Director of Annual Giving

About North Country School & Camp Treetops

Located on the outskirts of Lake Placid, NY, Camp Treetops and North Country School sit on a 220-acre campus amid majestic mountain peaks in New York State’s Adirondack Park. Since 1921 and 1938 respectively, we have been nationally renowned for pioneering educational programs rooted in progressive practices and experiential learning. Both Camp and School guide children to engage the natural world, take on intellectual and physical challenges in a nurturing community, and cultivate independence and creativity. 

Position Overview

North Country School and Camp Treetops seek an in-person, full-time Director of Annual Giving to support the institution’s Advancement team and goals. In this role, you will strategize for and execute various fundraising initiatives to meet and exceed the organization’s Annual Fund goals—a key component of both Camp and School’s annual revenue. Your key traits you bring to this position include attention to detail, the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, prior experience in fundraising, comfortable interacting with children, and a passion for data-driven analysis and decision-making.

What You Will Do

To meet the Annual Fund’s ambitious yearly goal, you will oversee the cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation of its donors via one-on-one meetings and donor visits by you and other key team members. Leading up to these touchpoints, you will also be responsible for reviewing and conducting research on new prospective donors to refresh the Annual Fund pipeline. You will also complete regular analysis of the fund’s donor pool to ensure that you are identifying those with the highest capacity and intention to give to ensure they are being stewarded and cultivated to grow their giving over time. mid-level and major gifts.

How You Will Spend Your Time

Annual Fund Frontline Fundraising (50% of time)

As the organization’s champion of the Annual Fund, you will interact with a variety of audiences through traditional fundraising efforts and new initiatives as you:

• Engage with a portfolio of approximately 150-300 donors annually through various donor touch points, including meetings, phone calls, visits, events, personalized emails, and more.
• Draft communications, including tailored donor presentations, proposals, grant reports, and follow-up notes for four- and five-figure-level donors. This will include finding creative ways to connect fundraising efforts to Camp and School programming as a clear demonstration of donor impact.
• Facilitate weekly pipeline meetings with the Chief Advancement Officer and Director of Development to execute Annual Fund strategies, including cultivation, stewardship, and asks.
• Plan and execute all written appeals, email appeals, and Annual Fund promotion including in the community magazine, Organic Roots.
• Lead annual broad-based, community giving opportunities including Giving Tuesday and Community Giving Week.

Strategy Development (25% of time)

You will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive and tailored Annual Fund strategy to ensure the organization can cultivate, solicit, and steward current and prospective donors. This will include proactively conducting research to identify and qualify new prospective donors and regularly reviewing and updating current and prospective donor profiles in the Advancement team’s database.

Operational Support (25% of time)

A key element of this role will include close and detailed tracking of Annual Fund gift opportunities and moves management in the database. As a key Advancement team member, you will also support day-to-day activities by answering phone calls and providing campus tours for alumni, parents, and families. The role will also require regular collaboration with various internal and external Camp and School audiences to ensure the success of various projects, initiatives, and events related to the Annual Fund. This will include working with key staff members and volunteers to secure annual gifts from new and current Camp and School parents and families, including regular interaction with the North Country School Family Council.

The Skills You Bring to Our Community

• Bachelor’s Degree or 5+ years of experience in the field
• Prior experience managing the strategy and execution of a successful annual fund (or other equivalent) with a clear record of success
• Demonstration of exceptional communication skills, including writing, research, and presenting
• Working knowledge of database (i.e. Raiser’s Edge)
• Past work as a development or advancement professional in nonprofits or educational institutions
• Experience with email marketing, WordPress or other CMS platforms, Adobe Creative Cloud, Canva, and past marketing and communications experience or working with children a plus

The Values You Bring to Our Community 

• Deep appreciation for community and working with others
• Curiosity and a desire to continuously learn
• Passion for understanding what motivates people to give back
• Ability to work in close collaboration with others
• Warmth, grace, kindness, and a willingness to step outside your comfort zone
• Independence and ability to be a self-starter

The Benefits of Working Here

In addition to a salary of between $40-60K annually (dependent upon experience), you will enjoy:

• Health insurance 
• A retirement plan with TIAA
• Personal time off
• Paid family leave
• Childcare stipend
• Tuition remission for North Country School & Camp Treetops
• Flexible work
• Farm-fresh meals
• Access to campus trails

How to Apply

To apply, please send your resume with a cover letter and references to applicant@ncstreetops.org.

Our Mission and Values

North Country School and Camp Treetops strives to create a community that gives children the self-confidence, knowledge, skills, and values to lead satisfying and productive lives while contributing to their world.

We are a values-driven community and seek to have a positive impact the world around us by living out our core values on and off campus:

• Cultivate Community: We believe in the inherent value and contributions of every person, and in fostering connections to build and nurture a strong, inclusive community.
• Walk a Mile: We believe that understanding and honoring every person’s unique worldview, experiences, and challenges is at the root of empathy and compassion.
• Dig Deep, Keep Growing: We believe that by setting ambitious goals, working hard, and persevering, we build strength and character and set a course for lives of growth, purpose, and fulfillment.
• Stay Curious: We believe in the power of creativity and wonder. We believe that curiosity about ourselves, other people, and the world around us leads to growth, innovation, and sometimes unconventional ideas.
• Our Planet, Our Job: We believe in individual and collective responsibility for our planet, and in leading by example as a community that works to respect, protect, and restore the natural world.