Job Description
Job DescriptionDirector of Annual Giving
Merion Mercy Academy, an independent Catholic college preparatory school for girls in grades 9-12 outside Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, seeks a Director of Annual Giving.
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Director of Annual Giving is responsible for the planning, execution, and growth of the school’s Annual Fund and related annual giving initiatives. This includes oversight of tax credit programs (EITC/OSTC), giving days, peer-to-peer fundraising, and volunteer engagement. The Director collaborates with colleagues in development, communications, and school leadership to inspire broad-based support and foster lifelong philanthropic connections.
Key Responsibilities:Annual Fund Strategy & Execution
- Develop and implement a multi-channel annual giving program to grow participation and revenue.
- Segment and tailor appeals to alumni, parents, past parents, faculty/staff, grandparents, and friends.
- Coordinate direct mail, email, social media, and personal solicitations.
- Create compelling messaging in collaboration with Communications.
Tax Credit Programs (EITC/OSTC)
- Identify, cultivate, and steward tax credit donors.
- Serve as a primary contact for EITC/OSTC inquiries and giving.
Volunteer & Constituent Engagement
- Recruit, train, and motivate fundraising volunteers, including class agents and parent representatives.
- Drive reunion giving, young alumnae outreach, and affinity-based fundraising.
Giving Days & Special Initiatives
- Plan and lead the school’s annual Giving Day(s), including digital and in-person efforts.
- Create urgency, match challenges, and build momentum across constituencies.
- Coordinate with the team on Annual Fund-related gatherings or acknowledgments.
Stewardship & Donor Relations
- Implement recognition strategies for all annual giving donors.
- Collaborate on donor newsletters, thank-you campaigns, and personalized follow-up.
- Track donor retention and identify upgrade opportunities.
Reporting & Analysis
- Use donor data to drive segmentation, track performance, and report on progress.
- Produce regular dashboards and updates for internal and external stakeholders.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree or fundraising certification preferred.
- 5+ years of progressive experience in annual giving or fundraising.
- Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Strong project management skills and attention to detail.
- Proficiency with fundraising databases (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Blackbaud).
- Commitment to the school’s mission and values.
Founded in 1884 by the Sisters of Mercy and located on a beautiful 12-acre campus on Philadelphia’s Main Line, Merion Mercy currently enrolls over 400 students from diverse geographic areas and socioeconomic groups. Merion Mercy’s academic program consistently challenges each student to prepare for college and a lifetime of service, thus developing competent and compassionate women for the future. Merion Mercy’s faculty and staff are committed to providing a holistic education that not only stresses academic and personal excellence but also encourages all students to “Live Mercy and Seek Justice,” an educational philosophy that builds a true sense of sisterhood that extends beyond the classroom.
Merion Mercy Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, gender, sexual orientation, or national and ethnic origin in the administration of its hiring practices.
Interested candidates should send a resume, cover letter and contact information for three professional references to Anne Gregg, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, agregg@merion-mercy.com.
More information about working at Merion Mercy Academy can be found at: www.merion-mercy.com/careers.