Position Purpose:

The Rivers School seeks a dynamic, strategic, collaborative, and creative advancement professional to join its team as Director of Annual Giving. This position is responsible for the development, execution, and management of a comprehensive multi-channel annual giving program that supports the strategic objectives and philanthropic priorities of The Rivers School. As a key frontline fundraiser, the Director will maintain a personal portfolio of leadership prospects, actively engaging in the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of donors to drive meaningful philanthropic support.

The Director of Annual Giving will be responsible for the broad operational oversight of The Rivers Fund (TRF) and the Rivers School Conservatory (RSC) Annual Fund. The professional in this position will advise and execute on strategy; set goals; track, analyze, and report on data; drive volunteer efforts; enrich participation across our school community; and develop and sustain new programming in support of aspirational goals.

Within the Advancement Office, the Director holds an integral role on a team of advancement professionals working in a collaborative environment. As such, the ideal candidate for this position will be an organized, results-oriented fundraising professional with a proven record of achieving annual goals, inspiring participation, and managing volunteers. This position will be pivotal in Rivers' upcoming comprehensive capital campaign to support the newly adopted strategic plan.

Essential Job Functions:

Areas of responsibility and tasks include but are not limited to:

Frontline fundraising:

• Manage a portfolio of prospects capable of giving up to $25,000. Cultivate, solicit, and steward unrestricted gifts, with emphasis on $5,000 - $25,000 gifts.
• Develop and nurture the annual giving pipeline to strengthen donor engagement and lay the groundwork for major gifts and campaign support.
• Be the public face of the annual giving program both internally and externally, whether at school social events or meetings with parents and caregivers and alumni prospects.

Marketing and broad-based fundraising:

• Create a comprehensive, multi-channel solicitation plan to achieve annual fund goals
• Develop a communication calendar with clear objectives and with deliverables that make a compelling case for support for The Rivers Fund and the Rivers School Conservatory; Oversee all Rivers Fund and RSC solicitations, including design, segmentation, and timing of mailings.
• Partner with advancement and communications colleagues to develop compelling messaging that strengthens the case for support for The Rivers Fund and the Rivers School Conservatory.
• Plan, strategize, and execute the annual Faculty Appreciation Day (RSC) and Giving Day (TRF) with the Advancement Office, current parents and caregivers, class reps, and professional community volunteers.
• Produce a written plan of these strategies to be distributed to staff and volunteers.
• In partnership with the Advancement Office, creates donor targets for all solicitable donors and prospects, and monitors donor activity and progress toward Annual Fund goals.
• Develop reports to show progress and yearly annual giving comparisons; work with others within the Advancement team to address deficiencies. Regularly analyze key metrics to assess the effectiveness of strategies and initiatives.

Volunteer management:

• Identify, recruit, and train the volunteer leadership for The Rivers Fund, in partnership with the Director of Development and Director of Family and Alumni Engagement.
• Design and implement a comprehensive volunteer training program that leverages the GiveCampus platform to equip ambassadors with messaging, digital tools, and solicitation techniques.

Acknowledgment and stewardship:

• Work with the Director of Stewardship and Prospect Management to ensure proper engagement and stewardship of annual fund donors of The Rivers Fund and the RSC Annual Fund; implement new ideas to encourage consecutive giving.

Perform other duties as assigned. Weekend and evening work is required for specific school functions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 5+ years of fundraising experience with a focus on annual giving. Experience in an independent school setting and/or a comprehensive capital campaign is a significant plus.
• Proven track record of meeting or exceeding ambitious dollar and participation goals, with demonstrated expertise in managing a high-performing volunteer network.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and securing philanthropic gifts.
• Mastery of donor management systems (familiarity with Raiser's Edge NXT and GiveCampus is preferred), Google Suite, and Microsoft Office Suite. Competence in preparing and presenting detailed reports.
• Motivated self-starter with a high level of integrity, a strong work ethic, confidence, and a collegial team player.
• Excellent organizational skills and successful experience managing multiple priorities effectively, while sustaining consistent attention to detail.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse populations. Demonstrated commitment to understanding, communicating, and adhering to institutional policies and procedures.

Salary Range: $110,000-$125,000

Rivers encourages interest from candidates who will enrich the diversity of identity, experience, and perspectives among our professional and school community. We recognize that skilled and innovative individuals follow a variety of pathways in life, and we enthusiastically invite applications from those who may have experience that meets our qualifications in non-traditional ways. Rivers offers BIPOC affinity, LGBTQ+ affinity, and white allyship spaces for professionals, as well as institutional professional development, to support and enrich our work around equity and access. In addition to mentorship from peers and direct supervisors, all professional community members benefit from a year-long onboarding program.

If you would benefit from any accommodations at any point during the application process, please contact our Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programming and Support, Katie Henderson (k.henderson@rivers.org).