Position Description:

The Director of Annual Giving is a full-time, year-round, staff position reporting directly to the Assistant Director of Development. The Director of Annual Giving is responsible for developing and implementing an effective, comprehensive Annual Giving program strategy and goals (known as Parish Fund). This position develops and implements strategies and programs to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward annual gifts from trustees, alumni, parents, grandparents, parents of alumni and friends, including personal solicitations, direct mail and electronic communication. The Director will serve as a frontline fundraiser with a portfolio of annual giving prospects.

Essential Functions:

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. 

• Design, manage, and execute the Parish Fund annual giving program communications and solicitation calendar with variable segmentation strategies, including direct mail, electronic, and peer-to-peer solicitation and including strategies for growth and ongoing, effective donor stewardship and recognition.
• Manage the Senior Gift annually, including working with Senior Gift Chair(s) and solicitation strategies for senior students.
• Responsible for soliciting the Parish community each year in support of the Parish Fund
• Recruit, train, and provide ongoing support and direction for volunteer team.
• Regularly communicate the status of the Parish Fund to school leadership and volunteers on individual and overall progress.
• Work with the Director of Advancement Services to design useful and accurate reporting methods to track annual giving progress.
• Partner with the Assistant Director of Development, Director of Advancement Services and other gift officers to identify leadership annual fund prospects, determine targeted ask amounts, research and qualify prospects and develop solicitation strategies.
• Participate in the Moves Management process for leadership annual fund donors, including action tracking and completing visit reports.
• Promote, oversee and maintain Parish giving societies including recognition of donors.
• Oversee the collection of Parish Fund donor data for annual reporting; draft summary information, and features for the annual report that highlights the year.
• Manage the donor acknowledgment, recognition, and stewardship processes as well as all events related to the Parish Fund.
• Manage a small portfolio of leadership and major donors and donor prospects.
• Proactively identify, refer, and cultivate prospects with potential to make leadership campaign or planned gifts.

Qualifications/Experience:

• Bachelor’s Degree.
• 3-5 years’ experience in professional fundraising, preferably in an independent school environment.
•     Computer proficiency, including MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, Skype, Zoom, and Internet tools.
•     Knowledge of development software (preferably Raiser’s Edge) and broad understanding of the technological tools available to development offices.

Job Knowledge:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A team player with strong interpersonal skills to productively, professionally and empathetically communicate with students, parents, the entire school community and wide variety of school constituents.
• Demonstrates openness to feedback and effectively navigates complex interpersonal dynamics and challenging situations with professionalism and composure.
• An extremely well-organized, detail-oriented individual who has a high energy level together with an accompanying sense of urgency.
• Bright, hard-working, and enthusiastic with a serious commitment to excellence.
• Industrious, resourceful, independent-minded and determined, with a drive to achieve results.
• Ability to handle confidential material and situations with discretion and sensitivity.
• Well-developed interpersonal and collaboration skills to deal effectively with a wide range of school constituents.
• An accessible and approachable person with integrity, compassion and empathy who has an impeccable reputation, who honors commitments, and who deals with people in a straightforward and personal way. 

Training and Specific Skills and Abilities:  

• Show a demonstrated commitment to belonging and inclusion (e.g., familiarity with concepts; evidence of relevant personal growth; examples of relevant practice, etc.).
• Demonstrates dependability through consistent attendance, punctual arrival, and readiness to perform assigned duties according to the established work schedule.
• Be a motivated collaborator, possess a strong work ethic, and have a positive spirit. 
• Promote the School’s mission statement and educational philosophy. 

Training and Marginal Duties:

• Attends Department meetings.
• Attends School Functions, including all advancement events, particularly those related to annual & major giving. Other major School functions including Homecoming, Admission Open Houses and Graduation are encouraged as well as general events throughout the year.
• Attends Conferences.
• Attends Chapel.
• Participate in all requisite School trainings.
• Attend required staff development, training sessions, and job-related professional development opportunities.
• Ability to periodically support before and after-school or weekend events (1-3x per month).
• Ability to periodically travel during the week or weekend.
• Acknowledge receipt of the current Employee Handbook and are responsible for reviewing the contents and abiding by rules, policies and procedures stated in the Handbook or otherwise by the School.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

• Regularly works in standard office or classroom conditions and climate.
• Regularly uses close and distance vision, including working at a computer screen for extended periods of time; ability to observe students from various distances.
• Frequently required to move around the campus/office/classroom; works at a desk for extended periods of time.
• Ability to occasionally move items weighing up to 30 lbs. across the campus/classroom/office.
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members.

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.  This job description reflects administration’s assignment of essential functions; and nothing in this herein restricts administration’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities.  Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or significant risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position.  Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and State Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities.  To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently.  Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

About Parish Episcopal School 

Founded in 1972, Parish Episcopal School is a leading, co-educational (PreK – 12th grade) college preparatory independent school in Dallas, Texas, serving approximately 1220 students of all faiths. Inspired by its values of Wisdom, Honor and Service, the School’s inclusive Episcopal community guides young people to become creative learners and bold leaders prepared to impact our complex global society by realizing and fostering their passions in a warm, joyful and balanced learning environment, and engaging them in challenging core curriculum and strategic programs that develop and inspire.

Educational Purpose & Philosophy

We develop good human beings: prepared, passionate, principled. 

• DEVELOP We are educators, mentors, coaches and guides – dedicated to developing the unique potential of every student on our care.
  
  
• GOOD HUMAN BEINGS At Parish, we aim to develop young people formed intellectually, emotionally, socially, physically, spiritually and morally.
  
  
• PREPARED Preparation is key to success in a complex and ever-changing world. At Parish, we equip students with the knowledge, skills and mindsets they’ll need to navigate life’s challenges and accomplish their goals and dreams.
  
  
• PASSIONATE Passion is fuel for a joyful life. At Parish, we help students uncover what excites and inspires them – so they feel more alive, more fulfilled and more excited about the future.
  
  
• PRINCIPLED Principles create the moral compass for life. Rooted in Wisdom, Honor and Service, Parish students strive not just to succeed, but to make a positive difference in the lives of others and the world around them.

For more information about Parish Episcopal School, visit www.parish.org.

The School believes that each individual is entitled to equal employment opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, or local anti-discrimination laws. The School’s equal employment opportunity practices extend to recruitment, hiring, selection, compensation, benefits, transfer, promotion, training, discipline, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment. All Employees are responsible for complying with the School’s equal employment opportunity policy.