Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations

Job Description

Job Description

Overview

Woodberry Forest School is a leading independent boarding school for boys in grades nine through twelve, and one of the only all-boys, all-boarding schools in the United States. Nestled on 1,200 picturesque acres in Madison County, Virginia, and located near Charlottesville and Washington, DC, the school enrolls around 400 students from the United States and beyond and has been committed to shaping the lives of young men since 1889. Woodberry Forest is supported by a community that includes over 6,000 living alumni, is third in the nation in endowment dollars per student, and regularly has one of, if not the best, alumni participation rates among all independent schools. This year, 62% of our solicitable alumni gave back to the Woodberry’s Amici Fund, underscoring a deep commitment to the school and the lifelong experience of being a Tiger.

The Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations is responsible for co-developing, supporting, and implementing strategies to increase annual philanthropic support through Woodberry’s Amici Fund. This role focuses on cultivating relationships with young alumni donors and volunteers through various giving programs and engagement opportunities such as reunion, career networking, and regional events as well as those periodically held on campus. At Woodberry, we believe support is the result of not only the student experience, but the continued cultivation of community among alumni with the school, and with each other. The Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Alumni Relations will play a vital role in developing strategies that improve young alumni experiences with Woodberry and fellow Tigers, and in turn increase support for the school and the boys currently in our care today.

The Alumni and Development office at Woodberry is an energetic group of fourteen dedicated professionals committed to maximizing the connectivity of our broader community and in turn the support it provides. We are uniquely positioned to interface with all areas of the school - our students, faculty, coaches, and the broader group of alumni, current and past parents, and friends of Woodberry Forest. The work is challenging, fun, deeply relational and uniquely rewarding.

Key Responsibilities

Work closely with the Director and Associate Director of the Amici Fund & Alumni Relations on all aspects of program activity, including marketing and communications, fundraising, giving days, data management, stewardship, and volunteer management.

Serve as a fundraising liaison for young alumni classes and their volunteers to support the strategic initiatives and fundraising goals of the Amici Fund and Alumni Relations Team.

Envision, create and execute programming that achieves fundraising goals and engages our constituents.

Assist in development and execution of a communications strategy supporting annual giving with the Office of Communications.

Cultivate relationships with annual donors through personalized outreach, stewardship, and recognition programs.

Support career networking efforts with alumni and students that includes supporting mentorship programs, engagement events and opportunities and Linkedin. Provide faculty leadership through various channels of direct student involvement, including our student volunteer program, dorm leadership, etc.

Qualifications

A bachelor’s degree and direct front-line fundraising, sales, business development, communications or related experience.

Superior interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.

Highly organized and able to manage and prioritize multiple and competing projects on an ongoing basis.

Self-starter with the ability to work independently and with a team.

Ability to listen carefully and understand constituents’ needs while proactively responding to those needs in a consistent and timely manner.

Proficiency with general operating systems and technology (Microsoft Office, Google Suite, CRM tools) a plus.

Able to exercise confidentiality and discretion.

Ability and willingness to travel occasionally.

Weekend and evening work is sometimes required.

WOODBERRY FOREST SCHOOL IS AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER