Director of Advancement Services

Anticipated hiring: August 1, 2025

Westminster School, one of the leading small independent boarding schools in the country, is a diverse, co-educational high school, a close-knit community of approximately 190 employees and 430 students (75 percent boarding, 25 percent day students) set on a 200-acre campus in Simsbury, Connecticut. Since its founding in 1888, Westminster School has been committed to the core values of community, character, balance, and involvement. Our motto – virtute et numine – by grit and grace – defines and distinguishes the Westminster experience, our community, and our alumni.

The Director of Advancement Services is a key leader responsible for maintaining the integrity of donor and constituent data, overseeing gift processing, and delivering robust reporting and analytics to support the school’s fundraising and engagement efforts. This position ensures the Advancement team has the tools, insights, and data needed to drive strategic initiatives and strengthen donor relationships. This is a 12-month, full-time position requiring flexibility to work occasional evenings or weekends.

Responsibilities:

Database Management and Data Integrity

• Oversee and maintain the school’s donor database (Raiser’s Edge/NXT), ensuring its effective use across the Advancement team and integration with tools such as GiveCampus, Double the Donation, and LetterBox.
• Implement and enforce policies for accurate data entry, coding, and storage to ensure data integrity and security.
• Conduct routine data audits, perform hygiene checks, and develop strategies for maintaining consistent and accurate donor and constituent records.
• Manage all data imports, exports, and integrations, ensuring seamless communication between the database and platforms like GiveCampus for online giving and campaign management, and Enrollment Management for importing new students and families.
• Troubleshoot database issues and serve as the primary contact for vendor support on tools like Raiser’s Edge and GiveCampus​​.

Gift Processing and Stewardship

• Supervise the accurate and timely recording, processing, and acknowledgment of all gifts and pledges, ensuring compliance with IRS regulations, CASE guidelines, and Westminster School’s policies.
• Collaborate with the Business Office to reconcile gift records, assist with audits, and ensure transparency in financial reporting.
• Implement processes to enhance gift recording efficiency and donor acknowledgment timeliness.

Reporting and Analytics

• Create detailed reports on donor engagement, campaign progress, and key fundraising metrics, tailored for various stakeholders, including the Advancement team, school leadership, and Board of Trustees.
• Leverage data from GiveCampus to analyze campaign performance, donor trends, and online engagement metrics.
• Build custom dashboards and data visualizations to illustrate donor behaviors and inform strategies for targeted outreach.
• Utilize predictive analytics and data segmentation to identify opportunities for donor retention, upgrading, and acquisition.
• Manage external reporting needs, including accreditation documentation and industry benchmarking (e.g., INDEX, DASL)​.

Collaboration and Team Support

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Advancement Office and other departments, ensuring alignment and consistency of data across systems.
• Partner with colleagues to develop solicitation lists, prospect profiles, and reports to support fundraising and alumni engagement campaigns.
• Integrate data from GiveCampus to improve online giving campaigns and donor participation​.

Process Documentation and Training

• Develop and maintain comprehensive documentation of all database and reporting procedures.
• Train Advancement staff on using Raiser’s Edge, GiveCampus, and related tools to optimize efficiency and accuracy in data management.

Compliance and Confidentiality

• Safeguard donor and constituent data by maintaining strict privacy standards and ensuring adherence to legal and ethical guidelines.
• Stay informed on trends and updates in data security and advancement operations.

Campaign Readiness and Technology Oversight

• Serve as the primary point of contact for technology needs within the Advancement Office, overseeing software upgrades and database enhancements.
• Ensure readiness for future comprehensive campaigns, including data analysis and appropriate prospect research capabilities.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field required; advanced degree preferred.
• A minimum of 5–7 years of experience in advancement services, database management, or donor analytics, preferably in an educational or nonprofit setting.
• Prior campaign experience preferred.
• Advanced proficiency in donor database systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, NXT) and online giving platforms like GiveCampus.
• Expertise in data analysis tools, including Excel and data visualization platforms (e.g., Tableau or Google Data Studio).
• Proven ability to create custom queries, reports, and exports to meet varied data needs.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain complex data to diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with a high attention to detail and a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• Commitment to Westminster School’s mission and values.
• Discretion and professionalism in handling confidential donor information.
• Collaborative mindset with a focus on continuous improvement and innovation.
• Must be positive and get along with visitors, vendors, students, and colleagues.

To Apply:

Salary is competitive and the employment package consists of excellent benefits, including outstanding health care coverage and retirement plan. To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to the Director of Human Resources, Pamela Daly, at pdaly@westminster-school.org.

Westminster School is an Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from candidates of color. Westminster School reaffirms its long-standing nondiscriminatory policy and employs individuals of any race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available at Westminster. Westminster does not discriminate in its hiring, educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship programs, or athletic and other school-administered programs.

Job Type: Full-time

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Work Location: In person