DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT GREENWICH ACADEMY GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT

THE SEARCH

Greenwich Academy, an independent college-preparatory day school for girls and young women, seeks an exceptional and experienced director of advancement to provide strategic vision, leadership, and direction for all fundraising initiatives. This is a compelling opportunity for a sophisticated individual to lead an advancement and alumnae engagement program during an exciting time of growth as the Academy prepares to embark on an ambitious capital campaign. The successful candidate will work collaboratively and creatively with colleagues across the Academy to support the primary goal of ensuring a superb educational experience for each and every student. This is a rare opportunity to partner with a visionary leader and play a central role in leading the distinguished Academy to even greater prominence within the community and beyond.

Since 1827, Greenwich Academy has provided an ideal balance of a character-based education within the context of an extraordinary academic environment. A leader in girls’ education, Greenwich Academy sets a high bar in academics, athletics, arts, and service leadership – and Greenwich Academy girls consistently exceed expectations. Fueled by its motto, Toward the Building of Character, students understand that choosing to do the right thing is a vital prerequisite to achieving success. Greenwich Academy serves about 800 students in grades Pre-Connecting through Group XII and has an operating budget of $37 million and an endowment valued at approximately $106 million. In May 2015, Greenwich Academy began a strategic planning process to engage the community in considering future priorities for the Academy into the next decade. Greenwich Academy approached strategic planning following a period of significant progress and accomplishment, including the successful conclusion of The Campaign for the Future in June 2014, a community-wide $60 million endowment campaign, and many new educational initiatives launched in the last several years. With hopes of elevating its campaign success, Greenwich Academy is in the early planning stages of a comprehensive campaign anticipated to launch publicly in the fall of 2018.

Reporting to the head of school and serving as a key member of the senior administrative team, the director of advancement provides innovative leadership and strategic vision to all aspects of the Academy’s fundraising activities and constituent relations. S/he will establish priorities, objectives, and best practices for a comprehensive program across major, endowed, and planned giving; the annual fund; alumnae and parent engagement; and donor relations. The next director of advancement will build a culture of high achievement and accountability to ensure that the Academy’s nearly 5,000 alumnae, current parents, and friends are actively engaged. The ideal candidate must have a track record of success in creating highly efficient and effective advancement programs and experience leading an advancement program to new levels of growth. S/he will have a collegial, team-building style with a proven ability to motivate staff and keep them

inspired, energized, and focused on results. The candidate must have a strong and compelling appreciation for the Academy’s mission.

Greenwich Academy has retained the services of Mr. Jack Gorman of Isaacson, Miller, a national executive search firm, to assist with this recruitment. Please direct all applications, nominations and inquiries to Isaacson, Miller as indicated at the end of this document.

GREENWICH ACADEMY

Greenwich Academy is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls and young women that seeks to foster excellence. Its mission is to provide a challenging, comprehensive educational experience grounded in a rigorous liberal arts curriculum within an inclusive, diverse community. The Academy’s objective is to develop girls and young women of exceptional character and achievement who demonstrate independence, resilience, courage, integrity, and compassion. Greenwich Academy strives, above all, to honor its school motto:

Ad ingenium faciendum: “Toward the Building of Character”

History

Greenwich Academy was founded by members of the Congregational Church in 1827. Until the turn of the twentieth century, the school admitted both girls and boys. Then, in 1900, a Greenwich Academy English teacher founded the Brunswick School for Boys. In 1913, the Greenwich Academy Board of Trustees formally approved the decision to accept only girls in the Middle and Upper Schools, and Greenwich Academy was reconceived as a day school for girls.

The newly chartered school was led by strong female educators, including Ruth West Campbell, who shaped much of the mission and philosophy of the school. Succeeding heads – Katherine Zierleyn, Alexander A. Uhle, and Patsy G. Howard – oversaw impressive growth in the facilities and student body and expanded the academic and extracurricular offerings. In July 2004, Molly H. King, an educator firmly committed to modeling excellence and sustaining the school’s strong tradition of female leadership, was appointed as head.

