Executive Brief

Major Gift Officer
St. John's Prep

The Organization: St. John's Prep

Founded in 1907, St. John’s Prep is an inclusive, Catholic, Xaverian Brothers Sponsored School for young men in grades 6 through 12. Founded on the Xaverian values of compassion, humility, simplicity, trust, and zeal, St. John's educates students to be, do and stand for good in the world.

St. John’s is a faith-based community grounded in and fortified by three main cultural priorities: recognizing all people as created in the image and likeness of God, embracing a habit of excellence grounded in a growth mindset, and empowering individuals to be unique expressions of God’s love in the world. Strong candidates will embody the Catholic principles and Xaverian values that guide the Institution to help foster a supportive and inclusive campus environment. For further information on how faith animates St. John’s, please visit St. John's Statement on Xaverian and Catholic Identity.

Located in Danvers, Massachusetts with a distinctive campus feel spread amongst 10 academic, co-curricular, and athletic buildings spanning 175-acres, St. John’s has an enrollment of approximately 1,500 students from more than 90 different communities across seven grade levels. A big campus with big resources means big dreams, big opportunities, big benefits, and big outcomes. Yet each young man is known as an individual — valued and guided in small classes by educators who understand them at this juncture in their own development.

St. John's Prep - At a Glance

Academics:

Arts:

Athletics:

General:

St. John's Prep's Advancement Team

St. John’s Prep’s tight-knit advancement team of twelve raised $3.3 million in annual fund support last year. The school is currently advancing an $80 million comprehensive campaign, with priorities that include a major student-focused capital project and endowment support. As of September 8, 2026, St. John’s Prep has secured $42.8 million in campaign commitments, representing 53.5% of the comprehensive goal. The school’s previous campaign concluded successfully in 2020, raising $50 million.

Upon meeting with St. John’s Prep’s advancement team, their success becomes easy to understand. This is a group deeply committed to the institution and to one another. With tenures ranging from several months to 20 years, there is a strong, shared investment in collaboration, culture, and community. The team values leadership from every seat and a collective commitment to advancing shared objectives. As one staff member shared, “It is a respectful, cohesive team. I couldn’t ask for a better team to work with. We have great leadership and our Head of School is an extension of us, regularly celebrating our successes.”

St. John’s Prep’s Vision 2032

St. John’s Prep’s Vision 2032 is a forward-looking strategic plan designed to guide the school toward its 125th anniversary while remaining firmly rooted in its Catholic, Xaverian mission. Building on the school’s longstanding commitment to educating and developing young men, the plan establishes a framework for continued growth, innovation, and excellence in the student experience.

Vision 2032 is centered on four strategic pillars: Capital Improvements, Endowment, Enrollment Vibrancy, and Pathways to Excellence. Together, these priorities focus on modernizing campus facilities, strengthening long-term financial resources and accessibility, sustaining a vibrant and diverse student body, and enhancing academics, student life, faculty development, and holistic student formation. Through these initiatives, St. John’s Prep is positioning itself to serve future generations while preserving the mission and values that have defined the school for more than a century.

To learn more about St. John’s Prep’s strategic priorities and Vision 2032, visit the Vision 2032 website.

Aspire Together: The Campaign for St. John's Prep

Aspire Together is St. John’s Prep’s comprehensive campaign to advance the school’s Catholic, Xaverian mission and strengthen the student experience for generations to come. The campaign focuses on addressing the school’s most important current and future needs through investments that foster connection, expand access to a St. John’s education, and provide the financial resources necessary to sustain the institution’s long-term strength and impact.

The campaign is organized around three priorities: Fuel Connection, Champion the Mission, and Power the Now. These priorities include transforming the historic Memorial Dining Hall into a modern Student Commons; growing the school’s endowment to expand financial aid, support faculty excellence, and strengthen long-term sustainability; and increasing support for the Fund for St. John’s, which provides essential annual resources across academics, arts, athletics, faculty development, and tuition assistance. Together, these investments are designed to preserve the Prep’s legacy while creating new opportunities for students and the broader school community.

To learn more about Aspire Together: The Campaign for St. John’s Prep, visit the Aspire Together campaign website.

