Constituent Engagement & Annual Giving Officer

Cheshire Academy•Cheshire, CT

About The Position

Constituent Engagement & Annual Giving Officer 12-month, full-time exempt position Please include a cover letter to be considered Reporting to the Senior Director of Development in the Advancement Department, the Constituent Engagement and Annual Giving Officer strengthens annual giving programs while deepening alumni engagement with Cheshire Academy. This role requires regular travel (25-30% of time) for donor meetings, alumni events, and engagement programs. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Officer increases philanthropic support by cultivating relationships and building a pipeline of future donors. The Officer serves as an ambassador for Cheshire Academy's mission to develop character, critical thinking, and confidence in students who become purposeful global citizens. This role is ideal for a collaborative professional passionate about education and community building.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required
2-4 years of experience in fundraising, alumni relations, or related field
A passion for independent school education and a deep understanding of the student-to-alumni lifecycle.
Demonstrated cultural competence and a commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive school community
Proven ability to manage donor relationships and achieve goals
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Proficiency with donor management systems (e.g. Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Almabase)
Excellent written communication skills
Self-motivated with strong organizational skills
Creative thinking with strong project management skills
Willingness to travel regularly and occasionally during work evenings and weekends; Frequent regional and occasional national travel required, including evenings and weekends.

Nice To Haves

Event planning and virtual platform experience, preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute annual giving strategies to retain and grow donors
Manage relationships with approximately 100 donors and prospects
Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual and major gifts to increase retention and upgrade giving levels
Articulate the Academy's mission to inspire philanthropic investment and engagement
Maintain contact reports and use metrics-driven portfolio management
Collaborate on programs including Reunion, Homecoming, Family Weekend, and "Cheshire Academy: On the Road"
Create opportunities for alumni involvement through events, communications, and volunteerism
Leverage digital platforms and social media to expand constituent reach
Identify and qualify prospective major gift donors
Track donor engagement metrics and progress toward fundraising goals
Utilize CRM systems and data analytics to inform strategies