Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Director of Advancement

DEERFIELD ASSOCIATES has been retained by Wilbraham & Monson Academy, located in Wilbraham, Massachusetts, to conduct a national search for a Director of Advancement.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy

Wilbraham & Monson Academy offers a transformational experience where students become challenge-seeking citizens and leaders of an evolving world. The Academy prepares students for the opportunities of higher education and for engagement as global contributors and lifelong learners. The Academy is a coeducational institution home to approximately 400 Middle and Upper School students who journey from more than 34 nations and 12 states, roughly 50% of whom are boarders. WMA combines the close-knit culture of a caring community with the ambition and innovation of a globally connected institution.

As the country’s 10th-oldest boarding school, Wilbraham & Monson Academy has been educating global citizens and world leaders since 1804. WMA offers distinctive programs to its students, including the pioneering Center for Entrepreneurship, Economics & Finance, which pairs innovative ideas and entrepreneurial thinking. There are 67 teaching faculty, a student/faculty ratio of 6:1, an average class size of 12-15, 157 course offerings, 24 AP courses and half of the faculty live on campus.

The Academy’s current annual operating budget is approximately $22M and the endowment is roughly $11M. The Office of Advancement raises $1.2M toward the Annual Fund and averages an additional $1M-$3M in annual capital giving.

This is an exciting moment in the history of Wilbraham & Monson Academy. Building on 10 years of record-breaking capital giving and Master Plan progress, strong traditions, a vibrant global community and a culture grounded in curiosity, challenge and belonging, WMA seeks a strategic and relationship-oriented advancement leader who will help shape the next chapter of the Academy’s story. The Director of Advancement will join a collaborative senior leadership team and play a central role in advancing institutional priorities through philanthropy, engagement and partnership.

This opportunity is available immediately and will be filled following a comprehensive national search and the candidate of choice is identified and selected.

For more information about Wilbraham & Monson Academy, please visit www.wma.us

The Advancement Office

Reporting to the Head of School, and working in close collaboration with the Associate Head of School, the Director of Advancement (DOA) is responsible for advancing the Academy’s mission and strategic priorities through philanthropy, storytelling and authentic relationship-building. The DOA leads a dedicated advancement team encompassing development, alumni, parent and trustee engagement, while partnering across departments to ensure an integrated approach to communications and marketing that strengthens the Academy’s reputation and reach. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director will be a highly visible presence within the school community, engaging regularly with students, faculty, parents, alumni and trustees. The successful candidate will embrace the relational nature of independent school leadership and appreciate the importance of building authentic connections across campus. By inspiring connection and generosity within the broader community, the DOA will help secure the resources necessary to expand access, strengthen academic and cocurricular programs, support innovative initiatives such as entrepreneurship and experiential learning, enhance the student experience for boarders and day students alike, support the Campus Master Plan and the long-range financial sustainability of the community.

The Director sets the standards and direction for philanthropy and alumni and parent engagement for Wilbraham & Monson Academy (WMA). The Director is expected to demonstrate leadership in these efforts and to serve the strategic priorities of WMA. The Director manages the staff and the annual operating budget of the Advancement Office to achieve and exceed these goals. The Director is also expected to maintain professional leadership contact with the trustees and other leadership constituents under the direction of the Head of School. The Director of Advancement will serve as a chief ambassador for an Academy culture defined by hard work, curiosity, belonging and personal growth. Successful candidates will understand that philanthropy at WMA is not simply about raising funds—it is about connecting people to a community that changes lives.

The Advancement Office is the main contact for external constituencies, primarily alumni and parents who are stakeholders in and philanthropic supporters of WMA. The Director ensures that staff effort and Academy resources are committed strategically and effectively to meet both annual goals and long-term objectives. Led by the Director, members of Advancement work collaboratively and engage relevant members of the WMA leadership and community in achieving strategic priorities.

Key Responsibilities

Develop and maintain a highly collaborative working relationship with the Head of School and Associate Head of School to ensure cohesive messaging of the institution’s strategic goals and objectives for Advancement.
Provide strategic leadership, foster initiative and offer clear and inspiring feedback to Advancement staff in setting the direction for all fundraising, advancement services, alumni relations, archive, parent relations activities and events.
Lead the Advancement Office and work closely with the current Advancement Office Staff to ensure they have the training and necessary skills to successfully achieve and exceed goals of the office.
Collaborate with the Admission Office to facilitate the sharing of constituent information, including families of interest and legacy applicants.
Work with the Chief Financial Officer to ensure the accuracy of financial records related to all fundraising for the Academy.
Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to set strategic priorities and coordinate correspondence related to the Academy’s Alumni & Development program.

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following areas:

Fundraising and Alumni Relations

Develop comprehensive strategies for all fundraising in cooperation with the Head of School, members of the Board of Trustees and other members of the Administrative Team.
Design and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy encompassing annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, capital campaigns and endowment growth.
Plan, organize and oversee execution of all fundraising and alumni relations efforts including, but not limited to:
- Campaign preparation, counsel and activities
- Major Gift and Planned Giving programs
- Annual Fund appeals and programs
- International alumni relations and fundraising
- Parent Association and Parent Giving
- Student philanthropy
- Alumni relations calendar of events and activities both on and off campus
- Alumni relations volunteer, mentor and other engagement opportunities
- Stewardship activities for donors and volunteers
- Archives, as it relates to donor relations and cultivation
Actively maintain a personal portfolio of engagement and leadership giving prospects, and other friends and alumni of importance to the Academy.
Advise, prepare and assist the Head of School and the Associate Head in managing their personal portfolios of prospects, including coordination of travel schedules.
Report on results to the Head of School and the Trustees on a regular basis, as well as keep the WMA community informed about the importance of and results of Alumni & Development activity.
Maintain records of fundraising results and safeguards for donor/volunteer data according to professional and NEASC accrediting standards.
Manage and supervise the Advancement Office staff including setting annual goals related to the activities listed above, and promoting professional development to better equip staff to meet their goals.

