Development Officer in Cheshire, Connecticut at Cheshire Academy

Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Development Officer strengthens all areas of the Advancement Office by deepening alumni engagement with Cheshire Academy. This role requires regular travel (approximately 25-30%) for qualification and donor meetings, alumni events, and engagement programs. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development, the Officer increases philanthropic support and alumni engagement by cultivating relationships and building a pipeline of future donors.

The Development Officer serves as an ambassador for Cheshire Academy's mission to develop character, critical thinking, and confidence in students who become purposeful global citizens. This role is ideal for a collaborative professional passionate about education and community building.

Primary Responsibilities

Annual Giving & Donor Relations (70%)

• Develop and execute annual giving strategies to retain and grow donors
• Manage relationships with approximately 100 donors and prospects
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward annual and leadership gifts to increase retention and upgrade giving levels
• Articulate the Academy's mission to inspire philanthropic investment and engagement
• Maintain contact reports and use metrics-driven portfolio management

Alumni & Constituent Engagement (20%)

• Collaborate on programs including Reunion, Homecoming, Family Weekend, and "Cheshire Academy: On the Road"
• Create opportunities for alumni involvement through events, communications, and volunteerism
• Leverage digital platforms and social media to expand constituent reach

Strategic Pipeline Development (10%)

• Identify and qualify prospective major gift donors
• Track donor engagement metrics and progress toward fundraising goals
• Utilize CRM systems and data analytics to inform strategies

Education and Experience

• Bachelor's degree required with preference in communications, nonprofit management, or a related field
• 0-2 years of experience in fundraising, development, alumni relations, sales, or comparable role; internship or volunteer experience welcome
• An interest or experience in independent school education and a general understanding and eagerness to learn the student-to-alumni lifecycle.
• Event planning and virtual platform experience

Skills and Abilities

• Proven ability to manage donor relationships and achieve goals
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Excellent written communication skills
• Self-motivated with strong organizational skills
• Demonstrated ability to build relationships and work toward measurable goals.
• Highly organized and self-directed, with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• A creative mindset with demonstrated project management skills
• Familiarity with donor management systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge, Salesforce, Almabase) preferred