Diversity

Diversity is not only a key point on the Greenwich Academy Mission Statement; it is one of the Guiding Principles the community is committed to creating and sustaining. For students, the benefits of learning in a richly diverse community in which every individual is respected and affirmed are immeasurable.

Greenwich Academy’s diversity efforts blend seamlessly and are experienced through the Academy from curriculum, to global programs, to hiring. The community is reflective of the world in which individuals live with broad representation of different cultural, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds. In this environment, students learn to become effective, active, and informed citizens.

Today, students of color represent 29 percent of the student body. People of color make up 18 percent of the faculty and 14 percent of the staff.

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Academics

Rigorous academics are at the heart of a Greenwich Academy education. Students in all grades and across disciplines are inspired to ask questions, to explore new ideas, and to work independently and together to learn, discover, and create. Rooted in a traditional curriculum that prizes academic skill development, the Academy offers pioneering programs and learning opportunities that are innovative, experiential, and interdisciplinary. The college-preparatory program is designed to prepare every Greenwich Academy student to be an informed, thoughtful participant in the global community and to empower her to take ownership of her educational life.

The key to the extraordinary success of the academic program at Greenwich Academy is a world- class faculty dedicated to working with all students to help them achieve, to inspire them to wonder, and to cultivate in them the skills and the character necessary to be the life-long learners who embrace and rise to challenges of mind, body, and spirit. Greenwich Academy teachers are experts in their fields and wholly dedicated to working with elementary and secondary-aged students.

The school year is divided into two semesters. The average class size is 14 students and Greenwich Academy classes are single-sex through Group VIII. A typical course load for students in Groups IX through XII consists of five courses per semester. In Upper School, classes are coeducational as part of the coordination program with the Brunswick School.

The Cowan Center

Founded in 1991, the Cowan Center is a preschool and childcare program with the primary mission of providing childcare and education for the children of Greenwich Academy faculty and staff. Faculty children from other area independent schools and children from the local community are admitted as space permits.

The Cowan Center is located on the campus of Greenwich Academy, which allows a wide variety of activities and experiences to be part of each child’s daily routine. Housed in an antique carriage house, the Cowan Center is a modern facility that retains the feeling of home. In addition to the Greenwich Academy campus facilities, the center is surrounded by three playgrounds, which offer children abundant opportunity for outdoor play and exploration.

College Counseling

As a college-preparatory school, Greenwich Academy is committed to preparing young women to thrive in any college setting. The College Counseling Office aims to match each student’s abilities, strengths, personal preferences, and career aspirations to the best possible college of university.

At its core, the Greenwich Academy college counseling process is dedicated to a highly personalized experience. Officially starting in the winter of junior year, the college counselors begin meeting individually with each girl and her parents to discuss her college planning process. In addition to the many one-on-one meetings during the junior and senior years, counselors also conduct workshops for students and parents on various aspects of the college admissions process.

Career Resource Center

The Greenwich Academy Career Resource Center, established in 2011, works in conjunction with the Alumnae and Advancement Office and the Duff Center for STEM Initiatives and Global

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Programs Initiatives to connect juniors, seniors, and alumnae with a vast network of community members for career networking, information, guidance, and placements with the goal of facilitating opportunities for exploration of areas of interest. The Career Resource Center provides outreach to students and alumnae, enlists support of professionals in the Greenwich Academy community, and helps initiate and facilitate networking opportunities. The Center offers workshops, one-on-one meetings, and panel discussions on topics ranging from cover letter and resume writing skills to career choices.

LEADERSHIP AND GOVERNANCE

Molly H. King, Head of School

Molly King received a bachelor’s degree in American History from Bowdoin College and a master’s of education in administration, planning, and social policy from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. She started her professional career at the Taft School and the following year, she taught history and coached at Greenwich Country Day School and later became its director of secondary school placement. After her family moved to Brussels in 1983, Molly taught English and history at the International School of Brussels and subsequently worked as an independent educational consultant.

In 1992, Molly joined the faculty of the Fay School as director of secondary school placement. The following year, she assumed responsibilities as director of the International Program and director of the Summer School, and also taught English as a second language. From 1997, Molly served as director of admission at St. Mark’s School in Southborough, Massachusetts, where she oversaw recruitment, enrollment and financial aid, and was a member of the academic leadership team. Molly came to Greenwich Academy as Head of School in July 2004.

