Executive Brief

Senior Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving
Sarah Lawrence College

The Organization: Sarah Lawrence College

Sarah Lawrence is a prestigious, residential, coeducational liberal arts college. Founded in 1926 and consistently ranked among the leading liberal arts colleges in the country, Sarah Lawrence is known for its pioneering approach to education, rich history of impassioned intellectual and civic engagement, and vibrant, successful alumni. In close proximity to the unparalleled offerings of New York City, Sarah Lawrence's historic campus is home to an inclusive, intellectually curious, and diverse community.

Talented, creative students choose Sarah Lawrence for the opportunity to take charge of their education. In close collaboration with the school's dedicated, distinguished faculty, students create a rigorous, personalized course of study and connect their passions across a wide array of disciplines. Students graduate knowing how to apply the knowledge, skills, and critical thinking necessary for life after college.

Campus:

Sarah Lawrence College occupies 44 wooded acres in Yonkers, NY, near the Village of Bronxville—just north of New York City. A 30-minute train ride from the Bronxville station takes students into Midtown Manhattan.

Learn more about the area here.

Facilities:

In addition to their round-table classrooms, Sarah Lawrence has outstanding theatres, art and performance studios, and music spaces; modern science labs; state-of-the-art graphic computing equipment; competitive sports facilities; a 60,000-square-foot visual arts center; and recently renovated dining facilities.

Student Body:

Sarah Lawrence's students share an enthusiasm for intellectual rigor, academic risk taking, creativity in all disciplines, and original and interdisciplinary work. Sarah Lawrence is particularly committed to having its faculty, administration, and student body reflect the social, racial, and economic diversity that characterizes our society. The College’s undergraduate students come from nearly every state and from 50+ countries; more than 80 percent of undergrads live on campus.

Statistics:

2024–2025 Academic Year

Number of students:

Undergraduate: 1,582
Graduate: 216
Total: 1,798

Undergraduate Student Body:

Students of Color: 29%
International Students: 5%

Graduate Student Body:

Students of Color: 23%
International Students: 14%
68% between the ages of 22-29

State representation:

44 states plus Washington, DC and 45 countries
States sending most students: California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York

International Representation in Recent Years:

Students come from 45 countries, including: Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bosnia, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Lebanon, Mexico, Nepal, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Venezuela, Vietnam, Zimbabwe.

Giving at Sarah Lawrence

Sarah Lawrence College – Giving

Led by the Office of Advancement, the Giving program at Sarah Lawrence College empowers students, faculty, and the campus community by ensuring the College continues its forward momentum. Through annual funds like the Fund for Sarah Lawrence, endowed gifts, and planned-giving options, the team directs philanthropic support immediately toward core priorities – including scholarships, faculty retention, academic innovation, technology upgrades, and campus renewal.

Leadership Spotlight

Patricia Goldman - Vice President of Advancement and External Relations

Patricia Goldman
Vice President of Advancement and External Relations

Since 2018, Patty Goldman has been the Vice President of Advancement and External Relations for Sarah Lawrence College. Prior to working in higher education, she was a marketing and revenue development consultant for non-profits and startups. She helped to establish The Feminist Institute and Makersfinders.com. In 2016, Patty concluded a 15-year tenure at March of Dimes, where she was the Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing officer and a member of the revenue committee of the Board of Trustees. Her core responsibilities included all areas of marketing the organization with an emphasis on building the foundation’s digital content and fundraising capabilities.

Prior to her tenure at the March of Dimes, Patty was Co-Founder and President of e4media, a digital development company that specialized in content management and e-commerce deployment. She was also the head of production for NewsCorp., where she helped to create and manage a site that provided up-to-the-minute news to millions of consumers. She has also worked in the entertainment business, for both Disney and Warner Brothers. Patty is an active volunteer in her community, spent 9 years on an alumni board for a private day school, and is a capital campaign strategist for her local temple.

She holds a BA with Honors in Social Anthropology from Harvard University, and a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Southern California.

The Opportunity: Senior Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving

Sarah Lawrence College - Senior Director of Alumni Relations & Annual Giving - Job Description (PDF Download)

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving leads the development and execution of strategic initiatives that drive annual giving and alumni engagement, ensuring alignment with the College's institutional goals. This role fosters sustainable donor participation and revenue growth while building a vibrant alumni community through targeted outreach, meaningful programs, and lifelong connections. By leading staff and volunteers, optimizing resources, and leveraging data-driven insights, the Senior Director supports the College's mission by securing essential financial support and deepening alumni involvement.

The Role and Responsibilities

Essential Functions:

Develop and implement a strategic annual giving plan that aligns with the College's objectives, focusing on acquiring and retaining donors through targeted outreach, segmentation, and personalized communication.
Lead a comprehensive alumni engagement program, including volunteer opportunities, reunions, career development, mentorship, and regional networks, ensuring alignment with institutional priorities.
Recruit, train, and mentor development professionals, fostering collaboration and a culture of growth, while setting strategic goals for the alumni and annual giving team.
Oversee donor cultivation and stewardship strategies, using tailored recognition programs, impact reporting, and personalized engagement to strengthen donor relationships.
Collaborate with key stakeholders, including advancement colleagues, faculty, institutional leadership, and volunteers, to ensure alignment of alumni and fundraising efforts with broader College initiatives.
Manage complex projects and budgets, overseeing resource allocation, vendor relationships, and strategic decision-making to maximize program impact.
Use data analysis and reporting to monitor trends, optimize engagement and fundraising strategies, and ensure data-driven decision-making.
Support the President and Vice President in donor engagement, providing strategic recommendations, briefing materials, and on-site support during events and visits.
Engage and cultivate relationships with major gift prospects, collaborating with the Advancement team to develop initiatives that resonate with donors' interests.

Additional Responsibilities:

Assist with campus events, such as commencement and family weekend, enhancing community engagement.
Maintain data integrity by collaborating on data management practices, cleansing, and system optimization.
Participate in campus programming committees, contributing to the development of event strategy and community initiatives.
Mentor colleagues across departments, sharing best practices in fundraising and alumni relations.
Facilitate alumni engagement for prospective parents, enhancing their connection with the College.
Contribute to the launch of new educational programs by leveraging alumni networks for feedback and outreach.
Provide temporary support to departments during staffing transitions, ensuring continuity of operations.
Other duties as assigned by supervisor.

Qualifications and Requirements

Required Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
A minimum of 10 years of experience in alumni relations, annual giving, or advancement.
Proficiency in strategic planning, event management, and team leadership.
Experience with fundraising software and CRM systems.
Strong public speaking, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
Experience working with high-level volunteers and donors.
Ability to travel and work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.

Preferred Qualifications:

Advanced degree in a related field.
Experience in higher education or nonprofit fundraising.
Familiarity with marketing and communication strategies.
Demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and multiple priorities effectively.

Physical and Cognitive Requirements:

Primarily sedentary, involving extended periods of sitting and significant computer use.
Frequent verbal and written communication required.
Capacity to organize and synthesize detailed information.
Occasional walking/standing/lifting required.
Occasional travel required.

Applications & Nominations:

Sarah Lawrence College has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. 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.

Jill Coran
Executive Search Consultant, Boston
jcoran@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Jill began as a recruiter, transitioning seamlessly to Human Resources Management after several successful years. She has diverse experience in the dot com, biotechnology, and media industries. After taking time to raise her children, Jill returned as a Human Resource Manager for a multimedia company. In this role, she excelled in recruiting, administering benefits, and managing employee relations. Jill's passion continues to be connecting top talent and organizations, both locally and nationally.

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.