General Summary

Founded in 1877, Thayer Academy is a co-educational independent day school for over 700 students in grades 5-12. Located on a 34-acre campus in Braintree, Massachusetts, just up the street from the MBTA’s final red line T stop, Thayer has been an enabling and ennobling environment where each student is affirmed, supported, and challenged to take on responsibilities, ambitions, and achievements.

The Major Gifts and Reunion Giving Officer, reporting directly to the Associate Director of Development, will identify, cultivate, solicit and steward a portfolio of individuals capable of making gifts of $5,000 and above to support the mission of Thayer Academy. This person will create strategies for existing supporters, as well as new prospects, and work closely with the Alumni Board and Development team to move them along the continuum of giving to support both the Annual Fund as well as The Campaign for Thayer Academy – a $25Million comprehensive capital campaign focused on increased Annual Fund and endowment giving as well as capital projects that include a new athletic complex, a new Computer Science and Robotics Center and a complete renovation of our existing Middle School.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

• The Major Gifts & Reunion Giving Officer will develop a portfolio of prospects with a goal of carrying 150 prospects annually.
• Cultivate, solicit and steward prospects for Annual Fund gifts of $1,877 and above and Campaign gifts of $5,000 and above.
• Manage an annual stewardship reporting process for all donors with named endowed funds, writing reports on an annual basis including updated financials as well as programmatic impact.
• Strategize with faculty, senior leadership and fellow development staff on the appropriate engagement of alumni.
• Consistently perform research on alumni from the 80’s and 90’s to learn new information about possible wealth indicators.
• Participate in Alumni Board meetings, creating ways to engage alumni of the 80’s and 90’s in the activities of the Alumni Board.
• Work closely with class agents from the 80’s and 90’s to build Annual Fund participation and identify potential campaign donors for each of their classes, especially those celebrating Reunions
• Work with other members of the Alumni Relations team, plan cultivation and stewardship events, including regional alumni events and General’s Council events.
• Steward donor relationships so that donors feel highly appreciated by Thayer Academy.
• Prioritize work to have primary focus on face-to-face meetings and solicitations with current and prospective donors.
• Work directly with the 25^th, 30^th, 35^th and 40^th year reunion classes to ensure a minimum of 30% attendance and 40% participation in the annual giving campaign as well as identifying potential campaign donors.
• Identify organizational needs, innovations and other funding opportunities that would appeal to appropriate donors.
• Responsible for data integrity in Raiser’s Edge donor files including updating all personal information, keeping actions and proposals up to date and ensuring all notable information is recorded.
• Work with the gift processing team to ensure integrity of donor files, records, tracking, pledge reminders and communication.
• Attend and assist with all Development Special Events (occasionally on weekends or evenings).

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree required
• A minimum of 5 years of development experience with a proven track record in major gifts fundraising.
• Demonstrated ability to use good judgment to handle confidential information sensitively.
• Natural ability to establish rapport with a variety of donor and alumni personalities.
• Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously, prioritize and meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge, Microsoft Office Suite, and Outlook, preferred.

Skills / Abilities / Competencies Required:

• Superb written and oral communication skills are essential.
• The ability to communicate to diverse constituencies in an effective and compelling manner.
• The ability to build successful professional relationships with all members of the community.
• Mature professional judgment.
• Analytical thinking capacity.
• Ability to work independently in a self-directed manner and in collaboration with others.
• Superior follow-through and ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong organizational capabilities.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks.
• Unflinching integrity seasoned with humor, perspective and curiosity.
• Ability to pass a criminal records background check.

To Apply:

For more information, please visit https://www.thayer.org/about/careers.  To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to Debbie Andrews at [email protected]

The above is intended to describe the general contents and requirements of work being performed by people assigned to this classification.  It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive statement of all duties, responsibilities or skills of personnel so classified.