Associate Director

Associate Director of Advancement – Cranbrook Schools

Founded by Detroit philanthropists George and Ellen Booth in 1904, Cranbrook Educational Community is one of the world’s leading centers of education, science, and art. It comprises a graduate Academy of Art, contemporary Art Museum, Center for Collections and Research, House and Gardens, Institute of Science, and more than 1,600 students attending our Pre‑K through 12 independent college preparatory Schools. The campus, located in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, about 20 miles north of downtown Detroit, is a National Historic Landmark.

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Reporting to the Director of Advancement, the Associate Director of Advancement will lead the coordination and management of the department’s Annual Fund, Major Gifts, and Stewardship programs. The incumbent will manage a team of experienced frontline fundraisers, oversee major donor prospects, and collaborate closely with the Director of Advancement, the Director of Schools, the Schools’ Board of Governors, and the CEC Advancement Staff to achieve fundraising goals.

• Manage a personal portfolio of 75‑90 major gift prospects, including alumni, current parents, grandparents, and other supporters.
• Conduct regular prospect visits—discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship—to secure major and planned gifts.
• Work with the Director of Advancement to create and implement a strategic plan for major gifts.
• Collaborate with the CEC Director of Planned Giving for prospecting and securing planned gifts.

• Evaluate portfolios of all Advancement prospect managers, including quarterly check‑ins to strategize and optimize prospect lists.
• Establish metrics to help prospect managers achieve goals and timetables.
• Identify, research, and qualify prospective donors.
• Direct high‑level cultivation and solicitation activity to the Director of Schools and Director of Advancement when appropriate.

• Supervise the Annual Fund Program.

• Create, execute, and evaluate broad reunion major‑gift efforts, including an 18‑month overlapping reunion major‑gift cycle.
• Lead one or more major‑gift reunion class efforts.

• Develop, evaluate, and streamline systems to support the stewardship of donors and volunteers.
• Conduct research on best practices and recommend donor‑report formats.

• Evaluate performance of annual fund and major gift officers.
• Help plan and execute fundraising and donor‑cultivation events.
• Participate in staff meetings, retreats, and Board meetings when requested.
• Contribute content for organizational communications and marketing materials.
• Support the Director of Advancement in overall departmental management.

Responsible supervision of the Director of Annual Fund and Major Gifts Officer.

• A Bachelor’s degree is required; a Master’s degree is preferred.
• Minimum seven years fundraising or sales experience, preferably in education; major‑gift, campaign experience required.
• Experience managing a Major Gifts Program and a team of fundraising professionals.
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Discretion for handling confidential information.
• Ability to work with major donors, high‑level volunteers, and administrators.
• Collaborative and inclusive decision‑making style.
• Enjoys building relationships with colleagues, alumni, and school families.
• Enthusiasm to support a vibrant, diverse, inclusive community.
• Calm under pressure with sense of humor.
• Initiative with a positive, energetic, can‑do spirit.
• Independent school experience preferred.
• Computer fluency with Excel and relational/administrative databases; familiarity with Blackbaud Raiser's Edge preferred.
• Valid Michigan driver’s license with satisfactory record.

Cranbrook offers competitive compensation and benefits, including medical, dental, life insurance, long‑term and short‑term disability, and retirement programs with employer contribution. Generous paid time off, 11 paid holidays, 3 floating holidays, employee discounts, and a unique educational environment are also provided.

For consideration, submit a resume and cover letter.