Collegiate School

Director of Advancement

DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES has been retained by Collegiate School, located in New York City, to conduct a national search for a Director of Advancement.

Collegiate School

Founded in 1628, Collegiate School is the oldest independent school in the United States, yet it is defined as much by its forward-looking vision as by its rich history. Located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, Collegiate is a K–12 boys’ school serving 666 students in a vibrant, purpose-built campus overlooking the Hudson River.

Under the leadership of Head of School Bodie Brizendine, Collegiate combines the intimacy of a small school with the resources and ambitions of a leading educational institution. Housed entirely within a single state-of-the-art facility at 301 Freedom Place South, the School fosters an uncommon sense of connection among students, faculty, families, alumni and staff. Students progress through three divisions: Lower School (K–4), Middle School (5–8), and Upper School (9–12) while remaining part of one cohesive community.

With a student-to-teacher ratio of 6:1 and more than 76% of faculty holding advanced degrees, Collegiate offers an educational experience defined by intellectual rigor, meaningful relationships and exceptional teaching. Faculty know their students deeply, creating an environment where boys are challenged, supported and inspired to achieve their fullest potential.

In 2018, Collegiate opened its current campus, a facility designed exclusively to support the School’s mission and educational program. The building features state-of-the-art classrooms, a 40,000-volume library, two gymnasiums, professional performance spaces including a full theater and black box theater, and multiple outdoor learning and recreation areas. The School’s culture is grounded in enduring values. Collegiate believes that respect, kindness and integrity are essential to a thriving community. It seeks to develop young men who pursue excellence with purpose, engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives and lead lives characterized by conscience, courage and compassion.

Today, Collegiate is exceptionally well-positioned for the future. The School operates with an annual budget of approximately $49 million, maintains an endowment of more than $100 million, and provides over $7 million in financial aid annually to ensure access for talented students from a wide range of backgrounds. More than 4,500 living alumni remain actively connected to the institution, reflecting the strength of the lifelong bonds formed within the Collegiate community.

As Collegiate continues to strengthen its position among the nation’s leading independent schools, the next Director of Advancement will have the opportunity to deepen philanthropic engagement, expand alumni and parent participation and help shape the School’s next chapter of strategic growth and impact. Working closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees and leadership team, the Director will play a critical role in ensuring that Collegiate’s resources, relationships and reputation continue to support its mission for generations to come.

Position Summary

Collegiate School seeks a dynamic, strategic and relationship-driven advancement leader to serve as its next Director of Advancement. Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a member of the senior administrative team, the Director of Advancement will play a critical role in shaping the School’s future by leading philanthropy, engagement, communications and community-building efforts.

The Director will oversee a talented advancement team and guide a comprehensive program encompassing major gifts, annual giving, alumni relations, parent engagement, trustee relations, communications and marketing. The successful candidate will be an accomplished fundraiser and inspiring leader who understands how to build authentic relationships, articulate a compelling vision, and cultivate a culture of philanthropy.

Working closely with school leadership, trustees, alumni, parents and friends of the School, the Director of Advancement will help secure the resources necessary to advance Collegiate’s mission and strategic priorities for generations to come.

This is an extraordinary opportunity to join a historic institution at a moment of strength and momentum and to help shape the next chapter of one of the nation’s most distinguished independent schools. This opportunity is available immediately, and will be filled following a comprehensive national search, and when the candidate of choice is identified and selected.

For additional information about Collegiate School, please visit www.collegiateschool.org.

Essential Duties:

Develop and maintain a highly collaborative working relationship with the Head of School to support endowment growth and drive long-term giving and advancement strategy.
Provide strategic leadership for all advancement functions, aligning philanthropy, communications, and engagement efforts with the School’s mission, values, and long-term strategic priorities.
Serve as a key advisor to the Head of School and Board of Trustees on philanthropy, constituent relations, reputation and community engagement.
Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that includes annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns, and endowment growth.
Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects, ensuring strong and enduring relationships with alumni, parents, trustees and friends of the School.
Foster a culture of philanthropy throughout the community by inspiring faculty, staff, trustees, volunteers, and other constituents in support of the School’s advancement goals.
Oversee alumni, parent, and trustee engagement programs that strengthen lifelong connection, volunteerism and advocacy for the school.
Provide support and direction to the Head of School, Board of Trustees, Campaign Cabinet, and volunteers for donor outreach and engagement activities.
Lead, mentor and manage a high-performing advancement team by setting clear goals, promoting collaboration, supporting professional growth and maintaining accountability and excellence.
Partner with communications and marketing colleagues to ensure cohesive, mission-driven messaging that elevates the School’s visibility, reputation, and storytelling across all platforms.
Collaborate with colleagues in Admissions, Finance, academic leadership and other departments to ensure that advancement strategies support institutional priorities and reinforce the School’s distinct value proposition.
Work closely with the Board of Trustees by preparing reports, guiding engagement and supporting the Board’s philanthropic effectiveness.
Implement and support best practices in data management, analytics, stewardship and donor engagement.
Utilize technology, data and metrics to inform strategy, measure progress and evaluate impact.
Serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the School at events and in the broader community.
Ensure fiscal responsibility within the advancement office, managing budgets, resources, and operations to achieve ambitious yet sustainable goals.
Prepare appropriate periodic reports for the Head of School and Board of Trustees.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university is required. Master’s degree in a related field is preferred.
Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in advancement, development, philanthropy, or a closely related field.
Demonstrated record of strategic leadership and fundraising success.
Experience in an independent school is strongly preferred, though advancement leaders from higher education, nonprofit, or other mission-driven sectors are encouraged to explore.
Proven experience with comprehensive campaigns, major gifts, planned giving, endowment growth, or capital initiatives.
Experience working with senior leadership and boards of trustees, with the ability to engage, educate, and inspire volunteers and donors.
Demonstrated success in building, leading and mentoring effective teams.
Familiarity with advancement data systems, analytics, and emerging technologies that inform strategy and enhance donor engagement.