Molly is a member of the board of trustees of the Center for the Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Lives. From 1993 to 2001, she served on the board of The Rivers School and was a member of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools board from 2006 to 2009. She is also a member of the Fairchester Heads group and served as its president in 2008. Molly has chaired several reaccreditation committees on behalf of the New England Association of Independent Schools including Milton Academy, Rivers School, and the Lincoln School.

FUNDRAISING HIGHLIGHTS

Greenwich Academy’s longstanding tradition of excellence is fueled by the ongoing generosity of its parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, grandparents, faculty, and friends. This support profoundly impacts the daily student experience, making outstanding opportunities possible in the classroom and beyond.

Endowed and Major Gifts

Greenwich Academy has an endowment of nearly $106 million. The school’s net endowment has risen from $20.7 million in recent years to $78.3 million. In order for the Academy to stay true to its mission, to be at the forefront of the newest advances in education, to attract and retain the very best faculty, to have an inclusive and diverse community, to develop and maintain an innovative learning environment through its facilities, to remain competitive among comparable schools, and to provide security for its future, it is imperative that the growth of the Academy’s endowment continue to be a priority. Endowed Funds augment the school’s general endowment and strengthen the school’s overall financial condition. The income from these funds is used for specific

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purposes to support academic programs, scholarships, diversity initiatives, faculty development, and technology.

Greenwich Academy successfully completed a community-wide $60 million endowment campaign in June 2014. Addressing the priorities outlined in the school’s strategic plan, The Campaign for the Future helped bolster the endowment while advancing 21st century programming that promotes community, character, leadership, achievement, and global perspectives.

Annual Fund

Comprehensive and critical, the Annual Fund interlaces throughout the Academy and is an important thread in every programmatic offering. Greenwich Academy is very fortunate to have a dedicated community of parents, alumnae, parents of alumnae, and grandparents and friends, who together help meet the Annual Fund goal each year. In 2015-2016, the Annual Fund surpassed its goal of $3.1 million, with exceptional participation.

Tuition alone only covers 75 percent of the actual cost of a Greenwich Academy education; the remaining 25 percent is made up of endowment allocations, income from other revenue, and the Annual Fund. Each year, the Annual Fund contributes approximately 9 percent of the operating budget or $4,000 per student, completing the Greenwich Academy experience for all Academy girls.

Essential support from parents ensures Greenwich Academy’s commitment to educating young women while encouraging their development into thoughtful citizens and future leaders. With the leadership of parent volunteers, Academy parents pride themselves on achieving 99 percent participation every year and giving a total of $2.9 million, a true testament of parents’ appreciation for the Academy and the school’s fulfilling educational experience for every Greenwich Academy girl.

Greenwich Academy alumnae of all ages support the school for many reasons, but most commonly because of their abiding loyalty, sense of tradition, and knowing that giving back is giving forward. With an energetic corps of volunteers, Academy alumnae reach record levels of participation each year. In 2016-2017, 37 percent of Greenwich Academy alumnae supported the Annual Fund (45 percent higher than the national average for independent schools).

Senior Fund

Originating with the Class of 1990, the Senior Fund has become an Academy tradition. Parents of seniors contribute an increased gift to this fund, which is established in each class’s name in its senior year. The Senior Fund takes the place of the Annual Fund for parents of seniors and counts toward class participation numbers in all classes in which senior families have daughters. The Class of 2018’s Senior Fund for Faculty Housing will focus on funding greatly needed purchases, renovations to current housing units, and creating a reserve fund for future housing opportunities.

DIRECTOR OF ADVANCEMENT

Reporting directly to the head of school and serving on her senior administrative team, the director of advancement will provide innovative leadership and strategic vision to all aspects of Greenwich Academy’s fundraising activities and constituent relationships. S/he will continue to build a culture of high achievement and accountability; further integrate the advancement program to allow for strong and professional relationships across various functions and across the Academy; oversee a

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staff of eight professionals and organize the department to ensure optimal results; and ensure that the advancement operation effectively engages the Academy’s nearly 5,000 alumnae as well as parents and friends in the life of the school.

