Careers

Department: Development
Reports to: Director of Development
FLSA Classification: Exempt (Salary)
Job Type: Full-Time (12-month)
Start Date: July 2024

About McGehee School
The Louise S. McGehee School, founded in 1912, is an Independent PreK-12th all-girls school located in the historic Garden District neighborhood of New Orleans. Louise S. McGehee School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is open to all qualified candidates regardless of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status or other applicable protected classification. 

The Louise S. McGehee School's mission is to provide each girl with the foundation to realize her individual potential through a rigorous academic education guided by honor, service and leadership. In this dynamic, inclusive community, students develop lifelong learning skills through the use of critical and ethical thinking. For more information, please visit www.mcgeheeschool.com. 

Position Overview
The position of Annual Giving Manager oversees all aspects of the School’s annual giving efforts. This dynamic leader is responsible for planning, executing, and growing the School’s annual giving campaign, known as The McGehee Fund, by creating engaging strategies for all of the School’s constituencies: alumnae, parents, past parents, faculty and staff, grandparents, and friends. The Annual Giving Manager collaborates with the larger development team to increase annual giving revenue, broaden the base of support, retain and upgrade donors through appropriate stewardship, and strengthen the major gift pipeline. This position also provides guidance and support to the annual fund’s volunteers. 

Hours of work: Monday through Friday; core hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Evening and weekend work and occasional travel may be required as job duties demand. 

Essential Responsibilities

• Works closely with the Director of Development to develop and position annual giving goals and priorities consistent with the School’s operating needs. 
• Works collaboratively with the development team to achieve aspirational goals for the annual fund and develop strong solicitation, engagement, and stewardship programs for key constituencies. 
• Designs and manages an integrated, multi-channel strategy that engages donors, broadens participation, strengthens donor relationships, and ultimately builds the School’s culture of philanthropy. Enhances the annual giving team’s use of digital strategies, technologies (texting platforms, social fundraising pages, etc.), and micro-campaigns to create a personal and positive experience for donors and broaden annual giving participation. 
• Uses data and analytics to monitor annual giving progress, identify opportunities, report on results, and learn from what the reports show.
• Oversees a strategy to grow the number of leadership annual fund donors by acquiring, retaining, and upgrading donors. Benchmarks and continually improves the health of annual giving programs and strategies, identifying opportunities to improve and areas of strength to build upon. 
• Effectively communicates with both the internal team and volunteer leadership regarding constituency-based fundraising strategies and progress. 
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the Parent Annual Giving Chairs and Parent Annual Giving Grade Captains.
• Serves as the primary point of contact for the Alumnae Annual Giving Chairs and Alumnae Association Representatives for solicitation purposes and works closely with them to develop strategy for and to carry out the objectives of the alumnae giving campaign, with special emphasis upon increasing Young Alumnae giving. 
• Coordinate and manage Faculty Annual Giving Campaign.
• Oversees reunion-based fundraising program in close collaboration with the Alumnae Association members. Determines overall Reunion Giving strategy, helps recruit volunteer leadership, and monitors class progress to ensure Reunion financial goals are met. 
• Partners with prospect managers to ensure that communications and interactions help meet annual giving goals and move donor relationships forward. 
• Leads annual giving stewardship initiatives. Coordinates with Director of Development and Advancement Coordinator to design and implement stewardship strategies that communicate the impact of the annual fund and increase donor retention. 
• Assist with compiling donor lists for the website, The Gate publication and the Annual Report.
• Collaborates with colleagues to ensure the School’s brand and overall marketing and communications strategy is used consistently and effectively and fosters a culture of philanthropy. 
• Remains conversant with the full range of McGehee’s philanthropic priorities. 
• Stays abreast of annual giving best practices, industry trends, and emerging technologies. 
• Cultivates a professional network of colleagues at other institutions to serve as a resource for new ideas. 
• Attends alumnae and parent events, external affairs meetings, and schoolwide functions as needed to connect with constituents. 
• Embraces the mission and vision of Louise S. McGehee School. 
• Performs other duties as assigned. 

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree is required 
• At least three years of progressive experience in non-profit or educational fundraising, preferably in an annual giving position 
• Employ a donor-centric mindset that informs daily and strategic decisions 
• Team player with a positive attitude, proactive approach, customer-service mindset, and ability to motivate 
• Demonstrated ability to both independently and collaboratively raise significant financial support for an educational institution, or equivalent entity 
• Experience leading and engaging all stakeholders–leadership, trustees, colleagues, faculty, parents, students, alumnae, partners, and volunteers 
• A disciplined, results-oriented self-starter who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fluid environment 
• Well-developed strategic, critical, analytical, and problem-solving skills 
• Strong interpersonal skills, including tact, diplomacy, confidentiality, and judgment 
• Interest and competence to interact with a diversity of accomplished individuals 
• Excellent project management skills–ability to take lead on multi-functional projects, manage and prioritize multiple responsibilities and competing demands, and adapt to frequent and unexpected changes 
• Strong attention to detail and able to develop, implement, and analyze strategies with minimal oversight 
• Strong communication skills (written, oral, and presentation) to effectively communicate the School’s vision and case for support for priorities 
• High degree of competency with Microsoft Office software, CRM databases (preferably Raiser’s Edge), and email marketing programs 
• Knowledge and experience with a Mac environment preferred 
• Active engagement in professional development and current on best practices 
• Commitment to the mission of Louise S. McGehee School and willing to serve as an ambassador for the School both internally and externally. 

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.
• Frequently required to move around the office/classroom; works at a desk for extended periods of time. 
• Ability to maintain appropriate boundaries with students, fellow staff and community members. 
• Ability to stand for extended periods of time.
• Physical agility to lift up to 25 pounds to shoulder height and 50 pounds to waist height; and to bend, to stoop, to reach, to sit on the floor, to climb stairs, to walk and to reach overhead.
• Ability to perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations. 

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. 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. 

The Louise S. McGehee School is an equal opportunity employer. It is our policy not to discriminate, and to comply with all applicable state and federal laws prohibiting discrimination in employment based on race, color, sex, sexual orientation, creed, religion, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, veteran status, or other applicable protected classification. 

If you have questions, please email [email protected].