Director of Development

October 18, 2023

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

BACKGROUND

Since Austin Preparatory School opened 60 years ago, it has remained steadfast in its

mission: Inspire hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve. In the tradition of

St. Augustine of Hippo (the school’s namesake), an Austin Prep education emphasizes

the importance of a life in service of others, supported by the pursuit of academic

excellence in the liberal arts tradition within a welcoming and close-knit community.

A coeducational institution since 1992, Austin Prep now serves more than 800 students

in grades six through twelve from Reading, MA, and nearly 70 neighboring communities

northeast of Boston and in Southern New Hampshire.

For a position to begin in July 2023, Austin Prep is seeking an enthusiastic and seasoned

fundraising expert who is well versed in advancing a first-rate independent school

development office. This is an extraordinary opportunity for an experienced and

entrepreneurial development professional to build upon the school’s record of steadily

increasing philanthropy over the past ten years.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

INTRODUCTION
Austin Preparatory School was founded by the Order of Saint

Augustine, Province of St. Thomas of Villanova, in 1961. Two

years later in the fall of 1963, the Augustinians welcomed 200

freshman and sophomore boys, graduating its first class of

18 students in 1966. Facing dwindling enrollment in the early

1970s, the school appointed a lay Board of Trustees and

became a fully incorporated Catholic independent school. In

s, recognizing the importance of creating a pipeline

for enrollment, the Board approved the addition of a Middle

School; and in the 1990s Austin Prep began to enroll young

women, graduating its first alumnae in 1996. Today, the

school’s enrollment has grown to more than 800 students,

evenly divided between boys and girls.

An independent Roman Catholic school, Austin Prep is a proud member of the Augustinian

Secondary Educational Association (ASEA). Neither owned nor operated by the Archdiocese of

Boston or any religious order, the school is an independent 501(c)3 recognized as a “private juridic

person” in accordance with the Code of Canon law of the Roman Catholic Church. Under this

status, the Head of School reports directly to the Board of Trustees and defers to the teaching

authority of the Cardinal Archbishop of Boston in all matters of faith and morals. Originally

founded by the Augustinian Friars, the Augustinian ethos and traditions form a significant part of

student life. Each day begins and ends with prayer, and faculty work hard to model the school’s

values in their teaching and in the relationships they form with students. St. Augustine valued the

role of community in spiritual life, and this emphasis is clearly borne out in the close bonds the

students, parents, and alumni cite as characteristic of their experience at Austin Prep.

In addition to impressive curricular innovations,

there have been major improvements to the

physical plant in the last 10 years. Increased

philanthropy, including two capital campaigns,

over the past eight years have allowed the

school to update its athletic stadium, refurbish

the dining hall and fitness center, and build a

new baseball stadium, multipurpose field, and

tennis courts. Ongoing and planned projects

include instructional space upgrades,

modernization of infrastructure, technology

upgrades, expanded parking, and new softball

fields. The gym and auditorium facility,

constructed in 2001, was renamed in 2016 to

honor alumnus Richard J. Meelia '67, which was

blessed by His Eminence Sean Cardinal O'Malley,

Archbishop of Boston.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL AT A GLANCE

Austin Prep’s mission is to inspire hearts to unite, minds to inquire, and hands to serve. St.

Augustine is the School’s patron saint, and the school strives toward the Augustinian ideal of “one

mind, one heart, intent upon God.” The Augustinian charisms of veritas, unitas, and caritas –

truth, unity, and love – inspire the mission.

Accreditation, Memberships, and Affiliations
• New England Association of Schools and • National Catholic Educational Association

Colleges (NEASC) (NCEA)

• Augustinian Secondary Educational • Association of Independent Schools of

Association (ASEA) New England (AISNE)

• National Association of Independent

Schools (NAIS)

Enrollment and Financial Aid
Austin Prep’s 800 students hail from nearly 70 communities throughout Northeastern

Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. The school also enrolls a small number of

international students from China. Tuition for the 2023-2024 school year is $29,300, and

approximately a third of students receive tuition assistance. Students benefit from both need-

based aid and merit scholarships, which includes the St. Augustine Scholarship – a merit-based

award given to a limited number of freshmen each year. The School has operated at capacity for

the last 5 years and generates a waiting list each year.

Finance and Development
Austin Prep is a well-managed school with a $23 million operating budget and a small endowment.

The school raised nearly $1 million in voluntary giving during the last school year, including gifts

for capital funds and annual giving. The School’s last capital campaign, Igniting Hearts,

Transforming Lives successfully reached its $3 million goal.

The Campus
Austin Prep’s 55-acre campus sits in Reading, 15 miles north of Boston at the intersection of

Interstates 95 and 93. The spacious, wooded surroundings contribute to the school’s warm and

nurturing environment.

