The Taft School · 12 hours ago
Major Gifts Officer, Parents & Families
Watertown, CT
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level
5+ years expThe Taft School is a prestigious private school located in Watertown, CT, and is seeking a Major Gifts Officer for Parents and Families. This role involves managing a pool of major gift prospects, developing relationships, and collaborating with various stakeholders to enhance fundraising efforts.
Primary/Secondary Education
Hiring Manager
Maya Drye
Responsibilities
Build and maintain meaningful, long-term relationships with parents and families, serving as a trusted partner and point of connection to the Taft community
Manage a portfolio of prospects, with responsibility for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major gifts from within the parent and family community
Collaborate with the Sr. Director of Philanthropy to develop strategies for prospect meetings, engagement and solicitations, including regular travel to build and strengthen relationships
Prepare proposals and materials for solicitation and stewardship, including written documentation for accurate gift recording and use, acknowledgements, and reporting
Work with school partners, including the Alumni and Development team, academic leaders, faculty, and senior administrators to develop meaningful engagement opportunities for major gift prospects
Collaborate on parent and family-centered prospect events and programs that foster philanthropy both on and off campus
Assist parents and families with navigating Taft and proactively helping them feel informed and engaged with the school community
Develop and demonstrate multicultural awareness and contribute to cultivating an inclusive, diverse, and respectful School community. Demonstrate civil and inclusive behavior when interacting with staff, faculty, students and visitors to the School. Promote a flexible, collaborative, and inclusive work environment and engage in educational opportunities to increase awareness and understanding of diversity and inclusion
Maintain accurate and detailed records of all visits and prospect activity
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree and five+ years of directly related fundraising experience in higher education, and/or nonprofit organization, preferably in a frontline advancement capacity
Possess strong interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to effectively work and interact respectfully within a diverse and inclusive environment, a strong commitment to higher education
Demonstrated ability to cultivate relationships, including gift solicitation
Experience working with volunteers and a proven track record of collaboration in a team environment
The ability to speak credibly about independent school education and Taft's mission and vision
Ability to develop relationships with high net worth individuals in a broad range of professions
Ability to travel within the US and attend school functions during and after normal business hours
Deep personal integrity and a strong work ethic are required
An understanding of major gifts and campaigns
Company
The Taft School
The Taft School is a coeducational boarding institution catering to students in grades nine through postgraduate.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageLeadership Team
Jake Odden
Chief Financial Officer
Horace Dutton Taft
Founder
Company data provided by crunchbase