Associate Director of Individual Giving

The Associate Director of Individual Giving reports to the Director of Philanthropy and plays a key role in advancing The River School and Potomac River Clinic’s fundraising efforts. This Associate Director is responsible for qualifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding individual donors, managing a pipeline of prospects, and working strategically to increase philanthropic support through the annual fund, capital campaign, and planned giving. The successful candidate will build relationships with donors and volunteers, develop and implement strategies to engage donors, and achieve fundraising goals using various channels.

About Philanthropy at River

River has a bold mission and an engaged community. Serving 200+ children from 18 months of age through Grade 5, The River School was founded 25 years ago as the first independent school in the United States to educate children with hearing loss alongside their typically hearing peers. Currently located in the Palisades neighborhood of Washington, DC, River is internationally recognized for developing research-based best practices in language and literacy and for its innovative approach to inclusive education.

River has begun the quiet phase of a campaign to purchase a new campus in the Tenleytown neighborhood. The campus will also be home to River’s partner non-profit, Potomac River Clinic, a hearing and speech clinic serving individuals with hearing loss. This position will support individual giving efforts for both organizations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The Associate Director of Individual Giving will:

• Develop and implement strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors for annual fund donations, campaign gifts, and planned giving commitments. Use wealth screening tools and conduct prospect research to inform a major gift pipeline.
• Create and execute annual fundraising campaigns to solicit donations from individual donors at all levels.
• Collaborate across teams to create materials and messaging for individual giving campaigns and stewardship, including the annual impact report.
• Ensure accurate tracking and reporting of donations. Track interactions in the donor database and provide reports as requested.
• Prepare and send tax receipts and donor acknowledgments in a timely and accurate manner.
• Help to support the school’s strategic vision by cultivating a culture of giving and gratitude across all constituencies and socio-economic strata.
• Plan, organize, and staff special events related to individual giving. Assist the Development Office team with other special projects and events.
• Identify and train volunteers to assist the Development office’s work.
• Support the mission of the school and its leadership, and
• Other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, or a related field.
• Proven track record of successfully soliciting and securing gifts from individual donors.
• Experience with independent schools, healthcare, or higher education is a plus.

Skills and Competencies:

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work with all the school’s constituents while maintaining strict confidentiality.
• Passionate about working with a wide range of individuals from diverse backgrounds. Experience working with and motivating volunteers.
• Knowledge of best practices and a strong ethical standard in fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze data and donor trends.
• Self-motivated and proactive, with the ability to work independently while effectively collaborating within a team.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple projects.
• Proficiency with donor databases and communication tools.
• Flexible and willing to work evening and weekend events as required.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

The River School is an equal-opportunity employer and we encourage all interested candidates to apply, even if you don’t meet every qualification listed. If you’re passionate about our mission and believe you can make a meaningful impact in this role, we’d love to hear from you! All candidates will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.