Leadership and Personal Attributes

Mission-driven with a genuine passion for an independent school education and a deep belief in the transformative power of community and philanthropy.
A strategic thinker and systems builder who can integrate development, communications, and engagement into a cohesive advancement enterprise.
Exceptional relationship-builder who is authentic, empathetic, and persuasive, able to connect comfortably with a wide range of constituents, from students and parents to alumni and trustees.
Superb communicator and storyteller, skilled in articulating mission, vision, and impact across multiple channels and audiences.
Data-informed and goal-oriented, with sound judgment, integrity, and discretion in handling confidential matters.
A collaborative, collegial leader who values teamwork, transparency, and accountability.
Creative, energetic, and resilient, able to navigate complexity and inspire others toward ambitious institutional goals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

Strong commitment to a K-12 education and to the mission of an independent boys’ school.
Ability and willingness to participate fully in a dynamic all-boys day school located in New York City.
Excellent communication skills, both orally and in writing.
Exceptional storytelling ability and the capacity to articulate a compelling case for support.
Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage a wide range of constituencies, including the Head of School, senior administrators, faculty, staff, students, trustees, alumni, parents and friends of the School.
Ability to motivate, manage, and develop a high-quality advancement team.
Strong strategic thinking, judgment, discretion and problem-solving skills.
Ability to earn the trust and confidence of faculty, administration, staff, families, trustees, alumni and donors.
Data-informed and goal-oriented approach to fundraising and engagement.
Ability to manage confidential information with integrity and professionalism.

Leadership and Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate will be mission-driven, collaborative, and relationship-oriented, with a genuine passion for independent school education and a deep belief in the transformative power of community and philanthropy. The Director of Advancement should be a strategic thinker and systems builder who can integrate development, communications, engagement and stewardship into a cohesive advancement program. This individual should be an authentic and persuasive communicator, an effective manager and a trusted partner to the Head of School and Board of Trustees.

The successful candidate will demonstrate impeccable integrity, sound judgment, an extraordinary work ethic, and an optimistic, collaborative leadership style. They must also possess the ability and willingness to act decisively when needed and a strong commitment to helping build and sustain a diverse, just, inclusive and equitable academic environment.

Bodie Brizendine

Bodie Brizendine serves as the Head of School since joining on June 17, 2024.

Ms. Brizendine led The Spence School from 2007 to 2022 and was the head of Marin Academy in California from 1995 to 2006. An English teacher, Ms. Brizendine’s career has been distinguished by a focus on academics, the development of strong faculty, and the deepening of community culture.

Ms. Brizendine is the 30th recorded Head in Collegiate School’s 398-year history and the first woman to lead this boys’ school. She and her family are no strangers to Collegiate; her husband, Bill Bullard, was a member of the English department and Academic Dean for over a decade until 2017.

Those familiar with her from her years at Spence describe her as remarkably capable, warm, and steady. As an experienced leader, administrator, and teacher, Ms. Brizendine understands well the need for a strong community in the service of supporting the boys as they learn and grow.

It is my honor and my privilege to serve Collegiate School, a leader in boys’ education that I have long admired and respected. I understand my charge as interim Head of School and will meet those responsibilities with both confidence and humility. With my deep appreciation to the Board of Trustees for the trust they have invested in me, I am eager to meet the full Collegiate community, most immediately the faculty and staff, and, of course, the students and their families.

Collegiate School Benefits, DEI and Employment Background Checks Required

Collegiate School offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, competitive salaries and a generous benefits package including a retirement plan, paid vacations and full complement of health benefits.

Collegiate School is an equal opportunity employer. Collegiate School does not discriminate in matters of hiring, training, promotion, transfer, wages, discharge, school benefits, or working conditions because of sex, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, ethnicity, citizenship, sexual orientation, age, disability, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, transgender status, military status, veteran status, marital status, familial status, genetic information, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law.

A thorough background check including a criminal background check is required as a condition of employment.

Target Hiring Salary Range

This position is expected to pay an annual salary in the range of $300,000 – $325,000. The final compensation offered to the candidate of choice will be determined based on work experiences, qualifications, and leadership skill sets.

Contact Information

To explore this career opportunity on a confidential basis, please send your resume, a letter of interest, a writing sample, and a list of 4 references (which will only be contacted if mutual interest is determined) to:

Doug Cooney, Executive Search Consultant, DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES Executive Search, Inc.
572 Washington Street, Suite 15, Wellesley, MA 02482 Telephone: 781-237-2800.
Email: jobs@deerfieldassociates.com