Executive Brief
Managing Director of Annual Giving
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 ten raised roughly $7.4M last year, including $3.3M in annual fund support. The school is currently in the leadership phase of an $85M comprehensive campaign, with priorities including a major student-focused capital project and endowment support. St. John’s Prep’s last campaign successfully ended in 2020 with $50M raised.
Upon meeting with the St. John’s Prep’s advancement team, their success becomes very easy to understand. This is a group committed to the institution, and to one another. With tenures ranging from 1.5 years to twenty, there is a deep, shared investment in collaboration, culture, and community. This is an organization that values leadership from every seat and working hard to advance shared objectives. As one team member recently shared, “I wish I’d found St. John’s Prep earlier in my career. I’ve never worked at an organization like this.”
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 18th year at the Prep, and starting her 25th 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.
The Opportunity: Managing Director of Annual Giving
St. John's Prep - Managing Director of Annual Giving - Job Description (PDF Download)
Position Summary
The Managing Director of Annual Giving will oversee the annual giving program, the Fund for St. John’s. This position reports directly to the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO). The ideal candidate should possess the skills to work in a fast-paced office environment and have the desire to increase philanthropic support to St. John’s Prep. Collaboration within the office and working to strengthen relationships across campus are important parts of the role. Travel and occasional weekend/evening hours may be required.
Responsibilities, Qualifications, and Expectations
Responsibilities:
- Lead all annual giving, marketing and special event strategies to grow revenue through the Fund for St. John’s.
- Design and implement communication and marketing strategies for direct mail and digital programs, including solicitation, social media, donor recognition, volunteerism, giving challenges and sprints, as well as strategic annual fund campaigns and matching gifts.
- Manage portfolio of approximately 75-100 prospects who have the capacity to make leadership annual gifts of $1,000 - $50,000.
- Manage and staff the Head of School Council Committee, composed of volunteer solicitors for the Fund for St. John’s.
- Utilize the GiveCampus platform to maximize engagement in fundraising events.
- Manage budgets and expenditures associated with travel, programs, events, and other initiatives.
- Work closely with the CAO and Finance Office to ensure accuracy of financial reporting and remain aligned with budgeting goals.
- Contribute to success and engagement of Advancement Committee work through guidance of and collaboration with CAO.
- Represent the Office for Institutional Advancement and its priorities, as well as the school’s interests and mission, on and off campus at events, in meetings and through committee work.
- Set strategy, manage, and lead event logistics and communications for specified events.
- Ensure effective telephone and mail/email communications to support internal and external constituent management.
- Collaborate with Alumni Office on other events, such as Reunion Weekend, Regionals, etc.
- Oversee hiring and management of additional position(s) in the future.
- Attend and staff events as assigned by CAO.
- Plan and oversee key cultivation and stewardship events.
- Collaborate with the Manager of Advancement Services on communications for the Prep’s annual Online Auction.
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.
- Experience within an annual giving/development program, including identifying and soliciting donors.
- Raiser’s Edge experience preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Standing/sitting for long periods of time.
- Bending, lifting, pushing, kneeling, crouching, crawling, stooping.
- Must be able to lift up to 50 pounds.
- Must be able to reach at and above shoulder height to access higher areas of equipment, etc.
- Must be capable of adapting to frequent changes in position throughout the workday.
- Hearing and speaking to exchange information in person or on the telephone.
- Use of hands and fingers for manipulation, and using computer keyboard, educational tools, play equipment, and perform first aid and CPR.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and depth perception.
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.
Applications & Nominations
St. John's Prep has partnered with Boyden. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:
Lisa Vuona
Managing Partner, Boston
lvuona@boyden.com
LinkedIn
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
Principal, Boston
bparsons@boyden.com
LinkedIn
Beth Parsons specializes in the education and non-profit sectors, having held fundraising and leadership roles in prominent educational and social impact organizations for nearly 20 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.
Holly Wolk
Senior Associate, Boston
LinkedIn
hwolk@boyden.com
Holly Wolk has nearly 25 years of leadership experience in human resources, recruitment, and talent management. As an executive and public speaker, she has brought transformational practices and strategies to various organizations, including renowned institutions within higher education. Clients benefit greatly from her expertise in talent acquisition and alignment with organizational goals.
Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.
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