Managing Director of Advancement
Start Date: Open (Winter 2024)
Education Organization (NEASC-accredited)
72 Water Street, Stonington, CT
Do you have a passion for making inspiring experiential education available to all students and nurturing their healthy social-emotional development? How about working with a highly capable and fun team? And, if you love all things maritime and an ocean view from your office, this could be the perfect opportunity for you!
An innovative and powerfully impactful education organization, New England Science & Sailing Foundation focuses on supporting students’ social/emotional growth and building academic achievement. Through the experiential learning platforms of sailing, marine science, and ocean exploration, NESS’s award-winning and New England Association of Schools and Colleges accredited programming reaches nearly 10,000 students annually.
About the Position
The Managing Director of Advancement plays a key leadership role at NESS, involved in framing and implementing the strategic and tactical directions of the organization with a particular emphasis on establishing and maintaining the funding partnerships necessary to NESS’s sustainability and growth. This position is responsible for a budget of approximately $2.5M, and leads all of NESS’s fundraising efforts—from defining strategy to execution and follow-up—in the areas of annual fund, capital giving, planned-giving, major gifts, fundraising, and cultivation events, and corporate and foundation giving. The position supervises a team of highly competent professionals including a Director of Advancement, a Grants Writer, and an Events and Advancement Assistant. A strong Outreach Team also supports the organization’s advancement work.
The next Advancement leader will:
- Thrive in a collaborative, innovative environment where everyone is a leader and every idea is valued
- Embrace problem solving and demonstrate a growth mindset
- Effectively manage a team based on mutual respect, open communication, and clear expectations
- Think strategically and execute tactically, in entrepreneurial fashion
- Roll up their sleeves to pitch in when there’s a call for all hands on deck
- Track and use data to inform and drive decisions
- Bring demonstrated success in fundraising including annual giving, major gifts, capital campaigns, and planned giving
- Exude confidence and humility in equal measure
- Speak to the mission of NESS with clarity and passion to effectively cultivate, solicit, and steward donors
- Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and a capacity to work with a diverse group of colleagues, families, children, and supporters.
- Find joy and humor in even the most challenging situations
A full description of the position can be found here.
How to Apply
Please contact Tracy Bennett with any questions or to learn more about this opportunity. Candidates interested in this position are asked to submit the following materials by January 31.
- EC Summary Sheet and Disclosure Statement (contact Tracy Bennett for the documents)
- Letter of Interest addressed to the Chief Executive Officer
- Current Resume
- Statement of fundraising philosophy
- A list of five or more references with contact information (name, relationship to candidate, phone, and email address)
Application materials should be sent electronically via email to:
Tracy Bennett, Partner, Educators Collaborative
tbennett@educatorscollaborative.com – 425-466-4748
Listing Date: December 7, 2023
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