroad projects. Because of its size, Andover offers enormous depth and breadth of activity and opportunity while still feeling like a personal place.

The energetic, one-of-a-kind educational community ultimately helps young people grow intellectually, artistically, athletically and morally. Smart and curious students from as many as 50 states and 49 countries study with teachers and scholars who are also coaches, mentors, house counselors, advisors and inspirations.

Non sibi. Not for self. Paul Revere forged this motto into Phillips Academy’s original seal 230 years ago. Whether it is helping a classmate with difficult math homework, taking on a leadership role in a school club, or participating in the dozens of service learning projects that take them into local neighborhoods and around the world, non sibi is a way of life at Phillips Academy.

To Apply

Kindly send nominations or expressions of interest to:

Lisa Byala Principal ByalaSearch LLC
[email protected] T: (212) 547–9536
www.byalasearch.com