Associate Director of Annual Giving

Position Summary

The Associate Director of Annual Giving plays a pivotal role in the Lycée Français de New York’s Development team, focusing on growing and stewarding the school’s philanthropic culture. Reporting to the Director of Development and working closely with the Associate Director, Alumni Communities and Historical Stewardship, this role is responsible for leading all aspects of the Annual Giving program, ensuring broad community engagement and strong financial support for the Lycée’s mission.

This individual is a strategic thinker, creative fundraiser, and excellent relationship builder who understands donor engagement, annual fundraising campaigns, and stewardship best practices. They must have a deep understanding of and sensitivity to different cultural approaches to philanthropy in an international and diverse community and be able to educate and engage all members of the community to foster a shared culture of giving. This includes developing strategies to communicate the impact of philanthropy effectively across different audiences and ensuring that fundraising efforts reflect the values and priorities of the Lycée’s community. They must have a deep understanding of different cultural approaches to philanthropy in an international and diverse community and be able to educate and engage all members of the community to foster a shared culture of giving. Additionally, they should excel at building strong, collaborative relationships across diverse backgrounds, ensuring inclusivity and meaningful engagement in fundraising initiatives. Additionally, they are encouraged to work toward proficiency in French to foster stronger connections within the bilingual school community.

As a key member of the Development team, the Associate Director of Annual Giving is expected to collaborate across departments, integrate fundraising strategies with community-building efforts, and contribute to the overall success of the Lycée’s advancement goals.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities (Title and description)

Duties and Responsibilities for this position include, but are not limited to:

Annual Giving Strategy & Management (70%)

• In alignment with the school's overall Development strategy, develops, executes, and evaluates a comprehensive Annual Giving strategy that engages parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and friends of the Lycée.
• Manages multiple annual fundraising campaigns, including:
  • Annual Fund Campaign (major yearly appeal)
  • Giving Day (a focused campaign to drive donor participation)
  • Participation Campaign (designed to increase overall giving rates)
  • Senior Class Gift Initiative (a tradition to engage graduating families in philanthropy)
  • Fundraising for Specific Programs (targeted initiatives supporting key school programs and priorities, including STEM, Cultural Center, Athletics,...)
• Partners with the Director of Development to establish fundraising goals, track progress, and ensure that the Annual Fund meets financial targets.
• Crafts and communicates the case for support, developing compelling messages that highlight the impact of philanthropy at the Lycée.
• Works closely with the Marketing and Communications team to produce fundraising materials, donor impact reports, and campaign messaging (email, video, social media, and print).
• Manages a portfolio of leadership donors to cultivate, solicit, and steward gifts that grow annual giving participation and retention.
• Oversees the Annual Fund Volunteer Program, recruiting and training parent and alumni ambassadors to help advocate for giving.
• Collaborates with trustees and members of the Development Committee to support and enhance fundraising efforts.
• Partners with the Parent Association (APL) to plan specific campaigns and grow fundraising opportunities through collaborative initiatives.

Stewardship, Community Engagement & Philanthropy Education (20%)

• Collaborates with the Director of Development, Head of School, and volunteer leadership to create donor stewardship experiences that deepen engagement.
• Partners with the Gala team to ensure a donor-centric and holistic approach to major donor stewardship.
• Plans and executes Annual Fund donor events, such as:
  • Patron Dinners for major supporters
  • Giving Circles and recognition events
  • Parent and alumni gatherings that celebrate philanthropy
• Partners with the Associate Director, Alumni Communities and Historical Stewardship to engage alumni in giving initiatives and class campaigns.
• Writes and coordinates thank-you letters, impact reports, and stewardship communications to keep donors informed about how their gifts make a difference.
• Manages stewardship gifts and recognition for key donors and volunteers.
• Develops and implements philanthropy and 'giving back' education initiatives for parents, employees, students, and alumni through workshops, mentorship programs, and integrated curriculum elements, fostering a strong culture of generosity and community support.
• Collaborates with internal stakeholders to identify programs and initiatives that would benefit from fundraising efforts, ensuring alignment with the school's mission and strategic goals.

Prospect Research & Database Management (10%)

• Reviews prospect research to identify new potential donors, particularly among current parents and young alumni.
• Partners with the Raiser’s Edge Database Manager to develop data governance policies related to annual giving, ensuring data accuracy, security, and compliance with best practices. Ensures donor records are accurately maintained, updated, and segmented for outreach.
• Supports fundraising analytics and benchmarking to measure campaign success and refine future initiatives: tracks donor retention rates, gift renewals, and key fundraising metrics to inform strategy.

Other duties, as assigned.

Qualifications and Skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, or a related field.
• Proven ability to develop and execute fundraising campaigns with measurable success.
• Experience working with volunteers, trustees, and high-level donors is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with independent schools and/or bilingual/multicultural environments is a plus.

Skills & Abilities

• Strong project management skills with the ability to juggle multiple campaigns and deadlines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills to engage donors and volunteers effectively.
• Ability to build relationships with diverse constituents, including parents, alumni, faculty, and trustees.
• High level of discretion and professionalism in handling confidential donor information.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases (Raiser’s Edge preferred), Microsoft Office, and Google Suite.
• Comfort working in a collaborative, fast-paced team environment while also taking initiative independently.
• Bilingual (French/English) fluency is highly desirable.

Additional Requirements

• Availability to work occasional evenings and weekends for fundraising events and donor meetings.
• Enthusiasm for the Lycée Français de New York’s mission, values, and diverse community.

Compensation

The salary for this position ranges from $100,000 to $125,000 annually, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

To apply, please upload your cover letter, resume, and any other supporting documents using the following link: Submit Application.