Message from Head of School

The Advancement Director is a key staff member in our small, nonprofit, educational organization.  This person is responsible for taking the lead role in fund development and donor relations, while also supporting the outreach work of our organization.  The Advancement Director (A.D.) interacts with other staff as well as volunteers, students, and parents, collaborating with and at times leading them to generate necessary philanthropic revenue.  The A.D. will influence our organization through innovation, professional expertise, commitment, personal integrity, and a sense of humor.  This 3/4 time position is an ideal platform for an energetic and experienced individual to deliver results and to earn the satisfaction of being a valued team member in a hands-on human service environment.

The successful candidate will be highly organized, efficient, skilled at handling multiple projects, and possess excellent interpersonal and administrative skills. The A.D. will manage major donor relations, grant writing, fundraising events, partnerships with businesses, and annual giving efforts.  In each of these areas the A.D. will be supported by other staff and in many cases by volunteers.  In addition, the A.D. will assist with promotional activities such as newsletters, public events, and outreach communications.  The A.D. will also play an important role in supporting and contributing to our administrative team, working closely with the Administrative Manager and Executive Director.  Further, this position involves being part of our overall staff team including faculty and program leaders.  Flexibility, integrity, time management, and openness are crucial to successful performance in this highly dynamic and social setting.

About EA: 

Our school was founded on three pillars of thought that a REAL education (Relevant, Engaged, Applied Learning) is personal, social, and global. Our mission is to ignite a passion for learning that inspires participants to collaborate effectively and take responsibility for positive global change. We value experiential learning, healthy individuals and communities, and environmental awareness. Since our founding, we have incorporated environmental education, field study, and ecological literacy into our core academics and summer programs. This helps students build an ethic of environmental stewardship and volunteerism into their life as a direct result of first-hand experiences where nature is the classroom. Community responsibility is also central to our mission, and students engage in service learning work with a variety of environmental, social justice, and other organizations.

Responsibilities

Fund Development:  Take the lead role in developing philanthropic funding.  This will include major donor cultivation and grant writing, maintaining and improving our Salesforce donor database, assisting in event coordination, and building partnerships with local businesses.  Further, collaborating with the Executive Director, working with Board of Directors members as leading volunteers, preparing and delivering donor materials, coordinating annual giving, and donor acknowledgement and tracking are key components of this position.  Ultimately the A.D. is our primary staff member responsible for leading fund development efforts and achieving fund development results.

Public Contact/Outreach: Help to increase the visibility of the organization through outreach activities, publications, and events; be present at community events, at times act as a spokesperson representing the organization.  Assist in public contact and recruitment, at times answering phones and greeting visitors. 

Communication: Website, & Newsletter: Provide leadership in writing, editing, producing and distributing publications.  Assist with building our social media presence and with updating and expanding our website.

Staff Support:  Provide assistance to other staff members as time allows. Tasks may include data entry, phone calls, running of errands, printing, and mailing. 

Qualifications/Criteria

• Outstanding personal integrity, commitment, and emotional maturity
• Strong and demonstrated interpersonal, presentation, leadership, grant writing, and team development skills
• Excellent organizational skills, detail oriented and professional
• Personal passion and enthusiasm for the mission of our organization
• Highly articulate with excellent writing skills, including successful grant writing experience
• Training and experience in a variety of fund development strategies essential; college degree required
• Computer skills in the Mac and PC platforms, and solid grasp of Microsoft Office applications
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, Salesforce, and website development strategies a big plus
• Experience in non-profit organizations and valid Washington State Driver’s License required

Reports to

The A.D. reports to the Head of School.

Contact
Before applying for this job please review our website, curriculum, mission, and program descriptions. This position requires incredible amounts of passion, dedication, flexibility, a high tolerance for adaptation, and a special measure of brilliance. Please provide an electronic resume and cover letter to jennifer@explorationsacademy.org.  Applications received by May 20th, 2024 will receive priority. We maintain a nondiscrimination policy and are an equal opportunity employer. 

Salary/Benefits

This is a .75 FTE salaried position (based on 30 hours/week), which may grow to 1.0 FTE.  The salary range is $45,000- $60,000 per year depending upon experience. Work hours are somewhat flexible, and will include Fridays, and some evenings and weekends.

Expectations:
Employment under this contract is subject to all current policies, rules, and regulations and those that may hereafter be adopted or amended by the Board of Directors of GGI. Explorations Academy seeks individuals of all ethnic, socio-economic, geographic, and religious backgrounds to apply for this position. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization and recruiting a team to reflect the diversity. Explorers Academy does not discriminate in any programs or activities on the basis of sex, race, creed, religion, color, national origin, age, veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender expression or identity, disability, or the use of a trained dog guide or service animal and provides equal access as required by law. 

Application Procedure:

Please submit an application by email by May 20th, 2024 to admin@explorationsacademy.org

The application should include: 

• Cover Letter: Please address the qualifications specified. 
• Resume 
• Contact information for three (3) professional references.