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Director of Alumni Relations at Grace Church School
Grace Church School seeks an individual with at least five years of relevant experience to lead Alumni Relations.
The Director of Alumni Relations will oversee the Alumni Relations program at Grace Church School to increase alumni engagement as volunteers, donors, role models, and advocates for our students and the institution. Grace alumni represent various professions, perspectives, experiences, and passions. Alumni Relations is responsible for executing constituent outreach across all mediums, a robust calendar of annual events, and supporting year-round fundraising activities.
The Director is the lead ambassador for all graduates and will need to be a strong relationship manager and bridge builder. This person will report to the Chief Advancement Officer and collaborate closely with the entire Advancement team. The Director also works closely with volunteer leaders and manages the Alumni Board.
Strategic Management
- Assess the effectiveness of programs and special events, developing a multi-year strategy for increased alumni engagement.
- Serve as primary contact and lead liaison to Alumni and within the Grace community.
- Design and execute an annual communications plan in partnership with the Communications Manager to engage Alumni in their different life cycles with the School.
- Determine a programmatic strategy for all alumni activities and special events, including Reunions, the Auction Benefit, March Madness, and other smaller programs.
- Oversee budget for all programming and outreach.
Fundraising, Stewardship, and Cultivation
- Work with the Chief Advancement Officer and Director of Annual Giving to determine the annual fundraising strategy for alumni.
- Identify alumni significant donors and prospects in collaboration with the Director of Annual Giving.
- Support recruitment and training of volunteers to support fundraising efforts.
- Serve as liaison and collaborate with advancement team members to promote and facilitate planned giving opportunities.
- Steward the School’s relationships with longtime supporters.
Volunteer Engagement
- Identify and engage new alumni to become more involved with the School.
- Provide staff leadership to the Alumni Board, crafting and tracking goals, programming, organizational structure, and event and meeting planning. Ensure adequate support for all committees of the Alumni Board.
- Support reunion committees and class representatives.
- Provide partnership for the annual auction benefit, particularly for engendering alumni support for tickets, underwriting, and auction items.
Marketing and Communications
- In partnership with the Communications Manager, provide content for social media and alumni-related emails; identify alumni accomplishments, and oversee the “Class Notes” section in Grace Magazine magazine.
- Creatively market our community's strength and unique alumni population and partner with admissions and communications.
Student Engagement
- Promote the benefits of the alumni network to grade 12 students.
- Recruit alumni to support current students as internship hosts, content speakers, and mentors.
- Partner with the Director of Annual Giving to manage the student committee for the grade 12 gift.
Other Responsibilities
- Learn Grace’s history, culture, constituents, and programs; understand its current and potential base of financial support and the funding requirements of all segments of the School, both short- and long-term.
- Be a proactive member of the school community, attending athletic and artistic events, student presentations, and other occasions.
- Work closely with the Database Manager to ensure accurate record keeping.
- Provide regular reports for the Advancement team, school leadership, committee leadership, the Board of Trustees, and the annual report.
- Be an active member of the Advancement team and support all Advancement events and initiatives.
REQUIREMENTS
The ideal candidate has:
- A track record of building alumni engagement programs – and enjoys the process.
- Success in educating individuals new to philanthropy.
- Experience in identifying, training, motivating, managing, and partnering with large groups of volunteers.
- Strategic background executing special events.
- Strong fundraising database experience and skills with a willingness to implement efficiencies, from data input to producing reports to analyzing results.
- Strong data analysis skills to define metrics and assess data to present informed decisions and recommendations.
- A highly organized, confident, creative approach.
- A proven ability to communicate passionately, clearly, and concisely, both in writing and orally, and who enjoys engaging with families and colleagues.
- A commitment to continuous learning to implement new approaches and best practices.
- A commitment to the specific values stated in Grace’s mission.
- Bachelor’s degree (required).
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- A self-starter with a sense of humor and the sensitivity to collaborate with colleagues and work with dedicated and enthusiastic volunteers.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; built strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Strategic, proactive, results-oriented, and team-oriented; willing to “roll up your sleeves” and do what it takes to ensure the success of our efforts.
- The ability to set priorities, yet with the flexibility to respond quickly to new opportunities.
- Detail-oriented and deadline-focused, with high organizational skills.
- Creative problem-solver.
- Experience in an independent school is a plus.
To apply, submit a résumé via the employment page of the school’s website.
Grace is an equal opportunity employer.