In addition to the position’s formal duties, the successful director must be an integral member of the Greenwich Academy community. A strong level of integrity, anticipatory judgement, self- awareness, emotional intelligence, coupled with a sense of humor and perspective will be critical to success.

Following are the specific responsibilities and duties of this position:

 Assess the fundraising potential of Greenwich Academy; serve as an architect and builder of a multi-year fundraising and engagement strategy that ensures sustainable growth in philanthropic contributions and alumnae commitment to the school, in keeping with the Academy’s mission and strategic plan.  Working with the head of school and other senior leaders, develop clear and compelling messages that describe the strengths and aspirations of Greenwich Academy and its leadership, and disseminate that information in a way that excites the community about the Academy’s key initiatives and future direction.  Collaborate with the head of school and other academic and administrative leaders in identifying and defining the full range of fundraising goals at Greenwich Academy; prioritize those opportunities and develop strategies and tactics for prospect identification, cultivation and solicitation.  Continuously grow and enhance the Career Resource Center; leverage the school’s large network of alumnae and families to identify career opportunities, workshops, panel discussions, and other forms of counseling; partner with colleagues and offices across campus, particularly the Duff Center for STEM Initiatives and Global Programs Initiatives.  Evaluate philanthropic capacity of all constituencies, identify areas for growth, strategically augment advancement staff and resources, and craft fundraising strategies to increase involvement of volunteers and donors at all levels.

Seize upon opportunities to broaden and strengthen the Academy’s development, outreach, and donor activities in a campaign setting and beyond. Build a strategic, cohesive and highly collaborative program that will leverage the strengths and assets of Greenwich Academy and maximize near- and long-term gains in endowment, capital, and annual funds.

 Evaluate, strengthen, and enhance existing annual fund programming; develop and implement innovative and effective programs to identify and acquire prospective donors, increase donor retention, and upgrade and renew existing donors.  Emphasize the identification and cultivation of a major donor pool, providing a strategic framework that deepens relationships with current donors while launching systematic initiatives to identify and cultivate others capable of making major financial contributions.  Assess donor stewardship and ensure donors’ gifts are acknowledged in a comprehensive, timely, and innovative fashion; elevate the importance of stewarding all gifts and programs that strengthen donors’ interests in, satisfaction with, and commitment to Greenwich Academy; and convey to donors the positive impact their contributions have on the student experience and the Academy.

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 Personally manage a select portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, and ensure that timely steps are taken toward solicitation.

Lead Greenwich Academy’s advancement staff, promoting a culture of excellence, collaboration, and professional growth.

 Set clear direction and priorities for the advancement staff and lead by example. Promote excellence through well-defined and measurable goals; inspire, empower, and motivate staff through active communication and delegation, placing staff members’ work within the context of Greenwich Academy’s mission and strategic priorities.  Maintain a leadership style that is open and responsive; foster a work environment that recognizes and rewards performance, builds confidence, encourages interaction and teamwork, and promotes diversity. Celebrate current achievements and set clear expectations for future success.  Actively mentor and train staff, providing frequent opportunities for professional learning and growth; emphasize retention as a means of increasing the capacity and expertise of the team. Assess the current structure of Greenwich Academy’s advancement team, making adjustments as necessary to fully leverage human and financial resources and promote greater efficiency.  Oversee all personnel activities for the office, including the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, and retention of staff, as well as defining the job responsibilities and performance review process for each staff member.

Use the time and talents of the head of school, trustees, senior administration, faculty and key volunteers to increasingly engage, cultivate and solicit major donors and prospects.

 Provide the highest level of support to the head of school in her role as a key fundraiser, serving as a co-strategist and partner in cultivating and soliciting gifts. Ensure that the head of school is well briefed in advance and that her time is spent highly productively. Similarly guide and support academic, administrative, and volunteer leadership groups across all advancement activities.  Provide significant professional and personal support to the board and volunteer leadership for their activities on behalf of Greenwich Academy; ensure that their volunteer experience is meaningful, productive and enjoyable, and that the board’s intellectual and emotional connection to the school and each other is strengthened.  Cultivate strong working relationships with administrators, faculty, and staff across the school to ensure that the advancement team is seen as a collaborative, responsive partner able to professionally address both opportunities and concerns.  Partner closely with the director of communications and marketing to define a comprehensive, high-level communications strategy to support the Academy’s current priorities and ambitions for the future.

