Advancement Officer

 Advancement Officer

Department: Advacement
Reports to: Director of Advancement
Status: Full-time, exempt, 12-month position
Start date: January 5, 2027
Term: Two-year appointment with possibility of conversion to permanent Advancement Officer of Gift Officer
 

Position Summary

Campbell Hall seeks a versatile advancement professional to serve a two-year appointment as Advancement Officer during a pivotal period in the school’s history. As the school approaches the close of the CH NEXT capital campaign and prepares for a leadership transition as Head of School Julian Bull retires, this position will combine frontline fundraising with strategic event production to secure the school’s financial future and celebrate its legacy.

The Advancement Officer will manage a major gift portfolio focused on endowment growth and the “Julian 25 Years” retirement initiative, support the closing phase of the Holiday Center campaign, and produce a May 2028 tribute gala honoring the Head of School’s tenure. This hybrid of fundraising and event production reflects the reality of advancement work at independent schools: cultivating a donor over lunch and producing a 500-person gala in the same month is the job.

This is a term position with the possibility of conversion to a permanent role based on institutional need and performance. The Advancement Officer reports to the Director of Advancement and works collaboratively with all members of the Advancement team. 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

Fundraising & Portfolio Management  

• Manage a portfolio of 75 leadership-level donor prospects capable of gifts of $50,000 and above, with emphasis on endowment, planned giving, campaign, and Head of School tribute giving.
• Conduct 10–15 meaningful contacts per month (in-person visits, personalized outreach, cultivation events).
• Develop and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies using a moves management framework.
• Lead the “Julian 25 Years” initiative: identify, cultivate, and solicit donors who wish to honor the Head of School’s legacy through endowment gifts, named funds, tribute commitments, or gifts to the Holiday Center.
• Produce $500,000–$1,000,000+ in annual philanthropic revenue outside the Gala.
• Prepare and present compelling gift proposals for endowment, capital campaign, planned giving, and annual fund leadership gifts.
• Identify, qualify, and add new prospects to the pipeline through campus engagement, event attendance, and community involvement.
• Support the community phase of the CH NEXT capital campaign (launching January 2027), including prospect identification, cultivation events, and direct solicitation.
• Contribute to closing the remaining $8.2M of the Holiday Center campaign goal.
• Support planned giving program development and endowment outreach to alumni and long-tenured families.
• Maintain accurate, timely records of all donor interactions, proposals, and gift commitments in Raiser’s Edge/NXT.
• Participate in team prospect management meetings. 

Event Production & Tribute Gala

• Serve as staff lead for the May 2028 Head of School Tribute Gala, a landmark celebration bringing together 25 years of the Campbell Hall community.
• Develop and manage the tribute gala budget, timeline, and production plan in partnership with the Director of Advancement.
• Produce $800,000+ in gala revenue.
• Recruit, train, and support gala committee volunteers, including current parents and parents of alumni; serve as the primary staff liaison to event co-chairs approved by the Director of Advancement.
• Oversee all vendor relationships, including venue, catering, entertainment, and production.
• Coordinate tribute content: video production, written tributes, alumni and community testimonials, and legacy storytelling.
• Collaborate with the Communications team on event marketing, invitations, and promotional materials.
• Manage sponsorship solicitation and underwriting, coordinating with other gift officers where prospects overlap.
• Prepare post-event financial reporting and analysis.
• Provide event production support for other Advancement initiatives as needed and assigned by the Director of Advancement. 

Team & Department Support 

• Support the Advancement Department's overall goals and objectives.
• Collaborate across both pillars of the department — Campaign & Major Gifts and Community Giving & Engagement — as projects require.
• Contribute to campaign communications strategy, case-for-support materials, and donor presentations.
• Track and report on campaign, endowment, and event progress to department leadership and the Board Advancement Committee as requested.
• Participate in Advancement team meetings, retreats, and professional development.
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement. 

Performance Goals
Metric                                              Annual Target                      Measurement

Active Portfolio                                  75 prospects                           RE/NXT portfolio report
Meaningful Contacts                          10-15 per month                     Contact report log
Proposals Presented                          20-30 annually                        Proposal tracking
Portfolio Revenue                              $500,000 - $1,000,000+          Gift report
Endowment Commitments                 Per campaign goal (TBD)          Pledge tracking
Julian 25 Years Participation               Per initiative goal (TBD)           Tribute gift report
Tribute Gala Net Revenue (Yr2)          $800,000+                              Event financial report
Donor Retention (Portfolio)                 85%+                                    Retention report

Term of Appointment & Conversion 

This is a two-year appointment beginning on or about January 5, 2027 and concluding on or about January 2029. The appointment is tied to two institutional milestones: the close of the CH NEXT capital campaign and the retirement of the Head of School.

At the conclusion of the two-year term, the position may be converted to a permanent Advancement Officer role based on:

• Institutional fundraising needs and strategic priorities
• Individual performance against stated goals
• Mutual interest of the officer and the school
• Available budget and departmental structure

The conversion decision will be communicated no later than six months before the end of the appointment term. 

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications
Required 

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5–7 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including direct solicitation of gifts of $25,000+
• Demonstrated track record of managing a donor portfolio and meeting or exceeding revenue goals
• Experience with event production or project management
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build authentic relationships across diverse constituencies
• Experience with fundraising CRM systems (Raiser’s Edge / NXT preferred)
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and balance competing priorities
• Ability to handle confidential materials and information with tact and discretion
• Appreciation for and understanding of Campbell Hall’s mission and values, and the ability to communicate them to external constituencies 

Preferred 

• Experience in independent school or higher education advancement
• Capital campaign experience
• Experience with endowment fundraising and planned giving
• Large-scale gala or benefit event production experience
• Foundation relations and grant writing experience
• Familiarity with wealth screening tools (iWave, Prospect Insights)
• Experience with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
• Budget management experience
• Experience managing volunteer committees
• Willing and able to work some evenings and weekends 

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY
Campbell Hall believes in and operates on the premise that it is the right of all persons to seek work and to advance on the basis of their individual merits, ability, and potential. Campbell Hall has been, is, and will continue to be, strongly committed to the principle that equal employment opportunity must be afforded to all persons regardless of race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, gender, pregnancy, sexual orientation, family care status, veteran status, marital status, age, medical condition, and disability.