Schoolwide Responsibilities

Serve as a resource to Board Committees as assigned by the Head of School, currently including Campaign Steering and Trusteeship committees.
In conjunction with Marketing & Communications, maintain WMA alumni and parent social media and online presence, and actively work to protect and promote a positive online reputation of WMA.
Work closely with the Marketing & Communications office for alumni, parent and donor communications.
Orchestrate Advancement activities and planning with other campus offices, in particular the Office of International Student Programs, the Admissions Office and the Business Office.
Serve from time to time on committees of relevance to the Academy for searches, accreditation or other school needs.

Other Responsibilities

General oversight and conservation of the WMA Archives.
Perform other duties as assigned by the Head of School.
Promote an environment of participation and inclusion for all staff in the WMA community, including school sponsored events, activities and athletic events.

The Director of Advancement position is a 12-month contract. Aside from any required duties consistent with the supervision and maintenance of a residential student community, the Director of Advancement should expect to be in the office during academic year workdays and during the summer-hours workday for the equivalent of full-time presence. Additional and sometimes significant travel, evening and weekend commitments are required. The Director of Advancement is allowed four weeks of paid vacation per year. Intended vacation must be approved by the Head of School.

The successful candidate will possess:

Humility, wisdom, good cheer, self-efficacy, willingness and an ability to equip and empower direct reports and “manage up.”
The emotional intelligence to engage successfully with students, parents, alumni, trustees, faculty and colleagues while fostering a culture of gratitude and philanthropy throughout WMA.
A high level of integrity and strong work ethic.
Strong management and leadership skills, including a proven ability to mentor colleagues and work collaboratively to achieve team goals.
Excellent written and oral communication skills, and the ability to articulate the values and needs of the Academy in a compelling way.
Excellent organizational and strategic thinking skills; vision and interest in being involved in the strategic planning process.
10+ years of development experience both as a front-line fund-raiser and in a leadership position.
Advancement work with an independent school, a college and/or a university is highly preferred.
A bachelor’s degree is required.
A personal affinity and commitment towards an independent school education. Knowledge and experience with successful annual giving, major gift and planned giving solicitation for alumni, parents and friends of a top national and international independent school and/or college or university program.
Ability to engage, interact effectively with and earn the respect of all the constituencies of the Academy community: the Head of School, the administration, staff, faculty, students, the Board of Trustees, alumni/ae, parents and friends of WMA.
Knowledge and experience in prospect tracking, stewardship and reporting procedures and all aspects of annual giving programs.
Experience in organizing and conducting a major giving program and a multimillion-dollar Capital Campaign.
Experience and ability to successfully build and expand an engaged and vibrant alumni organization.
An interest in leveraging technology to effectively interact with a donor base to maximize donations.
Experience engaging current parents and fostering a culture of philanthropy.
Success and experience in recruiting staff and managing and servicing volunteers.

Head of School Welcome

Your arrival is no coincidence. You are here either because you already know us well or because you are curious to know more about what sets us apart, what makes us special, and why people believe themselves fortunate to be called Titans. Curiosity is a good start.

For more than 28 years, my wife and I have made WMA our home and our family, not because of what we do for our students or how we do it – as innovative, distinctive, engaging and successful as that is.

We beam with pride about those aspects of the program, but we have chosen to be at WMA all these years because of who the Academy is: the culture and personality of this remarkable school.
At WMA, we believe in hard work. Our challenging program and rigorous expectations demand concerted eﬀort from all members of our community. We understand that hard work is the key to harnessing life’s opportunities, and that, through practice, we can learn the habit of hard work not only to achieve our goals but for its own value. Every day, students and teachers at WMA bask in the glow of hard work rewarded and time well spent. Second, only to curiosity, this habit of effort is critical to developing as a lifelong learner.

We match our challenging environment with a nurturing support system, and for us, that starts with our students. Students at Wilbraham & Monson Academy care for one another and respect one another for the ﬂavor that their diﬀerences bring to our campus. They, in turn, are surrounded by a concerned and caring network of faculty and staﬀ, who dedicate their lives to inspiring those around them to realize new limits and supporting them when they need it.

This is why, if you visited our beautiful campus on any given day, you would be struck by the genuine happiness of the people you meet. Our readiness for challenge and appreciation for hard work, within an environment of mutual respect and support, results in a community of learners who are engaged, happy and curious. It is, after all, very diﬃcult to be curious and unhappy at the same time.

Whether you are an old friend or new, we look forward to seeing you on campus soon, where you will undoubtedly ﬁnd us… hard-working and happy.

Brian P. Easler, Head of School

Wilbraham & Monson Academy’s Benefits

WMA offers a dynamic and supportive work environment, competitive salaries and a comprehensive beneﬁts package including a generous retirement employer match, paid vacation, accrued sick time, tuition remission, medical, dental and vision insurance, short-term and long-term disability and paid parental leave.

Wilbraham & Monson Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Wilbraham & Monson Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin in the administration of its educational, admission, financial aid program, employment policies or any other programs administered by the school.

Target Hiring Salary Range

The target hiring salary range for this position is $200K-$250K, with the final salary determined based on the candidate’s advancement experience, leadership and fund-raising skills and overall qualifications.

To learn more about WMA, visit www.wma.us

Contact Information

To explore this career opportunity on a confidential basis, please send your resume, a letter of interest articulating your interest, skill sets and work experiences for this opportunity, a writing sample and a list of four (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