Build capacity and volunteer engagement by identifying, tracking, and nurturing Greenwich Academy’s alumnae and parents, recognizing the differences within and between those audiences while building a common commitment to and understanding of the Greenwich Academy of today.

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 Develop and implement a systematic and strategic plan for alumnae and parent engagement. Recognize that there is a wide array of audiences who want to be involved with the Academy, both personally and philanthropically, and provide compelling ways to engage them. Ultimately, encourage their collective commitment and contributions in ways that both increase the number and level of gifts to Greenwich Academy.  Ensure that existing alumnae relationships are deepened and maintained, while proactively seeking out relationships with other individual alumnae. Encourage and build alumnae participation in philanthropy.  Oversee all alumnae and parent relations programming, including on-campus events such as reunions and off-campus events such as regional gatherings, dinners, and all other cultivation and fundraising events.

Program Management

 Ensure that all systems and processes, from data capture to gift acceptances and processing, maximize available intelligence via reporting and also follow sound budgetary, legal, and accountability practices.  Proactively manage the budgeting process, anticipating costs and prioritizing needs.  Ensure that various departments in the office collaborate and communicate, internally and across the Academy, in order to help better integrate advancement throughout the institution.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

This position requires astute leadership, exceptional judgment, superb communication and written skills, and the ability to work collaboratively and adeptly with a wide range of internal and external constituencies. The director of advancement will bring many of the following professional qualities and experiences:

 An appreciation for the history, achievements, and aspirations of Greenwich Academy, and the ability to effectively articulate the head of school’s vision to a diverse audience.  At least ten years of progressively responsible fundraising and managerial experience in advancement. Depth of knowledge in all key areas of advancement; a demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and close a comprehensive campaign.  Demonstrated ability and experience building upon an existing advancement program, resulting in a transformative increase in philanthropic revenue for an organization. Success in increasing the effectiveness of an advancement program and its staff through established objectives and performance standards.  Proven management skills in establishing a team- and goal-oriented environment that empowers staff through active communication and delegation and that builds confidence, promotes diversity of thought, and celebrates achievements. An approach to management that leads by example, bringing out the best in staff and yielding pride, ownership, and a sense of team effort.  The credibility, maturity, and sound judgment required to effectively engage and leverage Greenwich Academy leadership and volunteers in the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of key prospects and donors.

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 The cultural competency and political sophistication to navigate a complex academic community; the desire and ability to build bridges and strong collaborative relationships with all members of an institution and with a diverse body of alumnae and constituents.  Superlative interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to work well with people at all levels of an organization, across a diverse range of educational and social backgrounds, and to demonstrate an authentic respect for each individual.  Superior written and oral communication skills; the ability to understand and translate information for all audiences; clarity, crispness, and elegance in writing and speaking.  A highly organized working style and strong attention to and appreciation for detail.  A sharp eye for operational efficiency and the best use of resources, including a demonstrated understanding of budgets and the ability to manage them.  An understanding of and appreciation for the use of technology in building an extended community.  The personal flexibility to travel and work evenings or weekends as required.  Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.

TO APPLY

This search is being led by Jack Gorman and Nicole Poe. For more information, to make a nomination, or to apply for this role, please visit:

www.imsearch.com/6384

In keeping with the Academy’s motto “Toward the Building of Character,” Greenwich Academy affirms and respects the individuality of all members of the community. The Academy’s ultimate goal is for students to develop the confidence and compassion to interact freely and authentically with people who represent a rich variety of backgrounds and beliefs in terms of race, ethnicity, culture, religion, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and family composition. All members of the Greenwich Academy community – students and alumnae, faculty and staff, parents and trustees – are expected to honor and value the Academy’s Diversity Mission Statement.

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