Director of Advancement

About Tanbridge Academy

Tanbridge Academy is a leading independent school committed to academic excellence, character development, and strong family engagement. We are seeking a dynamic, relationship-focused, and strategic

Director of Advancement to lead fundraising, alumni relations, donor stewardship, communications, and community engagement initiatives.

Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Advancement will work closely with school leadership, the Board of Directors, the Fundraising Committee, parents, alumni, donors, and the broader community to support the long-term growth, sustainability, and public profile of the school.

This leadership role balances strategic planning with hands-on execution and plays a central role in strengthening community relationships, advancing fundraising initiatives, supporting enrollment and engagement efforts, and enhancing the overall visibility and reputation of Tanbridge Academy.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Advancement

- Develop, implement, and refine annual advancement and fundraising strategies that support the school’s long-term mission and strategic priorities.
- Plan and execute annual giving campaigns, sponsorship initiatives, donor stewardship activities, fundraising events, and future capital campaign initiatives.
- Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with parents, alumni, donors, community leaders, sponsors, and prospective supporters.
- Prepare grant applications, sponsorship proposals, donor communications, campaign materials, and advancement reports.
- Work collaboratively with the Board of Directors and Fundraising Committee to support donor cultivation, campaign planning, stewardship strategies, and community partnerships.
- Track and report on fundraising goals, advancement metrics, donor engagement, and campaign performance.
- Assist in the development and management of advancement-related budgets and campaign tracking.
- Support initiatives that strengthen the school’s public profile, community presence, and reputation.

- Alumni Relations

- Develop and maintain a comprehensive alumni relations strategy and alumni database.
- Foster meaningful and ongoing relationships with alumni and their families through communications, events, networking opportunities, and engagement initiatives.
- Support alumni participation, volunteerism, mentorship opportunities, and philanthropic engagement.




- Coordinate alumni communications, recognition activities, and community engagement initiatives.
- Assist in identifying and cultivating prospective alumni donors and community supporters.

Donor Database Management & Reporting

- Lead the development, organization, and ongoing management of the school’s donor and alumni database.
- Maintain accurate records for donations, pledges, sponsorships, donor interactions, alumni engagement, and stewardship activities.
- Generate reports and analytics related to fundraising performance, donor engagement, and advancement activities.
- Develop systems and processes that improve donor tracking, reporting accuracy, and fundraising analytics.
- Ensure confidentiality, accuracy, and compliance with privacy legislation and ethical fundraising standards.

Communications & Community Engagement

- Lead parent, donor, alumni, and community communications related to school initiatives and advancement activities.
- Develop and execute communication strategies including newsletters, website content, email campaigns, social media content, promotional materials, and impact reports.
- Support parent engagement initiatives that strengthen school-community relationships and encourage active participation in school life.
- Coordinate advancement-related events, donor recognition activities, and community engagement initiatives.
- Support student recruitment and enrollment initiatives through community engagement, communications, marketing materials, and event participation.
- Work closely with school leadership to ensure consistent branding, messaging, and public relations across all communication platforms.
- Stewardship & Compliance

- Develop and implement donor stewardship practices that encourage long-term engagement and philanthropic support.
- Ensure all fundraising, donor management, communications, and advancement activities comply with legal, ethical, and privacy standards.




- Provide administrative coordination and organizational support related to advancement activities, events, communications, and donor engagement initiatives.

Qualifications & Experience

- 5+ years of experience in fundraising, advancement, donor relations, communications, nonprofit leadership, or a related field preferred.
- Equivalent combinations of education and experience will be considered.
- Demonstrated experience building relationships with donors, alumni, families, volunteers, boards, or community stakeholders.
- Experience supporting or leading fundraising initiatives, donor stewardship, sponsorships, or advancement campaigns.
- Robust written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal communication skills.
- Experience with CRM/donor database systems, Microsoft 365, reporting tools, and advancement analytics.
- Experience working with boards, committees, or volunteer groups is considered an asset.
- Knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor stewardship, strategic communications, and data privacy standards.
- CFRE designation or equivalent fundraising credential is considered an asset.

Personal Attributes

- Professional, organized, and relationship-oriented with a passion for education and community engagement.
- Strategic thinker with strong initiative, creativity, and attention to detail.
- Collaborative team player capable of balancing multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills with the ability to build lasting relationships across diverse stakeholder groups.
- Adaptable, resourceful, and capable of balancing strategic planning with day-to-day execution.

Salary & Benefits

- Competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications.
- Comprehensive benefits package and retirement contributions.
- Paid vacation and professional development opportunities.
- Opportunity to play a key leadership role in the continued growth and advancement of a respected independent school community.

Why Join Tanbridge Academy?

- This is an exciting opportunity to play a key leadership role in the continued growth and advancement of Tanbridge Academy. The Director of Advancement will help strengthen the school’s fundraising capacity, alumni engagement, donor stewardship, community relationships, and overall strategic growth while supporting the long-term success of the school and its students.

📌 Director of Advancement (Calgary)
🏢 Tanbridge Academy
📍 Calgary