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Independent, Catholic Elementary Schools Serving Chicago's Children Since 1876

Mission Statement

Sacred Heart Schools on Sheridan Road-the Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls (founded in 1876) and Hardey Preparatory for Boys (founded in 1935)-are independent, Catholic, single-sex elementary schools committed to academic excellence within the context of a Christian community. Sacred Heart Schools welcomes students of all races, religious beliefs and socio-economic backgrounds. This educational mission is deeply rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart and shared with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools located on every major continent, including 24 schools in the United States and Canada.

Job Openings >> Assistant Development Director, Alumni Relations
Assistant Development Director, Alumni Relations
Summary
Title:Assistant Development Director, Alumni Relations
ID:1234
Department:Development
Description

Title:  Assistant Development Director, Alumni Relations

Classification:  Exempt

Department:  Institutional Advancement

Status:  Full-Time, 12 Month


Reports to:  Development Director

Hired by:  Head of Schools

 

School Description

 

Founded in Chicago in 1876, Sacred Heart Schools at Sheridan Road (Hardey Preparatory for Boys and Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls) are independent, Catholic, single-sex elementary schools committed to academic excellence within the context of a Christian, faith-based community. The educational mission is deeply rooted in the 200-year tradition of the Society of the Sacred Heart and shared with the Network of Sacred Heart Schools located in 30 countries; including 25 schools in the United States and Canada. The essence of this tradition is the total development of each child: spiritual, intellectual, social, emotional and physical. Our girls and boys are taught in single-sex classrooms, but follow a similar curriculum and share in many activities. With a total enrollment of approximately 700 students, the Schools are organized into three academic divisions each led by a division head.

 

Position Description

 

The Development Office, along with the offices of Admissions and Communications, make up Sacred Heart Schools’ Department of Institutional Advancement. The Institutional Advancement team works collaboratively to build understanding and support of the Schools’ mission and programs and to secure resources to enhance the school and ensure its future. Collectively and individually, the team strives to model the values expressed in the Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart education.

 

The Development Office advances Sacred Heart’s mission by creating opportunities that invite philanthropic investment in the school’s ongoing programs and strategic priorities. Reporting to the Development Director, the primary role of the Assistant Development Director, Alumni Relations is to manage the alumni fundraising efforts for the Development Office and Department of Institutional Advancement, followed by supporting the Sheridan Road Alumni Association and their related events.

 

Essential Job Functions:

 

Fundraising

Nurture donor relationships with Sacred Heart Schools’ alumni, parents of alumni, and grandparent donors and prospective donors.

  • Work individually and collaboratively to identify, cultivate, steward, and solicit prospects and donors to meet the budgeted fundraising goals and increase charitable support for Sacred Heart Schools by way of major gift, annual support, or planned gift
  • Manage the Alumni Giving Day campaigns; solicit challenge grants, collect testimonials for social media promotion, write appeals, and manage gift acknowledgements
  • Oversee Reunion Class Giving campaign as part of Alumni Weekend

Sheridan Road Alumni Association

Serve as chief liaison to the Sheridan Road Alumni Association (SRAA), which serves the thousands of alumni of the Academy of the Sacred Heart for Girls and Hardey Preparatory for Boys.

  • Ensure SRAA policies and procedures are implemented in accordance with the organization’s by-laws
  • Identify, recruit, and manage the Class Representatives programs. Responsibilities include working with each Representative to update class lists and serve as communicators with their class, including eliciting content for Alumni Notes in Heartbeat and the Alum e-News
  • Work closely with the SRAA Board to arrange Board meetings, create agendas, suggest appropriate alumni for staffing various school committees and SRAA Board subcommittees, and ensure strong and productive relationships between Board members and the schools’ leadership
  • Support SRAA Board subcommittees and their work on SRAA programs and events
  • Recruit, involve, and support alumni affinity groups including high school alumni, college alumni, and young professionals
  • Serve as point of contact with national and international Sacred Heart alumni organizations
  • Manage Sacred Heart events and special projects involving alumni, like Academy and Hardey Celebrations, Mass of Remembrance, Young Alumni Party, and the Parents of Alumni Party. Secure Host Committee members where appropriate
  • Coordinate gifts and work with the Chairs of the 8th Grade Graduation Celebration and the graduate induction into the Sheridan Road Alumni Association

Alumni Weekend Coordinator

Act as project manager for all aspects of the multi-class celebration.

  • Provide administrative and logistical leadership for all campus events and programming for Alumni Weekend
  • Assist with identifying Alumni Weekend Chairs for communication efforts and planning
  • Promote Alumni Weekend activities through a variety of communication vehicles: invitations, School website, social media, eblasts and newsletters
  • Identify and manage Class Gift Chairs as part of Reunion Class Giving campaign
  • Manage reunion budget and track expenses. Oversee the receipt and management of reunion responses and payments
  • Manage event follow up: acknowledgements, reconciliation and reporting, and post-event wrap up with Alumni Weekend Chairs, SRAA Board, and key volunteers

Communications

Manage alum information and share when and where appropriate.

  • Correspond with constituents and acknowledge their individual accomplishments and life milestones
  • Create and edit the bimonthly Sheridan Road Alumni Association Enewsletter; write articles, format, and communicate important alumni and school information via email to alumni and parents of alumni
  • Manage alumni and parents of alumni memorials; communicate information to the Sacred Heart Community and members of the decedent’s class, as appropriate

Additional duties may be assigned when required.


Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • 3-5 years working within a development environment; previous fundraising experience desired, preferably within a school.
  • Graduate of Sacred Heart Schools Chicago or a Sacred Heart network school preferred, but not required.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office.
  • Familiarity with Raiser’s Edge or other enterprise software preferred.
  • Must work occasional evenings and weekends.
  • Experience in independent or Catholic education a plus

Characteristics of Success:

  • Excellent professional communication skills
  • Ability to move projects forward according to timeline and budget
  • Attention to details a must
  • Polished customer service skills
  • Ability to effectively multitask projects
  • Collegiality and positivity
  • Ability to work independently and within a team

To Apply

Apply directly at the School's website (www.shschicago.org) in the Career Opportunities section, submitting a cover letter and resume.

 

Sacred Heart Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate.

This opening is closed and is no longer accepting applications
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