THE HILL SCHOOL
Middleburg, Virginia

DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT (CHIEF DEVELOPMENT OFFICER)
Position Specification
Temporarily Suspended
 

The Situation 

Founded in 1926, The Hill School is an independent K-8 day school of 240 students on a 137 acre campus overlooking Middleburg, Virginia. The School is seeking a director of development.  Over the past 15 years, the School completed a major campus expansion and renovation program while increasing the endowment from $1,000,000 to $10,500,000 (an additional $3,000,000 is pledged, payable in 2008). In recent years Hill’s annual giving program and auction proceeds have raised over $600,000 annually. 

After conducting a feasibility study in Spring 2008, the School will embark on a major endowment campaign to address its growing need for stronger student financial aid, greater faculty compensation (including housing), program enhancement, and perpetual support for buildings and grounds. 

The successful candidate will be a well organized, self motivated team leader who understands, appreciates and thrives in The Hill School and Middleburg communities.

Attractions 

The School: 

This position is an opportunity to join an extraordinary school with an experienced administrative team, an outstanding faculty and staff, and a visionary Board of Trustees.  

The Hill School is in the top 10% of K-8 day schools, based on campus, endowment, and annual giving. 

Non-salary benefits include housing, health & disability insurance, retirement, professional development funds, tuition remission for first child. 

The retention rate among teachers and administrators is very high.  

The School has excellent events to interest and attract parents and alumni including the annual auction, which is an important part of the development program both financially and to identify and cultivate supporters of the school.

A development assessment and a strategic plan are underway, with the help of a development consultant, who will help guide development efforts in the future.

The Community: 

Middleburg is a very attractive place to live and work and is about an hour’s drive from Washington, D.C.

Important Issues 

Tom Northrup, the current headmaster, has been head for 26 years and has a contract through 2012.   

The School would like to broaden support beyond the “pillars” of the community, who have supported it for a long time.  

The Position 

Reports To:                              Headmaster 

Major Responsibilities:              Major gift fundraising and building endowment.  Manage the development department.  

Principal Duties: 

In a broad portfolio of duties several are of paramount importance, including the following: 

• Develop in partnership with the Headmaster and the Board Development Committee the School’s overall plan, strategy, and implementation steps for success in annual giving, major gifts, planned gifts, and endowment fundraising in a comprehensive Capital Campaign.
• Organize and lead the Development Office, which includes a staff of five.
• Oversee development-related events involving the School and the community
• Supervise external communications including mailings, publications, press releases, and the School’s website.
• Plan and manage donor cultivation and stewardship activities.
• Oversee grant-writing and foundation proposals as well as prospect research.
• Attend Board of Trustees meetings and advise three committees:  Development, Finance & Endowment, and Nominating.

Qualifications 

The Ideal Person Should Have:  

• Proven effectiveness as a leader, manager, and collegial team member.
   
• Significant development experience over the past five years.  Desired.  Not mandatory.
   
• Demonstrated success in and knowledge of fund raising.  Desired.  Not mandatory.
   
• Exemplary communication, writing, and interpersonal skills.
   
• Integrity, sense of humor, self-confidence, patience.
   
• Bachelor’s degree.  Required.
   
• Working knowledge of Raiser’s Edge desired.
   
• Experience with educational organizations preferred.

The Ideal Person Should Be: 

·        ·        Able to embrace the philosophy of the Hill School (see attached.)  and effectively communicate the philosophy to prospective donors and differentiate it among other schools and other not-for-profit organizations.  

·        A leader; someone who can motivate and manage the Development Office. Four of the five Development Office staff are part-time. 

·        Interested and willing to make social connections in the Hill and Middleburg community.   

·        Able to work closely with the headmaster who is knowledgeable about and closely involved with the Development program. 

·        Familiar with the dynamics of a K-8 day school.  Desired.  Not required.

Nominators and those interested in exploring this situation should please communicate with:

Bob Sellery or Katie Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
1050 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., 10th Floor
Washington, D.C. 20036.
Email: wilson@sellery.com, sellery@sellery.com
Telephone: 202.331.0090
FAX: 202.772.3101

All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.

ROBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W. , 10TH FLOOR     WASHINGTON, D.C. 20036     202.331.0090
sellery@sellery.com