Bentley School
Reports to: Head of School
Position Type: Full-time; Exempt
Bentley School is a K-12 co-educational, independent day school located on two campuses in Oakland (K-8) and Lafayette (9-12), California. Founded in 1920, Bentley School’s legacy of excellence in teaching and learning maximizes student success in college and throughout their lives. Bentley is an inclusive community that shares a vision of academic achievement, balance, and the cultivation of character.
The Director of Development is responsible for leading and collaborating in all aspects of the School’s core effort to establish, build and maintain meaningful relationships and to develop and maximize philanthropic support. The advancement efforts include oversight of the School’s Annual Fund and other key fundraising initiatives, the cultivation, direction, and planning of the alumni relations program, and leadership on key special events. The Director of Development is a member of the senior administrative team, supporting and collaborating with the Head of School, Board of Trustees Development Committee, and Directors of Communications and Marketing, and Enrollment Management. The Director of Development will collaborate with the Head of School and Board to develop fundraising strategies and other key fundraising initiatives.
Responsibilities (including but not limited to):
Leadership
● Work closely with the senior administrative team and the Board in all development and fundraising endeavors
● Oversee office staff to support all aspects of the work of the Development Office
● Collaborate with the Head of School, Director of Communications, Director of Enrollment Management, and Board Development Committee to develop philanthropic and communications plans for the school
● Partner with the Director of Communications on outreach strategy and preparation of all solicitation materials, including direct mail and online appeals and newsletters
● Act as liaison between the Bentley Parent Association and the School
● Collaborate with the Head of School, the Senior Administrative Team, the Development Committee, and the Board of Trustees in determining the School’s near-and long-range goals for donor support
Fundraising
● Design and implement comprehensive fundraising plans for the school
● Create the calendar, audience segmentation, communication strategies, and donation stewardship for the Annual Fund and Senior Class Gift campaigns
● Supervise and assist the parent volunteers who help with School fundraising
● Conduct thorough prospect research and creates strategies accordingly
● Ensure timely gift processing, pledge payments, acknowledgments, and accurate reporting
● Work with the Director of Communications to produce the Annual Report and other fundraising collateral and materials
● Coordinate grant requests as needed
Alumni Relations
● Strengthen relationships with the School’s alumni network and further develop alumni programming
● Oversee annual alumni events, including the Alumni Induction Ceremony and local and regional reunions
Special Events
● Provide leadership for the annual Gala in partnership with the BPA parent volunteer committee
● Oversee special events such as donor stewardship events, Grandparents and Special Friends Day, and other community-wide school events like Back to School Picnic
Preferred Qualifications:
● Bachelor’s degree
● Minimum of 3 years of experience developing and directing annual fund and/or alumni relations programs
● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
● Demonstrated ability to recruit, train, motivate, and work with volunteers
● Organized and self-directed with the ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues
● Fluency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and social media tools required. Experience with Raisers Edge or a similar donor database preferred
● Ability to work some nights and weekends; possible travel
Requirements:
Bentley School requires all community members to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and remain current with COVID-19 vaccine boosters.
Bentley School is an equal opportunity employer and seeks rich diversity among faculty and administration. The School offers competitive compensation and benefits. Bentley is a growth-oriented school which is reflected in our commitment to providing ample funds to support the professional development of our faculty.
Pay Range:
Bentley uses a competitive salary scale, which takes into account experience, education, and skill level. The salary for this position ranges from $150,000 – $180,000.
How to Apply:
Please submit a letter of interest, a resume, and a list of three (3) references. No phone calls, please.
Qualified, interested candidates may apply for the position through online application at https://bentleyschool.bamboohr.com/careers/148
