POSITION SPECIFICATION
Chief Advancement Officer [1]
Beaver Dam,
The Situation
Wayland is a coeducational boarding school with about
200 students. Endowment is about $10 million. The Academy just celebrated its
sesquicentennial, 1855-2005. The sesquicentennial included a $20 million capital campaign,
and a concerted effort to involve more alumni in the affairs of Wayland. The capital
campaign has about $10 million in hand now, and additional significant estate gifts. A new
full time chief advancement officer is part of the Academy’s plans to move forward in
fulfilling its mission as the premier boarding school in the Midwest.
For additional information about
Attractions
The Board
and the President (Headmaster) have recruited and developed a young and outstanding
faculty and staff. This team has a long term
vision for Wayland. The Academy’s top
leadership wants to differentiate Wayland’s excellence among other similar schools. Faculty retention is high.
The Board is
the strongest it has ever been. Attendance at
meetings is extremely good.
Enrollment
numbers and campus visits by prospective students are high, due to the efforts of a
relatively new and aggressive director of admissions.
There are
four National Merit Scholars this year. This
is the most among 23 other boarding schools similar to Wayland.[2]
There is
tuition remission at Wayland and
Beaver
Dam is a small, quiet and secure community, with the Academy completely integrated into
the activities of the town, population about 15,000. Beaver
Dam public schools are very good, especially for early education years. The town is close to
Critical Issues
New
chief advancement officer will come into the middle of a $20 million capital campaign.
However there is still an opportunity of the chief advancement officer to put
her/his “finger prints” on the campaign.
New chief advancement officer will come into the middle of a $20 million capital campaign.
Alumni
giving participation is about 25%. The goal is
50-60%.
The Position
Reports To: President, in parallel with Academic Dean, Dean of Students, Dean of Admission and College
Counseling, Athletic Director, Chief Financial Officer, Manager of Donor and Parent
Relations, Manager of Publications, and Assistant to the President.
The
President’s Council members are Academic Dean, Dean of Students, Dean of Admissions
and College Counseling, Chief Advancement Officer, Athletic Director, and Chief Financial
Officer, respectively.
Basic Responsibilities:
The chief advancement officer has
leadership, administrative, and budgetary responsibilities for developing and implementing
a comprehensive advancement program which supports the mission of the Academy. The chief
advancement officer, in concert with the president and the Board of Trustees, is expected
to engage in strategic discussions and develop programs to strengthen the financial
resources of the Academy. The chief
advancement officer is a member of the President’s Council. Reporting to the chief
advancement officer are the alumni director, advancement secretary, and prospect research
associate. This group may expand depending on person recruited.
Specific Duties:
In a broad
portfolio of duties, several are of paramount importance including the following:
1. Works
closely with president and with the Board of Trustees to select and prioritize fundraising
projects and goals.
2. Oversees
the development and implementation of all fundraising activities including the annual
fund, mini-campaigns, bridge campaigns, reunion giving, student campaigns, the auction,
estate gifts, grant writing, corporate/foundation relations and capital campaigns. Responsible for effectively utilizing all methods
of solicitations including direct mail, phone-a-thons, and personal appeals.
4. Oversees,
with alumni director, Alumni Reunion Weekend, off-campus alumni receptions and
friend-raising activities, Class Agent Programs, and Ambassadors Program.
5. Responsible
for board development with the Alumni Board and Board of Trustees. Additionally, the chief
advancement officer is the staff resource to the Advancement Committee of the Board of
Trustees.
6. Must
remain current on issues in fundraising and education, especially as related to
institutional advancement. Required to be knowledgeable about Wayland history and the
Wayland of today. As work schedule permits, the chief advancement officer is to be an
integral part of the community, involved in and supportive of
7. Responsible
for managing donor records and alumni records.
8. Perform
other duties as assigned by the president.
The Ideal Person Should Be:
An expert
at reconnecting with Wayland’s alumni in innovative and creative ways. Be able to communicate the Academy’s positive
image to alumni and other constituencies.
Able to
connect with others, both within and outside of the Academy.
Out selling
the School. Be social, meet and greet. Be able to have a good dialogue with a variety of
people and organizations.
Able to
understand the role faculty plays in advancement, especially since all faculty talk to
parents. The faculty maintain strong relations
with former students.
Comfortable
with the “business model” used by the Board and president.
Able to
appreciate the Academy’s heritage and history over the past 150 years.
Attracted to challenges.
The Ideal Person Should Have:
Experience
or ideas about how to cultivate and keep younger alumni involved.
A high
energy personality and professional manner.
An interest
in, and able to participate in campus activities so will be able to tell an up-to-date
story to prospects.
An ability
to keep alumni energized.
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________
[2]
Full list available from Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd. by request.
Nominators and those interested in exploring this situation should:
Communicate with Bob Sellery or Katie
Wilson, Robert Sellery Associates, Ltd.
Telephone: 202.331.0090
FAX: 202.333.1167
Email: wilson@sellery.com or sellery@sellery.com
All inquiries will be kept in strict confidence.
R
OBERT SELLERY ASSOCIATES, LTD.
