Role Title: Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Community Engagement
FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director of Development
Direct Reports: N/A
Cathedral School for Boys, a nationally recognized, K–8 boys’ school located in the Nob Hill neighborhood of San Francisco, is currently seeking qualified candidates for the position of Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Community Engagement.
Founded in 1957, Cathedral School remains committed to providing an exceptional educational experience for its students by developing scholars, leaders, and young men of character who are self-aware, confident, and eager to make a difference in the world.
Main Purpose of the Role
The Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Community Engagement is an integral member of our Development Office team and is responsible for fostering a culture of philanthropy, engagement, and volunteerism in support of Cathedral School for Boys. The ideal candidate for this position is a self-starter with a personable and outgoing nature, strong communication skills, a highly organized, detail-oriented approach to work, a sense of humor, and a commitment to excellence.
The Assistant Director oversees the School’s annual giving program, the Cathedral School Fund, which currently raises nearly $2 million annually for the School’s general operations. In addition to coordinating all aspects of this fundraising effort, the Assistant Director fosters community engagement through outreach, communication, and events designed to sustain a culture of belonging, gratitude, and shared responsibility for stewardship across School constituencies, including current families, alumni, parents of alumni, faculty and staff, grandparents, and our extended community.
Key Responsibilities
Annual Giving (Cathedral School Fund):
- Coordinates all aspects of the Cathedral School Fund.
- Manages an effective program of targeted fundraising appeals to all Cathedral School constituencies, maximizing contributions and engagement over the course of the annual fundraising cycle.
- Identifies and enlists volunteer leadership from among key constituencies and works with volunteers to meet fundraising and participation goals.
- Prepares and compiles all materials for volunteer training, annual giving communications, solicitations, and constituent outreach.
- Works with the Director of Marketing and Communications to create printed collateral, website content, online media, and other supporting media and materials for annual giving appeals.
- Monitors and evaluates effectiveness of annual giving solicitation programs and tailors strategy to maximize donor engagement and fundraising.
- Coordinates cultivation, acknowledgment, and stewardship plans for Cathedral School Fund donors and volunteers.
- Identifies major gift prospects among annual donors based on giving history and profiles.
- Maximizes the corporate matching gift potential among current and prospective donors.
- Oversees the gift entry, acknowledgment, and quarterly pledge reminder processes and works with the Development Coordinator to ensure accurate, consistent, and timely recordkeeping.
- Produces monthly updates on fundraising for Development Committee and Board meetings.
Community Engagement:
- Coordinates events that support a successful annual giving program through community engagement, donor cultivation, and stewardship. Key events include a New Family Welcome Reception in the fall, Head of School Coffees, Patron Donor Receptions in the winter and spring, and related events for constituencies including trustees, alumni, and grandparents.
- Assists the School’s Parents Association with community events, including the Fall Bash, Grandparents & Special Friends Day, and the annual spring Celebration & Auction.
- Works with the Director of Marketing and Communications to create printed collateral, website content, online media, and other supporting media and materials for events and other development activities as applicable.
- Attends Development and other school events and is a visible and engaged community member.
- Assists with writing and generating accurate donor listings for our Annual Report.
- Builds and runs Raiser’s Edge queries, mailings, exports, and reports to support department outreach and communications.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Belonging Commitments:
- Engage in conversations with empathy and curiosity.
- Listen to recognize the presence, ideas, and beliefs of all individuals within the Cathedral School community.
- Practice courage and act with integrity to speak up for what is right even when it is challenging or unpopular.
- Uphold the process of reflection, healing, and repair, holding ourselves accountable and accepting responsibility for our actions.
Skills and Competencies:
- Warm, welcoming demeanor and ability to communicate and engage with diverse individuals in formal and informal settings.
- Resourcefulness and willingness to take initiative.
- Highly organized approach to prioritizing workload and managing multiple deadlines.
- Strong analytical problem-solving and collaboration skills.
- Keen attention to detail and commitment to quality and accuracy.
- Strong writing, editorial, and verbal communication skills.
- Ability to exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality.
- Positive attitude and ability to demonstrate enthusiasm for the mission, values, and goals of the School.
- Availability to work some nights and weekends.
- Ability to operate a motor vehicle and lift up to 25 pounds (reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions).
- A flexible mindset and a sense of humor reflecting Cathedral’s belief that education thrives in a school where parents, teachers, students, and trustees know each other well, communicate comfortably and openly in an environment of mutual respect, and habitually laugh together.
| Category | Required | Preferred |
| Qualification | Bachelor’s degree | |
| Experience | 3–5 years of experience in development, fundraising, or related nonprofit or professional experience | Event planning experience |
| Prior Knowledge | Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace
Proficiency in Blackbaud Raiser’s Edge / NXT or similar fundraising software | |
Compensation: Cathedral School offers a competitive Assistant Director of Annual Giving & Community Engagement salary ranging from $100,000 to $140,000, depending upon experience. Additionally, Cathedral School consistently offers one of the most robust systems of benefits among independent schools in the Bay Area.
Contact: Please send a cover letter and résumé to Melisa Seward Block, Chief Finance and Operations Officer, at
block@cathedralschool.net.