Smith College

Campus School Director of Development & Alumni Relations

Smith College • $80K — $108K *
Education, Government & Non-Profit
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree with 8+ years in leadership roles
  • Strong skills in interpersonal, organizational, and communication
  • Experience in fundraising and alumni relations in education
  • Ability to manage confidential information with discretion
  • Technical literacy and proficiency with development software

Responsibilities

  • Plan and oversee advancement strategy for fundraising efforts
  • Develop and maintain relationships with donors and alumni
  • Process gifts and maintain accurate giving records
  • Write grant proposals in collaboration with college partners
  • Execute strategic outreach to engage alumni for upcoming Centennial
  • Liaise with the Family School Partnership for event planning
  • Participate in administration and committee meetings

Benefits

  • Comprehensive benefits package offered
  • Opportunities for professional development
  • Engagement with a diverse community
  • Access to college resources and networks
Full Job Description
If you have any questions about the position or our application process, reach out to us at [redacted].

Department
Campus School

Job Description

Job Summary

The Director of Development and Alumni Relations reports to the Head of School and works closely with the college's development office to plan and oversee all Campus School fundraising operations, including the annual fund, Family School Partnership fundraising, planned giving, and alumni relations.

This position is responsible for the entirety of the advancement operations of Campus School. This position involves continuing to build an annual fund program to attract and maintain gifts to the Campus School from current and past families, alumni, staff members, and friends of the school.

Take appropriate actions to support a diverse workforce and participate in the College's efforts to create a respectful, inclusive, and welcoming work environment.

Essential Functions

Development (45%)

Responsible for planning short- and long-term advancement strategy as well as designing appeals, communicating effectively with our wide range of constituents, and creating opportunities for giving and actively soliciting gifts from individuals and/or foundations to the annual fund, to support capital projects, to help fund special appeals, and through planned giving are key components of this role.

Oversee processing of all gifts, including receipts, and maintaining all giving records. Thanking and stewarding donors with personalized follow up notes, email messages, and in the case of higher potential donors, visits is critical to the success of this position.

An additional responsibility will be to occasionally write grant proposals, often in collaboration with the college, to generate funds for special projects and events.

Alumni Relations (45%)

As we celebrate our Centennial in 2026-27, continue to develop and execute a strategic approach to Alumni Relations, continuing to build our alumni database with contact information and then communicating to this important constituency and reconnecting them with the school. Research, identify, and solicit key donor prospects in coordination with the Head of School and the Smith College Alumni Relations and Development Office. Increasing and empowering the Centennial Committee to shape and execute the celebration of our 100th anniversary and raise more money, awareness and maintain connections in support of the school.

Work closely with the Family School Partnership, serving as their primary liaison with the school. In addition to setting agendas and meeting monthly with the leadership of the Family School Partnership to strategize and plan, help implement traditional school community events such as the Welcome Reception, the Fall Fair, Movie/Game Night, the Spring Soirée, Field Day, and the End-of-School Picnic

Other administrative work (10%)

Act as a key participant on the Campus School administrative team including attending administration meetings and staff meetings; serving on committees; participating in school events and programs.

Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School

MINIMUM REQUIRED Qualifications (education, experience, certifications, licenses, knowledge, skills)

Bachelor's Degree and 8+ years of experience with a demonstrated track record of outstanding leadership, interpersonal, organizational, analytical, and oral/written communication skills; ability to self-direct work and collaborate with colleagues while effectively planning and executing a challenging array of program initiatives; ability to manage confidential information with appropriate discretion and tact; and strong computer skills and technical literacy.

Preferred Qualifications

Graduate Degree and 12+ years of experience with fundraising and alumni relations in independent school setting.

Demonstrated success in fundraising and alumni cultivation in an independent school or college. Knowledge of trends in fundraising and familiarity with development software and databases.

Compensation
In addition to a competitive benefits package, annualized pay for this role is typically between $80,410.25 - $108,790.34 covering the middle half of market compensation. Actual compensation will vary based on individual qualifications and work schedule if less than full-time.

Position Type
Fixed Term

Please attach BOTH a current resume and a cover letter in order for your application to be considered for this position . Be sure you have provided all attachments before submitting your application.

You will NOT be able to attach additional files after you have hit the Submit button.

Review of applications will begin
October 12, 2026

About Smith College

Smith College is a private liberal arts women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1871 by Sophia Smith and is one of the Seven Sisters colleges. Smith is the largest member of the Seven Sisters. It also has the largest endowment of any women's college in the world.
Learn more about Smith College
Size
1,200 employees
Industry

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