In the fall of 2020, the school celebrated the completion of a new athletic complex featuring

synthetic turf for baseball, soccer, field hockey, and lacrosse, and a natural grass baseball practice

field, six new tennis courts, an electronic scoreboard, a press box, dugouts, storage facilities,

walkways, and new handicap-accessible bleachers. Additional athletic facilities include the Athletic

Stadium Complex, which offers a turf field, a well-maintained modern track, seating for 1,100, and

a university-level scoreboard. Meelia Hall is home to the basketball court and the Nelson Athletic

Fitness & Training Room.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Other facilities include McLaughlin Hall, which comprises the Technology Center, the McCarthy

Writing Center, the dining hall, counseling and administrative offices, classrooms, science labs, and

the Chapel of St. Augustine, which was refurbished in summer 2022. The Fr. Smith Library and

Media Center houses more than 42,000 books and periodicals and a technology and study center.

St. Augustine Hall contains conference rooms, the music and arts wings, an art gallery, and

external affairs. During summer 2022, Austin Prep constructed a new multi-purpose science lab a

cost of $600,000.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM

Three signature elements help to define the richness and depth of the Austin Prep educational

experience:

Augustinian Values: As a Roman Catholic school guided by

Augustinian values and traditions, Austin Prep’s Office of Campus

Ministry emphasizes the importance of serving others in the spirit of

caritas (love). To this end, all students must complete a Christian

service requirement for graduation which enables them to

experience and share God’s love in concrete ways through their

words and their actions in ministry to others. Additional elements of

the school’s religious life include school-wide liturgies, daily prayers,

spiritual retreats, and a robust curriculum designed and taught by

the school’s Theology Faculty. In 2021, Austin Prep welcomed five

Bannabikira Sisters from the Daughters of Mary (of Uganda) who

teach and work in school leadership.

Advisory Program: Austin Prep views its advisory program as

fundamental to student achievement, and it is often cited by

parents and students as one of the school’s signature strengths.

Austin Prep’s three pillared approach, which combines academic

advising, emotional and social counseling, and college counseling,

enables students to develop confidence interacting with peers and

teachers and to make wise and thoughtful choices in their academic

and personal lives. Integrated with the life of the school, the

advisory program provides consistency throughout students’ time

at Austin Prep and encourages students to make the most of the

ample opportunities offered by the school.

Choice-Based Curriculum: Choice and voice in the Middle School academic program promote

student ownership and create opportunities for students to take risks and grow. The Upper School

curriculum, in particular, is defined by choice. From freshman year on, students are empowered to

shape their high school education with electives in each of the core subjects. As they continue

through the division, their course selection broadens. Faculty offer courses that delve deeply into

their own areas of expertise, presenting seminars and courses that more closely resemble college

classes in their depth and specificity. Examples include Passing in Literature, Shakespeare in Film,

Microbiology, and Nationalism and Identity in Latin America.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Faculty and Staff
Austin Prep’s low student-teacher ratio (10:1) enables the formation of the close ties between

students and teachers that many alumni name as a highlight of the experience at the school. More

than 85% of the faculty hold advanced degrees, and there are ample professional development

funds available for continuing education. The faculty have an average tenure of 16 years at Austin

Prep. The faculty is notable for its solidarity and its commitment to the institution, reflected,

among other things, in its record of 99 percent participation in annual giving.

The Middle School
The Middle School at Austin Preparatory School is an inviting, intentional environment rooted in

the best practices of middle school education. During this pivotal period, students are supported

by faculty and advisors as they navigate campus, accelerate their growth, and flourish as

independent learners and self-advocates. In their classes and co-curricular activities, students are

challenged to be curious.

The well-rounded and challenging core academic program is augmented by a range of special

programs, including an extensive service-learning program; a seventh-grade Vocations Program in

which students immerse themselves in discipleship and learn what it means to live a life of faith;

an eight-grade civics trip to Washington, D.C.; and a study-abroad opportunity in the United

Kingdom through the Independent Schools Cultural Alliance (ISCA).

The Upper School
Choosing among a wide variety of course offerings, Upper School students complete four years of

English and theology, at least three years of history, math, science, world language (Spanish,

French, Latin, or Mandarin), and electives, three semesters of art and design, and a freshman

seminar. Courses are classified as one of three levels: College Preparatory, Honors, or Advanced

Placement. Austin Prep currently offers 19 Advanced Placement courses.

All Austin Prep graduates are accepted into four-year colleges. Over the past five years, Austin

Prep alumni have enrolled at a healthy range of colleges and universities across the country,

including leading liberal arts colleges (Middlebury College, Wesleyan University, Bowdoin College),

competitive public universities (The Ohio State University, University of California – Los Angeles,

University of Virginia), strong regional institutions (Lehigh University, Purdue University, Elon

University), and highly selective private schools (Dartmouth College, Brown University, Princeton

University, Harvard University).

