Peddie School in Hightstown, N.J., is seeking an experienced fundraiser and successful volunteer manager for the position of Associate Director of Peddie Fund, Reunions. The successful candidate will lead the reunion program and develop initiatives to increase attendance at Reunion Weekend and increase alumni support in a milestone reunion year.

Founded in 1864, Peddie School is an independent, coeducational, college preparatory school of 550 students, grades 9 through post-graduate. It is primarily a boarding school, with 63 percent of students and 90 percent of the faculty living on campus.  In addition to its engaged and accomplished student body, Peddie’s extraordinary resources include the highly professional, collaborative and dedicated faculty, an innovative and rigorous curriculum and an attractive, modern 280-acre campus located midway between New York City and Philadelphia.

Thanks to the generosity of Ambassador Walter H. Annenberg ’27 and other donors, Peddie now ranks among the most highly endowed independent schools in the nation. Its $356 million endowment enables the school to offer more than $9 million in financial aid to 40 percent of the student body.

This is an exciting time at Peddie under the leadership of Head of School Peter Quinn who alongside Assistant Head for Development Karyn Vella, recently embarked upon an $80 million comprehensive campaign, the largest in the school’s history. Currently, in the leadership phase, the campaign is focused on doubling the annual fund and raising endowed funds for scholarship, faculty and programs, as well as funds for facilities.

Reporting to the Director of the Peddie Fund, the Associate Director of the Peddie Fund, Reunions and Class Giving is responsible for raising class gifts and increasing participation to the Peddie Fund during milestone reunion years and drawing alumni back to Peddie to celebrate at Reunion Weekend. A successful candidate will have relevant experience motivating volunteers, soliciting alumni support and engaging alumni. The Associate Director will also work closely with the prospect management team to identify lead or increased gifts and to identify class volunteers.

Primary duties include:

Reunion Giving (45%)

• Cultivate and solicit a portfolio of alumni volunteer capable of making increased gifts and solicit for multi-year reunion gifts.
• Create overall dollar and participation goals for each milestone reunion class, in consultation with the Director of the Peddie Fund.
• Define a solicitation plan that supports milestone classes’ overall dollar and participation goals to encourage increased Leadership Giving, multi-year commitments and class participation to the Peddie Fund.
• Work closely with the Associate Director of the Peddie Fund, Leadership Giving, Associate Director of Alumni Relations and other front-line fundraisers to solicit assigned alumni for the Peddie Fund.
• Work with the Director of the Peddie Fund to coordinate direct mail, email, and other reunion solicitation efforts.
• Work with the Director of Major Gifts to identify special giving opportunities in milestone reunion years.

Volunteer Management (45%)

• Identify, recruit, train and manage class reunion volunteers to encourage reunion attendance and solicit classmates for reunion gifts. Serve as the key point of contact between Peddie and members of these Reunion committees.
• Communicate regularly with individual volunteers and committees, sharing progress to goals, strategies for solicitation, and information regarding reunion giving priorities.
• Facilitate year-long programming that encourages alumni engagement, giving and reunion attendance.
• Develop and coordinate action and communication plans for each reunion class, as well as the overall marketing and communication for Reunion Weekend.

 Other (10%)

• Work with the Director of Special Events in the execution of a successful Reunion Weekend.
• Attend and provide support to events and meetings, and have a visible presence on campus.

 Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required;
• Three to five years of direct or related fundraising, donor relations or project management experience;
• Experience managing volunteer groups is desirable;
• Possess the ability to work independently and as part of a team;
• Energetic, detail oriented, well organized, focused and goal-oriented;
• Adept at problem solving and using judgment in situations requiring independent initiative and tact;
• Ability to travel and attend evening and weekend functions when necessary;
• Possess outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, characterized by the ability to listen, to speak, and to write well with a strong commitment to customer service;
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Raiser’s Edge preferred; and
• Proven ability to work with a high level of independence as well as collaboratively within a team, maintain confidentiality, prioritize multiple projects simultaneously and manage time effectively.