Leadership Gifts Officer

St. Andrew's School; Tohatchi (NM); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, Vision Insurance

Paid Time Off

Retirement Plan (403b)

Life and AD&D Insurance

Job summary

St. Andrew’s School seeks a Leadership Gifts Officer to lead reunion giving and leadership-level donor engagement. You will design strategies, cultivate donors, and build long-term philanthropic partnerships aligned with the school’s mission.

The role manages 80–100 donors, travels 30–40% as needed, and works with advancement and alumni teams to grow the Saints Fund and support annual giving and major gifts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of front-line fundraising experience.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills essential.
• Experience with donor relations and fundraising strategy preferred.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of reunion and leadership-level donors and prospects.
• Develop and execute reunion giving strategies to grow Saints Fund participation.
• Solicit leadership gifts and guide peer-to-peer solicitations.
• Collaborate with alumni relations, advancement, and volunteers to engage donors.

Skills

Relationship-building

Interpersonal communication

Storytelling / donor appeals

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Job Title: Leadership Gifts Officer

Reports to: Director of Advancement

Department: Advancement

Employment Type: 12-month Staff

FLSA: Exempt

St. Andrew’s School develops the independence, character, mind, and spirit of its students to prepare them for lives of citizenship, service, and purpose. Join the school as our leadership gifts officer and help advance this mission as a key member of the advancement department.

All students live, learn, and play in the natural beauty of our 2,200-acre campus. At the center of our community are curious, motivated, and diverse students who are accepted without regard to their families’ means. Each young person is challenged and valued, and students are truly known by the lifelong mentors who teach, coach, and advise them. Human connection, face to face, is the foundation of our program. Friendship and joy define our spirit; “faith and learning” is our motto.

Position Summary

The leadership gifts officer reports to the director of advancement and serves as the primary advancement lead for reunion giving and leadership-level gifts. This role is responsible for designing and executing comprehensive reunion giving strategies, cultivating and soliciting leadership-level donors, and building long-term philanthropic partnerships that advance St. Andrew’s mission.

The leadership gifts officer manages a portfolio of leadership-level donors and reunion prospects to secure significant unrestricted Saints Fund gifts. The ideal candidate is a strategic relationship builder with the confidence and skill to inspire meaningful philanthropic investment through personalized, in-person engagement. Flexibility is essential, including the ability to travel overnight approximately 30–40% of the time and attend evening and weekend events as needed.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Leadership-Level Donor Engagement & Solicitation

• Manage a portfolio of approximately 80–100 reunion and leadership-level donors and prospective donors.
• Qualify a minimum of 25 prospective major-gift donors.
• Conduct at least 10 donor visits monthly, focused on delivery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Develop individualized, donor-centered strategies that align philanthropic interests with St. Andrew’s strategic priorities.
• Solicit leadership gifts and guide peer-to-peer solicitations when appropriate.

Reunion Giving Leadership

Lead reunion giving as a primary strategy for advancing alumni through the philanthropic lifecycle, growing leadership-level Saints Fund participation, and building a sustainable pipeline for future major-gift donors.

• Serve as the strategic lead for reunion giving, overseeing volunteer recruitment and peer-to-peer solicitation workflows while maintaining a personal focus on leadership-level ($2,500+) commitments.
• Develop and execute multi-year reunion giving strategies that increase leadership Saints Fund donors and dollars while deepening long-term alumni engagement.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward reunion and leadership Saints Fund donors with capacity for increased annual giving and consideration for future major gifts.
• Partner with alumni relations, advancement leadership, and volunteer class leaders to expand the leadership Saints Fund donor base by reunion cohort.
• Recruit, train, and support reunion gift volunteers to drive peer-to-peer engagement and increased giving.
• Set annual leadership Saints Fund goals, benchmarks, and timelines in collaboration with the director of development.
• Collaborate with donor relations and communications teams on targeted messaging, recognition, and stewardship.

Fundraising Strategy & Institutional Impact

• Secure leadership-level gifts in support of annual giving.
• Prepare and present compelling proposals and gift opportunities in collaboration with advancement colleagues.
• Meet or exceed individual fundraising goals while contributing to broader advancement and reunion fundraising objectives.

Collaboration & Volunteer Engagement

• Partner closely with alumni relations to ensure a coordinated, relationship-driven reunion experience.
• Plan and participate in joint donor visits with the head of school, director of advancement, trustees, senior administrators, faculty, and key volunteers.
• Collaborate with advancement colleagues, including Saints Fund, donor relations, and communications, to ensure consistent strategy, messaging, and donor experience.

Operations, Reporting & Stewardship

• Utilize a moves management approach in coordination with advancement operations to guide donors through the giving cycle.
• Maintain accurate and timely donor records in the school’s database.
• Provide regular updates on reunion and leadership-gift pipelines, donor engagement, and fundraising progress.
• Collaborate with the director of donor relations and stewardship on annual stewardship plans for leadership and annual giving donors.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive post-reunion stewardship plan to ensure timely, meaningful follow-up with reunion donors and volunteers, reinforcing impact and sustaining long-term engagement.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of front-line fundraising experience; independent school or higher education experience is a plus.
• Strong relationship-building skills.
• Superior interpersonal and communication skills, especially the ability to listen effectively, write clearly, and speak to groups.
• Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge (or a similar CRM) and the ability to use data to drive strategy.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities effectively with strong organizational and time-management skills, along with a deep appreciation for education and a commitment to the mission of St. Andrew’s School.

Conditions Of Hire

A thorough background check—inclusive of fingerprinting, a Child Protection Registry Check, a motor vehicle record check, and other relevant screenings is required as a condition of employment.

Applicants must complete satisfactory reference checks, confirmation of compliance with federal and state employment laws, and any other required conditions of employment.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities in all phases of the application and employment process. To request an auxiliary aid or service, please call 302-285-4211. TDD users should call the Delaware Relay Service number at 1-800-232-5460 for assistance. St. Andrew’s School is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome diverse candidates of all backgrounds, faiths, and persuasions and seek to foster an inclusive, welcoming community environment.

Benefits Of Employment At St. Andrew’s School

• Benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and plan guidelines; additional details can be found in our employee handbook, which is furnished upon request.
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: Two health plan options to ensure you and your family have access to quality care.
• Paid Time Off: Generous paid time off and holidays to help you maintain a healthy work–life balance.
• Employee Assistance Program: Access to resources and programs promoting physical and mental well-being.
• Health Savings Account: Includes a St. Andrew’s School match.
• Life and AD&D Insurance: Provided at no cost to employees.
• Retirement Plan: Secure your financial future with our 403(b) and Roth 403(b) retirement plans. The school provides a matching contribution: for every dollar contributed, the school contributes two dollars, up to 10% of salary, with immediate vesting. Rollovers are permitted from other 403(b) plans.