A Well-Rounded Educational Experience
Technology is an integral part of the learning experience at Austin Prep. The school employs a 1:1

iPad program in the Middle School and a 1:1 MacBook program in the Upper School. Students are

provided with access and support for technology with the goal that students gain the skills and

understanding they need to grow into informed and productive digital citizens. They have a

chance to enrich their skills and understanding of technology with classes in Java and Python

programming languages and AP computer science.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Embracing the motto, “to instruct and inspire,” the art and design department makes space for

students to discover and pursue their passions in the visual and performing arts and technology.

Upper school students can join the chorus or band, enroll in a drama class, or take advantage of

Austin Prep’s well-regarded dance program, which welcomes dancers of all experiences and

abilities and offers classes in jazz, ballet, tap, pointe, lyric, and modern dance. All dancers are

included in Austin Prep’s annual production of The Nutcracker, a production that involves

approximately 20% of the student body. Students interested in the theatrical arts can audition for

the drama fest, fall musical, and spring play. Visual art offerings include studio art, illustration,

graphic design, and yearbook design.

Austin Prep also offers more than 60 clubs and student organizations. From anime to yoga,

students have a chance to form bonds with peers and adults who share their areas of interest and

take on leadership roles in an appropriate setting. Those especially eager to play an active role in

the life of the school can run for positions in Student Government.

Athletics
The success of Austin Prep’s athletic program is grounded in a commitment to building physical

skills as well as life skills that enable student-athletes to succeed as young adults. In line with the

school’s values, the athletics program’s mission is to develop student-athletes who are selfless

teammates, possess an unparalleled work ethic, consistently display the highest levels of

sportsmanship, and are dedicated to a common goal. A competitive athletic program, Austin Prep

was honored with the Boston Globe’s Nason Award in 2018, 2019, and 2020 for having the highest

overall winning average among Catholic coed schools in the Commonwealth. The athletics

program comprises more than 50 teams in 18 sports. Middle School sports offerings include

Soccer (boys and girls), Basketball (boys and girls), Lacrosse (boys), and Softball (girls). The Upper

School fields teams in Baseball (boys), Basketball, Cheerleading, Cross Country, Dance Team,

Football, Golf, Ice Hockey, Indoor Track, Lacrosse, Outdoor Track & Field, Skiing, Soccer, Softball

(girls), Swimming, Tennis, Field Hockey, and Volleyball (girls). Austin Prep became a member of the

New England Preparatory Athletic Council (NEPSAC) in 2022 and concluded its membership in the

Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA). Austin Prep has captured several state

championships in the last several years including baseball, girls’ hockey, track. In its first year in

the NEPSAC, the track team and ski team have captured NEPSAC champtionships.

For more information regarding the educational program at Austin Preparatory School, please visit

the school’s website: www.austinprep.org/academics

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

THE POSITION: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

The Director of Development, who reports to the Head of School, is responsible for planning and

executing the fundraising programs of Austin Prep. Fundraising priorities include focusing on long-

term financial sustainability as well as meeting the annual needs required to operate the school.

The successful candidate will play a vital role in the evolution of the Development Office at Austin

Prep, overseeing all of the school’s fundraising activities, collaborating with the Board of Trustees

and other school offices, and expanding outreach efforts to parents, the school’s 6,000 alumni,

and potential major donors. The new Director will have the opportunity to build upon the steady

increase in philanthropy that the school has experienced over the past eight years.

Among the specific tasks awaiting the Director of Development are the following:

• Hiring additional development staff as the department expands.

• Provide fundraising leadership as Austin Prep embarks on its largest capital campaign over

the next 5 years.

• Raising the remaining $1.2 million necessary to complete the ongoing $3 million capital

campaign.

• Strengthening the participation of the Board’s Advancement Committee in fundraising

efforts.

• Continue the annual growth of the Austin Prep Fund Requirements.

• Embracing Austin Prep’s Roman Catholic identity and Augustinian heritage.

• 10 years of successfully progressive fundraising experience; 3 years managing a staff of

advancement professionals.

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.

• Previous experience with an independent school or college a plus.

• Specific skills in managing a major gifts portfolio in a “Moves Management” style.

• Familiar with different fundraising software and wealth engine applications.

• Can become a key member of the school staff in relating to parents, community, alums,

and other constituency groups.

Director of Development | AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL

Travel: Expected travel 15%; minimal overnight travel.

Salary: Highly competitive salary. Comprehensive benefits and a
retirement plan. Details available during interview.

Application Deadline: December 31, 2023

(We reserve the right to shorten the deadline for applications

if we have sufficient interest. Please apply early to ensure your

background will be considered.)

For consideration, please email resume to:

Brent Morton

Vice President

Catholic Recruiter Associates

Brent@CatholicRecruiter.com

Note: Only those selected for an interview with the search

committee will be contacted.

Search managed by:

P.O. Box 967

Ridgefield, CT 06877

Phone: (203) 438-8475

info@catholicrecruiter.com

www.catholicrecruiter.com

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