DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING

Hawken School is committed to doing school differently and better. We seek to create an inclusive and accepting community where adults are empowered to design educational experiences for students that are deep and learner-centered. Hawken School seeks culturally competent teachers, administrators, and staff members who are committed to equity and social justice, who are comfortable taking risks, and who embrace a growth mindset. We are constantly looking for new ways to inspire student curiosity and agency while remaining dedicated to nurturing compassion and kindness in our students.
THE POSITION
Hawken School seeks a strategic, results-driven Director of Annual Giving to lead and grow the school’s annual giving program. The Director will be responsible for the vision, strategy, and execution of all aspects of the Hawken Fund, with a focus on increasing dollars raised, donor participation, leadership gifts, and long-term donor engagement. The Hawken Fund currently raises nearly $2 million annually and plays a critical role in supporting the school’s mission and priorities. Additionally, as the school enters a campaign, annual giving may evolve to meet the needs of the institution.
This is a 12-month position that requires occasional evening and weekend work and limited travel. The Director serves as a key member of the Advancement team and collaborates closely with colleagues across Advancement, Marketing, and the Alumni Board.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategy & Leadership
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive, data-informed annual giving strategy designed to maximize participation, dollars raised, donor retention, and leadership-level giving
  • Serve as the primary strategist for the Hawken Fund, setting annual goals, timelines, and benchmarks and providing regular progress reports to the Advancement team
  • Champion a culture of philanthropy across Hawken’s internal and external communities by educating constituents on the impact of giving and embedding messages of engagement, stewardship, and generosity into all efforts
Donor Engagement & Growth
  • Design and execute a multi-channel solicitation program–including direct mail, email, digital, and personal outreach–that inspires alumni, families, faculty, staff, friends, and foundations to support the Hawken Fund
  • Identify, cultivate, and solicit leadership Hawken Fund donors and collaborate closely with Advancement colleagues to strengthen the donor pipeline and facilitate long-term philanthropic relationships
  • Oversee the James A. Hawken Society, including solicitation, stewardship, and recognition of leadership donors
Campaigns, Events and Volunteers
  • Strategize, direct, and oversee Hawken’s Day of Giving, the school’s premier annual giving event, as well as other targeted giving initiatives as appropriate
  • Ensure all appeals are informed by past performance data, donor behavior, and best practices in annual giving
  • Lead the recruitment, training, and ongoing engagement of Hawken Fund volunteers; motivate and communicate regularly with volunteers to ensure successful solicitations and positive donor experiences
Communications & Marketing
  • Write and oversee production of all Hawken Fund solicitation and stewardship letters, emails, and related communications, managing timelines and collaborating with third-party mail houses as needed
  • Collaborate closely with the Marketing department to develop compelling, mission-aligned solicitation, recognition, and promotional materials across print and digital platforms
Data, Reporting & Operations
  • Analyze Hawken Fund performance, donor trends, segmentation strategies, and campaign results to inform decision-making, forecasting, and future strategy
  • Utilize RE NXT and digital giving platforms to track results, manage data, and ensure accurate reporting and stewardship
  • Manage the Hawken Fund operating budget and oversee vendors, consultants, and external partners as needed
QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor’s degree preferred
  • Three to five years of progressively responsible experience in annual giving or fundraising with a demonstrated record of achieving or exceeding fundraising goals
  • Strong strategic, analytical, and project management skills, with the ability to translate data into actionable fundraising strategies
  • Exceptional writing, interpersonal, and organizational skills
  • Experience with Blackbaud’s Raiser’s Edge/NXT, GiveCampus, and Excel preferred
  • Ability to adapt to an evolving philanthropic landscape and eagerness to learn and implement new tools, technologies, and best practices
  • Collaborative, mission-driven professional with a commitment to fostering meaningful donor relationships and a culture of philanthropy
HAWKEN CANDIDATE COMPETENCIES
Mission, Culture, and Philosophy Alignment: Successful candidates show they can thrive at Hawken and are highly motivated by the school’s mission.
Fair Play: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice: Successful candidates indicate a commitment to and have experience with serving students and communities equitably.
Relationship Building and Cultivation: Successful candidates show they can build relationships throughout the Hawken community.
Content Knowledge: Successful candidates demonstrate depth in content area knowledge as well as an ability to inspire students to a high level of excellence and challenge and take a student-centered approach to all aspects of their work.
Humility and Growth Mindset: Successful candidates are eager to learn new approaches and methods and be able to team effectively with others.
Approach to Work: Successful candidates show initiative and agency with a commitment toward feedback and flexible problem-solving.
THE SCHOOL
Founded on the ideal that “the better self shall prevail and each generation introduce its successor to a higher plane of life,” Hawken School is a coeducational independent day school with 1,600 students in toddler through grade 12. Our four campuses are located within 25 minutes of downtown Cleveland, and an urban extension center in the city’s museum district provides a demanding and integrated course of study in a diverse and dynamic environment.
To learn more about us, visit www.hawken.edu.
 
HOW TO APPLY
Submit an employment application through this link. Address your cover letter to Kathleen Z. Guzzi.
 
Hawken School is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to promoting all forms of diversity in the workplace and in our student body. We strongly urge all qualified individuals to apply.
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An independent, coeducational, college preparatory day school, toddler through grade 12

Early Childhood, Lower, and Middle Schools, 5000 Clubside Rd, Lyndhurst, OH 44124
Birchwood School of Hawken, 4400 West 140th Street, Cleveland, OH 44135 
Upper School, PO Box 8002 (12465 County Line Rd), Gates Mills, OH 44040
Mastery School of Hawken, 11025 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106
Gries Center, 10823 Magnolia Dr, Cleveland, OH 44106

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