Leadership Spotlight

Deb Marino - Chief Advancement Officer

Deb Marino
Chief Advancement Officer

Deb Marino serves as Chief Advancement Officer at St. John's Prep. Currently in her 19th year at the Prep, and starting her 26th year in advancement, Deb has held a variety of roles throughout her time at St. John's, always related to major giving and planned giving. Additionally, she filled the role of campaign coordinator during the school's most recent $50M comprehensive capital campaign, the Campaign for GOOD. Prior to St. John's Prep, Deb held advancement roles at UMass Lowell and Phillips Academy. Deb holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics at the University of New Hampshire. She also volunteers with Cummings Foundation and the Women's Fund of Essex County.

Paul Chiozzi - Managing Director of Major Gifts

Paul Chiozzi
Managing Director of Major Gifts

Paul Chiozzi is the Managing Director of Major Gifts at St. John’s Prep. Paul began his time at the Prep in 2021 as Managing Director of Annual Giving before making the transition to his current role in 2022. Prior to St. John’s, Paul was Director of Annual Giving at Cotting School in Lexington, MA. Before his career in advancement, he worked at Boston College in the Office of First Year Experience and at Loomis Chaffee in Admissions. He holds a MA in Higher Education and MBA from Boston College.

The Opportunity: Major Gift Officer

St. John's Prep - Major Gift Officer - Job Description (PDF Download)

Position Summary

The Office for Institutional Advancement is a small, highly motivated team that works together to advance the Prep’s mission and realize its highest priorities. Collaboration within the office and working to strengthen relationships across campus is an important part of each role. The Advancement Office welcomes a Major Gift Officer eager to be part of the team and immerse themselves in the school’s culture, while also being highly motivated to meet with parents and alumni off campus and help meet yearly fundraising targets.

The Major Gift Officer will manage a portfolio of alumni and parent major gift prospects at the five-, six-, and seven-figure level. Reporting directly to the Managing Director of Major Gifts, the ideal candidate should possess the skills to work in a fast-paced office environment, experience in frontline solicitation work, and the desire to increase philanthropic support to St. John’s Prep. Travel and occasional weekend/evening hours may be required.

Responsibilities, Qualifications, and Expectations

Responsibilities:

Manage a portfolio of 125+ new and repeat donors
Visit regularly on and off campus with parents and alumni to solicit gifts for St. John’s Prep
Identify new donors and cultivate relationships with existing donors
Document all communication with prospects and donors
Draft and edit letters and proposals to donors
Collaborate with other members of the office to build solicitation strategies
Develop and nurture relationships with faculty and staff across campus

Skills and Competencies:

Excellent planning and organizational skills
Strong written and oral communication skills
Comfort with planning visits on and off campus
Ability to recognize and target major gifts prospects
Desire to work with a variety of people including staff and faculty school-wide
Ability to work independently and take initiative
Experience soliciting and closing gifts
Maintain a high level of confidentiality and discretion

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum 3 to 5 years experience of identifying and soliciting donors
Raiser’s Edge experience preferred

Compensation

The salary range for this position is $100,000 to $110,000 dependent on relevant experience.

St. John’s Prep is committed to building a diverse and inclusive campus community. We welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We seek applicants who demonstrate a commitment to multiculturalism and diversity that is manifested in classroom practice, student engagement, interpersonal communication, and curricular decisions.

Boyden Team

Lisa Vuona

Managing Partner, United States
Global Sector Co-Leader, Not-for-Profit

Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.

Beth Parsons

Partner, United States

Beth Parsons specializes in the education and non-profit sectors, having held fundraising and leadership roles in prominent educational and social impact organizations for over 25 years. She partners with clients to develop search strategies on the basis of organizational needs and core values. Her extensive advancement network serves as a source of high-impact talent.

Leslie Smith

Senior Associate, United States

Leslie Smith has helped numerous individuals and organizations achieve their goals. She works with non-profits and educational institutions, helping to define leadership needs and connecting them with the right talent. Along with extensive knowledge of the non-profit sector, she has a passion for strengthening mission-driven organizations and advancing diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.