Director of Annual Giving

St. Paul Academy and Summit School seeks candidates for the position of Director of Annual Giving.

About St. Paul Academy and Summit School: 

St. Paul Academy and Summit School (SPA) is a coeducational, non-sectarian, college preparatory day school serving more than 920 students in kindergarten through grade 12. Our two campuses are located approximately a mile apart in St. Paul, Minnesota, serving Grades K-5 on our Goodrich Campus and Grades 6-12 on our Randolph Campus. The school draws students from St. Paul, Minneapolis, and throughout the eastern and western suburbs. 

Our mission—shaping the minds and the hearts of the people who will change the world—is a promise to our students and our families, and it pushes us to be thoughtful about everything we do. It inspires us to be our best and reminds us that we have the responsibility to respect the unique potential in every child. Our mission gives us purpose and represents our greatest aspirations and values. But most of all, it reflects our deep belief in the talents and capabilities of our students.

For additional information about the school’s curriculum, community, and culture, please visit our website at www.spa.edu.

Position Begins: October 2025

Status: Full-time, exempt

Department: Institutional Advancement

Salary Range: $65,000- $75,000

Benefits: 

Benefits include a comprehensive health insurance plan through HealthPartners, Nice healthcare (a free virtual and in person health plan), dental insurance, vision insurance, life and disability insurance, generous paid time off, and free lunch during the school year. The retirement plan is through TIAA and has a generous matching contribution. The School offers a robust program of professional development, career growth, and leadership opportunities. Tuition remission is also available for children of employees as well as complimentary before and after school care.   

Position Description:

The Director of Annual Giving will be responsible for creating, managing and implementing a successful annual giving program. The Director is responsible for direct marketing, digital and web based marketing, volunteer engagement and management, and annual giving donor recognition. In addition, they will manage a personal portfolio of alumni/ae prospects to maximize individual giving potential, and implement strategic approaches to build strong and meaningful connections that lead to increased levels of giving. 

Success is determined by campaign program execution, meeting budgeted dollar goals, for communicating appreciation to donors at all levels in a timely fashion, for developing and maintaining effective relationships with volunteers, and for qualifying a portfolio of alumni/ae prospects as part of a comprehensive advancement program. The position reports to the Director of Institutional Advancement.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

Annual Giving:

• Manage the annual giving program, budget, vendors and staff, including direct mail, electronic and web based fundraising for all gifts below the Leadership Giving Society ($2,500+). 
• Develop a strategic focus on increased alumni/ae and parent giving including opportunities around reunion giving, young alumni/ae giving, parent campaign and day of giving activities.
• Create dynamic messages and campaigns that connect with alumni/ae, parents and friends of the school to develop annual giving solicitations, marketing, and communications materials.  
• Develop fundraising achievement plans that include goals, priorities, outcomes, action steps, and timetables. 
• Manage a robust portfolio of volunteer committees in support of annual giving for the parent, alumni/ae and faculty/staff campaigns.
• Manage the annual giving donor stewardship and recognition program, including the Annual Report, the Behind the Scenes All Donor Event, and communications that demonstrate donor impact.
• Prepare and interpret reports that provide annual giving progress information and trends.
• Serve as a member of the individual giving team, carrying a targeted portfolio of alumni/ae prospects focusing on qualification, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure and stewardship. 
• Oversee the giving section of the SPA website in concert with other team members to keep content fresh and interesting

Alumni/ae and Constituent Engagement

• Provide strategic direction and overall management of the Athletics Hall of Fame Program and ceremony
• Develop and grow a fundraising initiative focused on athletic support for targeted projects as part of the Athletic Strategic Plan. This will involve working across departments and with a number of different school constituencies.
  
  

Minimum Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor’s Degree.
• Five to seven years of demonstrated successful fundraising, volunteer management, events management, marketing, or related experience.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, fundraising technology skills, and project development skills. Preferred: experience using CRM software, preferably Raiser’s Edge.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and Microsoft Office Suite, especially Excel and Word.
• Demonstrate significant, hands-on management skills. A successful track record in managing complex projects to completion involving volunteers or cross-functional teams is essential, as is the ability to work under pressure to meet deadlines with limited supervision
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Sound listening skills and attention to detail.
• Commitment to personal and professional growth.
• Ability to effectively plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate programs and initiatives.
• Display comfort in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment. 
• Enthusiastic and motivated team member.
• Candidates should possess effective cross-cultural communication skills and be able to operate effectively in diverse environments and interact successfully with people from widely varying backgrounds in a friendly and professional manner.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit a letter of interest, resume, and a list of references. To apply, please visit our website at www.spa.edu/careers. 

SPA is committed to recruiting and supporting a diverse faculty and staff, and maintaining a workplace culture in which all are treated equitably.