Director of Advancement Services

The Shipley School seeks a fundraising data professional with 2 to 3 years of experience to manage a Raiser's Edge NXT database, prospect research, and stewardship in the Alumni and Development office. The role is a full-time salaried and onsite position with one direct report. Experience with Raiser's Edge NXT is strongly preferred.Working as a member of the Development Office and reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Advancement Services supports the fundraising work of the Development Office, maintaining close working relationships with constituent-based gift officers, the Development Administrative Coordinator, and the Directors of Data Operations and Finance. The position supervises the Advancement Services Coordinator. The Director is responsible for three major program areas: database management, prospect research and management, and stewardship support for all constituencies.

Key Responsibilities

Database Management & Reporting:

• Manage the Raiser's Edge CRM database to ensure the integrity and accuracy of information entered in the database and that all protocols have been followed. Authorize and record security permissions.
• In collaboration with various constituents, oversee the continued evolution or enhancement and implementation of policies, such as gift acceptance, database and gift entry, and gift counting and reporting.
• Develop and maintain procedures for use of Raiser's Edge database. Train staff on policies and processes, as well as the use of the database. Update and maintain a written procedures manual to ensure data processing and business continuity. Review the procedures manual with the Director of Development on an annual basis.
• Stay informed of the latest product updates from Blackbaud and other vendors in order to implement new data processing and other procedures as needed to keep systems and processes up to date.
• Serve as the integration liaison between Raiser's Edge and onCore and work closely with Director of Data Operations to ensure ongoing communication and smooth interface between the two databases. This includes managing ongoing database maintenance and procedures to ensure accuracy, consistency, and integrity.
• Supervise the Advancement Services Coordinator, ensuring the accurate and timely processing and acknowledgment of gifts, pledges, pledge payments, matching claims, memorial gifts, in honor gifts, and other contributions to Shipley. Monitor the timeliness and efficiency of processing and ensure that all corresponding links in the database are updated and maintained as gifts are processed. Record links may include but will not be limited to spouses and other family members; other alumni and friends; corporations/foundations to employees/owners, etc.
• Fulfill data requests for the Head of School, the Assistant Head of School for Community Engagement, the Director of Development, the Development Office, and the Communications & Marketing Office by querying and exporting information from Raiser's Edge, as well as produce reports as requested, including monthly gift reports for the Business Office and annual reporting for NAIS.
• Oversee the generation of donor lists for annual Gratitude Report and ensure their accuracy.
• Manage summer database changes and coordinate changes with gift officers.

Prospect Research & Management:

• Identify and conduct ongoing research of major prospects and donors.
• Write and maintain major prospect and donor profiles.
• Process Call Reports written by a prospect's Prospect Manager (PM). This includes gathering new information on prospect, updating prospect profile, doing more research if necessary, and filing documentation in Raiser's Edge.
• Generate and analyze Pipeline reports and Prospect Manager reports. Add alerts on database records of Pipeline prospects.
• With the Director of Development, perform a periodic review of the Moves Management System and identify and recommend a course of action for improvement.
• Co-lead monthly Prospect Managers meetings with the Director of Development.

Stewardship:

• Collaborate with gift officers to devise and execute annual personalized stewardship plans for all donor constituencies. Maintain and ensure adherence to a set schedule and proactively gather examples of philanthropic impact across campus.
• Manage ongoing stewardship of constituents connected to named endowment funds, coordinating efforts with PMs, where applicable. This includes gathering student scholarship recipient information, student-authored letters to donors, and endowment values, and incorporating the information into donor correspondence.
• Manage ongoing stewardship of constituents connected to student awards, coordinating efforts with PMs, where applicable. This includes invitations to yearly awards ceremonies and follow-up correspondence with information about award recipients.
• Collaborate with PMs in devising and implementing stewardship strategies for Centennial Society members and donors connected to restricted operating funds.
• Maintain gift acknowledgement letter templates.
• Manage pledge reminder process.
• Maintain an inventory of donor recognition signage across campus and update annually as necessary. Coordinate signage generation on an ongoing basis.

General Responsibilities

• Manage in coordination with the Director of Data Operations relationships with vendors, such as providers of database, online giving, and prospect research services. Manage subscriptions and conduct an annual review to determine potential renewals, cancellations, or alternatives.
• Process all department invoices and check requests. Support reconciliation of budget sections with the Business Office.
• Manage end of year financial reconciliation with Business Office and auditors.
• Participate in the development of a Document Retention Policy for the School.
• Support and staff events run by the Development Office, including but not limited to Secret Gardens and Alumni Weekend, and other events as needed.

Qualifications and Expectations

• Familiarity with and endorsement of Shipley's mission, culture, and values
• Personal and professional integrity as well as respect for the confidentiality of colleagues and constituents
• Self-motivation, flexibility, problem-solving, commitment to innovation, and a proactive approach to managing both professional responsibilities and team members
• Cooperation, collegiality, and commitment to teamwork
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills
• Excellent quantity, quality, accuracy, and timeliness of work produced
• Excellent planning, prioritization, organization, multitasking, efficiency, and follow-through in execution of responsibilities
• Dependability, punctuality, and attendance at all required and some optional meetings and events
• Professional appearance and demeanor
• Commitment to professional development and self-improvement
• Proficiency in technology use: Raiser's Edge database, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and Power Point).
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends

Shipley and Its Commitment to Equity

The Shipley School, founded in 1894, is a co-educational, college preparatory, independent day school currently enrolling over 700 students in grades Pre-K through 12. Located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia, the school is committed to educational excellence and dedicated to developing in each student a love of learning and compassionate participation in the world.

The Shipley School is committed to equal employment opportunities for all individuals. The school will make all employment decisions for employees and applicants without unlawful discrimination as to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship, disability, pregnancy, age, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity and expression, creed, genetic predisposition, victim of domestic violence or any other basis protected by law

How to apply

Interested candidates should complete the online application.Please note that clearances are not required at the time of application but will be required for employment. No phone calls, please.