Assistant Director of Advancement

Note Dame High School of Sacred Heart University; Fairfield (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Notre Dame High School seeks an Assistant Director of Advancement to collaborate with the Director of Advancement in fundraising and donor engagement. This role supports annual and restricted giving campaigns, donor stewardship, alumni relations programming, and prospect pipeline development.

As part of a small team, you will help plan events, ensure accurate donor records in the CRM, and expand participation across families, alumni, and the broader school community.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; nonprofit experience preferred.
• 3–5 years in development or related field recommended.
• Discretion with confidential information and strong organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan and execute annual fundraising drives and campaigns.
• Support donor cultivation, stewardship, and communications.
• Maintain accurate donor records and advancement systems.
• Coordinate events such as galas and donor engagement activities.
• Collaborate with alumni and parent associations to broaden participation.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Event planning

Analytics & reporting

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Little Green Light

Razor's Edge

Job description

Position Summary

The Assistant Director of Advancement supports the Director of Advancement in executing the school’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This role focuses on annual and restricted giving campaigns, special events, donor stewardship, alumni relations programming, and prospect pipeline development. As a member of a small department, this role serves as a key partner in the execution of the school’s advancement program.

Primary focus areas:
Manage the implementation of the NDP Fund (Annual Fund) and other annual fundraising initiatives
Assist in donor cultivation, stewardship, and communications
Maintain accurate donor records and advancement systems
Help expand participation across parents, alumni, and the broader school community

Principal Duties & Responsibilities

Annual Fund & Campaign Support

• Plan and execute annual fundraising drives; e.g., NDP Fund and various restricted campaigns, mailings, digital campaigns, phone-a-thons, and participation drives
• Support class-based fundraising initiatives and senior giving programs
• Track and report on annual unrestricted and restricted giving progress and participation

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Assist with donor cultivation and stewardship activities, including correspondence and recognition
• Help coordinate donor meetings, events, and follow-up communications
• Support donor research and prospect identification

Database & Gift Processing

• Provide timely, accurate constituent recording in the donor database (Little Green Light/Razor’s Edge/ CRM)
• Produce reports and analytics to support decision-making

Events & Engagement

• Coordinate major school fundraisers including, but not limited to, the Gala, Golf Tournament, and Walk-a-thon
• Work collaboratively with the Advancement team to advance alumni engagement opportunities, including planning reunions
• Assist in coordinating logistics and donor engagement opportunities
• Recruit, train, and support volunteers involved in fundraising initiatives
• Serve as the department’s liaison with the Notre Dame Parent Association’s leadership team.

Communications

• Support development of fundraising materials, newsletters, and digital outreach
• Assist in maintaining consistent messaging across advancement communications

Grants & Administrative Support

• Assist in grant research and preparation of proposals and reports
• Provide administrative support for advancement initiatives and campaigns

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Other Attributes

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 3–5 years of experience in development, nonprofit work, or related field preferred
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and organizational skills; sharp attention to detail
• Commitment to maintaining confidentiality
• Detail-oriented with ability to manage multiple projects
• Experience with databases or CRM systems preferred
• Commitment to the mission of Catholic education

Unusual Working Conditions

Ability to work evenings or weekends as needed. Evening activities are scheduled in advance.

Pre-Employment Requirements

All offers of employment are contingent upon satisfactory completion of a background check.