Director of Parent Giving and Engagement bei Avon Old Farms School

Title:                               Director of Parent Giving Engagement

Reports to:                   Director of Development

Position Status:         Exempt/Administrator/12 Month

Job Summary

The Director of Parent Giving and Engagement fosters strong relationships between Avon Old Farms and its current, past, and prospective families. This role integrates parent engagement with philanthropic initiatives to enhance the school community and support institutional growth, admissions, and retention. The Director works closely with faculty, staff, and parent leaders to ensure a seamless and meaningful family experience from inquiry through graduation and beyond.

Key Responsibilities

• Parent Engagement & Community Building.
• Provide oversight and drive the growth of the Parent Leadership Circle (PLC), a leadership-level giving society for current parents. Responsibilities include recruiting and stewarding members, cultivating meaningful engagement opportunities, and aligning philanthropic priorities with institutional needs to ensure the PLC is a cornerstone of parent participation and leadership giving.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the Parents of Avon (POA), ensuring alignment with school priorities and supporting its mission to promote camaraderie, communication, and involvement.
• Create meaningful POA meetings to deepen parents’ connection to the school and highlight the importance of parent philanthropic support.
• Lead planning, creative vision, and fundraising efforts for the Blue Blazer Ball, Avon’s signature parent fundraising event.
• Develop and implement initiatives that encourage meaningful parent participation in school life (e.g., football game concessions, orientation programs, networking gatherings, family weekends).
• Collaborate with the Head of School’s Office, Admissions, Communications, and other campus partners to provide a consistent, welcoming parent experience.
• Maintain ongoing communication with parents.
• Partner with the Communications team to build and maintain a parent communication channel, serving as a hub for events, receptions, and volunteer opportunities
• Collect and analyze parent feedback (e.g., end-of-year surveys) to strengthen engagement strategies.
   
   

Fundraising & Philanthropy

• Collaborate with Alumni & Development colleagues to support parent fundraising initiatives and integrate engagement with giving.
• Work with the Director of the Annual Fund to encourage parent participation in One Avon Give Day and solicit support for the Parent Leadership Circle.
• Partner with Major Gift Officers to cultivate parent families with significant philanthropic potential.
• Plan and execute fundraising events such as parent galas, auctions, giving days, and donor appreciation receptions.
• Together with the Director of Donor Relations, educate and steward parents on the impact of their contributions.
• Oversee a portfolio of 50-60 parents, with travel expected as needed.

Admissions & Retention Collaboration

• Partner with the Admissions team to create a welcoming experience for prospective and new families.
• Collaborate on Parent Ambassador Programs to support recruitment efforts, pairing current and new families.
• Support retention efforts by maintaining strong relationships with families and organizing receptions and parent panels.
   
   

Marketing, Outreach & Data

• Partner with Communications to share parent-focused stories and impact updates.
• Use data analytics to track parent engagement, measure initiative effectiveness, and optimize outreach strategies.
• Represent the school at events and networking opportunities to strengthen relationships with families and broaden Avon’s reach.
   
   

Qualifications & Skills

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5–7 years of experience in advancement, parent relations, alumni engagement, admissions, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success in planning and executing events, volunteer programs, or fundraising initiatives.
• Relationship Building: Warm, approachable, and highly personable with the ability to engage diverse families and foster a welcoming community.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills—both written and verbal.
• Collaborative spirit, able to work effectively with colleagues, parent leaders, and volunteers.

Fundraising & Advancement

• Familiarity with fundraising principles, including annual giving, leadership giving, and major gift cultivation.
• Ability to educate and inspire families around the importance of philanthropy.
• Experience working in partnership with a development team to solicit and steward donors.
   
   
   

Strategic & Organizational Skills

• Creative thinker with the ability to design meaningful engagement opportunities.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; able to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Comfortable with data analytics to track and measure engagement success.
   
   

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with CRM databases (e.g., Veracross, Raiser’s Edge, or similar).
• Skilled in digital communication, including newsletters, web content, and social media.
   
   

Personal Attributes

• Mission-driven and passionate about the transformative impact of independent schools.
• Flexible, adaptable, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• High degree of integrity, discretion, and professionalism.
• Role requires occasional evening and weekend availability and travel for donor and prospect meetings.

The specific statements shown in each section of this description are not intended to be all-inclusive. They represent typical elements and criteria necessary to successfully perform the job.

Avon Old Farms School does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, religion, color, sexual orientation, or national or ethnic origin in the administration of its policies and programs. Candidates are selected by their qualifications to meet the needs of the position.