Director of Advancement

For more details on The
Potomac School and the position, please click here.
 
The Potomac School seeks a
dynamic, talented, and strategic leader to serve as our next
Director of Advancement. This full-time, 12-month senior
administrator role reports directly to the Head of School, serves
on the school’s administrative team, and liaises with various board
committees. The Director coordinates and oversees all advancement
efforts, including parent and alumni relations, fundraising, and
communications. Fundraising oversight includes but is not limited
to annual giving, capital campaigns, and special events. The
Director manages a professional staff of eleven, including six
direct reports. 
Growing Ever Greater Campaign
Growing Ever Greater is
Potomac’s official capital campaign, raising support for critical
campus facility improvements and long-term financial
sustainability. As Potomac’s chief fundraising officer, the
Director will lead the strategy and implementation of the campaign
efforts and meet crucial fundraising goals. 
Annual Fund
The Potomac Fund is the
cornerstone of philanthropy at Potomac, providing critical support
to the school’s operating budget for the current fiscal year. The
Director will work with the Director of Annual Giving to ensure
annual fundraising goals are met or exceeded. Over the last decade,
The Potomac Fund has raised nearly $25 million. 
Fundraising Events
Through annual fundraising
events such as Fall Frolics, Book Fair, and Potomac’s signature
event, the Scholarship Auction, the school raises more than $1.4
million annually. The Director will work with the Director of
Advancement Events to cultivate event participation and
support. 
Constituent Relations
The Director oversees alumni
and parent engagement for the school. Through the Director of
Alumni Relations, Potomac supports a network of 7,000 alumni
nationwide through events, communications, and networking
opportunities.  Additionally, the Director of Advancement
serves as the primary liaison to the Parent Association, supporting
more than 20 volunteer committees and 250 volunteers across the
school. 
Communications
The communications office is
overseen by the Director of Advancement and is responsible for all
school communications, including electronic and print publications,
marketing materials, website content, and social media content. The
Communications team includes a Director of Communications and three
full-time staff members. 
Board Relations
In partnership with the Head
of School, the Director of Advancement is a crucial liaison to the
Board of Trustees, including the Trustee Committees for
Advancement, Campaign, and Committee on Trustees. 

 
Essential Duties and
Responsibilities: 

Work closely with the Head
of School and Board of Trustees to establish clear fundraising
policies and to coordinate the full range of development programs
that relate to annual giving, alumni relations planned giving, and
capital campaigns.
Advise and work closely
with the Board and the Head of School regarding strategies for
their personal involvement in achieving the development plan’s
goals and objectives.
Recruit and manage strong
alumni, parent, past-parent, and grandparent volunteer
support.
Provide day-to-day
management of the Advancement Office and support the Director of
Communications, as needed.
Ensure the proper
management of all alumni and development records in both electronic
and paper files. 
Serve on the school’s
senior administrative team.

Carry out the cultivation,
solicitation, and stewardship of major donors and key volunteers
for present and future involvement with the School.
Arrange and support
appropriate opportunities for the Head of School, faculty, senior
administration, and volunteers to meet with donors in forums
designed to engender increased interest in and support for Potomac.
Provide guidance and support in their development work.
Achieve all goals of the
comprehensive campaign, closely coordinating it with all other
development activities.
Work with the Director of
Annual Giving to develop and implement strategies to achieve the
Annual Fund goal among all constituencies; oversee recruitment,
organization, training, and supervision of volunteers; supervise
the design and production of supporting materials.
Continue to broaden gift
planning opportunities and market them to appropriate
constituents.
Implement and execute
effective prospect management and tracking procedures. Prepare and
implement systematic prospect research, analysis, reports, and
grant proposals required for individual major gift prospects and
foundations.
Travel as necessary to
represent Potomac to major gift constituents to confirm and
strengthen the School’s relationships, goodwill, and financial
base.
Collaborate regularly with
the Director of Community Engagement and Parent Association
leadership to oversee the management of community engagement events
by the advancement team in collaboration with volunteers and other
school personnel. 
Work with the Director of
Alumni Relations and the Alumni Governing Council on reunions,
communications, and other alumni events.
Work with the Director of
Communications for development publications, including all direct
mail fundraising materials, the annual report, and the school
magazine. 

Qualifications:

A bachelor’s degree and a
minimum of five years of experience in an effective advancement
office, including at least three in a leadership/management role,
are required. Experience in education fundraising is a plus.
Intellectual depth, moral
integrity, vision, energy, and a sense of humor.
Demonstrated experience in
planning, executing, and leading a capital campaign.
Knowledge of gift planning
practices.
Management experience for
the successful leadership of the advancement staff, with the
skills, training, and competence to mentor staff and
colleagues.
Proven leadership success,
including the ability to motivate and lead positively through
change and collaborate with others to reach common goals.
Ability to understand and
match prospective donors’ needs and objectives with the school’s
fundraising goals.
Represent the school in the
larger community in a positive manner that reflects the values of
the school and participate enthusiastically in school activities
whenever possible.
Strong verbal and written
communication skills to express the school’s mission and
fundraising goals.
Flexibility and willingness
to travel as a representative of Potomac.
High cultural competency
and success in working with individuals from diverse
backgrounds.
Self-motivated with the
ability to handle multiple, simultaneous, and complex projects with
equanimity.
Strong organizational and
time management skills.
Ability to maintain
confidentiality and sensitivity.
Working knowledge of the
Google Suite, Microsoft Word, Excel, and relationship management
software.

In striving to fulfill its mission,
The Potomac School seeks many different voices, viewpoints, and
backgrounds. We recognize that differences are a source of
strength, and we know that everyone is enriched when each person’s
contributions and perspectives are valued.