About Shady Hill School
Since 1915, Shady Hill, a school of approximately 530 students (PreK - Grade 8) and 90+ faculty, has been a leader in progressive education. Shady Hill is a deeply mission-driven school. We seek to develop independent, joyful and curious learners who respect their own accomplishments and those of others. We strive to be a community whose values are strong and whose teachers are unafraid to engage students in important questions. The school’s program allows children to explore their worlds and test their powers. As a school with a historical and contemporary commitment to social justice, we believe that an inclusive and equitable community is an educational and moral imperative that empowers us all. Therefore, we seek to hire individuals who demonstrate a mindset and skill set that prioritizes cultural competence, equity, and justice in their practice with students and in their work with colleagues.
About The Position
Shady Hill School is seeking an Assistant Director of Development to join our team. The Assistant Director of Development is responsible for the management of the Shady Hill Fund and building donor relationships, primarily with parents, the school’s key fundraising constituency. An integral member of the Advancement team, the Assistant DOD maximizes the effectiveness of donor research and executes a high level annual fund program. This is a full-time, exempt (salaried), 12-month, in-person position beginning in July 2026, reporting to the Director of Development and Alumni Relations.
Primary Responsibilities
Annual Fund Responsibilities (75%)
How to apply: Please send a pdf including a cover letter and resume to: [email protected] . Please be sure to include “Assistant Director of Development” in the subject line of the email.
Shady Hill offers competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance plans, a school-matched retirement plan and paid time off. Shady Hill is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Employees must be authorized to work in the USA. For more information on Shady Hill please visit us at www.shs.org .
Since 1915, Shady Hill, a school of approximately 530 students (PreK - Grade 8) and 90+ faculty, has been a leader in progressive education. Shady Hill is a deeply mission-driven school. We seek to develop independent, joyful and curious learners who respect their own accomplishments and those of others. We strive to be a community whose values are strong and whose teachers are unafraid to engage students in important questions. The school’s program allows children to explore their worlds and test their powers. As a school with a historical and contemporary commitment to social justice, we believe that an inclusive and equitable community is an educational and moral imperative that empowers us all. Therefore, we seek to hire individuals who demonstrate a mindset and skill set that prioritizes cultural competence, equity, and justice in their practice with students and in their work with colleagues.
About The Position
Shady Hill School is seeking an Assistant Director of Development to join our team. The Assistant Director of Development is responsible for the management of the Shady Hill Fund and building donor relationships, primarily with parents, the school’s key fundraising constituency. An integral member of the Advancement team, the Assistant DOD maximizes the effectiveness of donor research and executes a high level annual fund program. This is a full-time, exempt (salaried), 12-month, in-person position beginning in July 2026, reporting to the Director of Development and Alumni Relations.
Primary Responsibilities
Annual Fund Responsibilities (75%)
- Implement a comprehensive annual giving plan including direct mail appeals, emails, and other communications
- Identify, cultivate and solicit annual fund donors
- Produce the written copy and design materials for the annual fund, including donor communications, emails, annual fund appeals, and acknowledgement and stewardship letters
- Identify annual giving targets for all annual fund constituents
- Strategically leverage giving through segmentation
- Manage operations, planning and execution of annual May Day of Giving program
- Produce monthly dashboard and weekly tiered giving reports
- Recruit, cultivate and manage parent, PALS (Parents of Alums), and grandparent volunteer fundraising groups
- Work with volunteer groups for events as needed (including Grandparents Day, PALS party, and May Day)
- Use Raiser’s Edge to run queries and reports
- Use Give Campus to manage all giving pages
- Represent the Advancement Office at fundraising and community events, including nights and weekends
- Work closely with the Director of Development and other school partners to further the Advancement Program and enhance the culture of philanthropy throughout the organization
- Other duties as assigned
- A minimum of 4-8 years development/fundraising experience
- Ability to build strong relationships with faculty, staff, parents and alumni throughout the community
- Successful track record of soliciting gifts
- Passion for education and Shady Hill’s mission and a willingness to actively participate in the community
- Exceptional written and oral communication skills; demonstrated ability to conceptualize and describe funding needs in a way that is compelling to donors and prospects
- Strong work ethic; ability to lead by example and work effectively in a small environment while maintaining confidentiality
- Excellent administrative, analytical, organizational, and time management skills; high level of attention to detail
- Advanced computer skills, including Microsoft office, Raiser’s Edge, and web-based applications
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
How to apply: Please send a pdf including a cover letter and resume to: [email protected] . Please be sure to include “Assistant Director of Development” in the subject line of the email.
Shady Hill offers competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance plans, a school-matched retirement plan and paid time off. Shady Hill is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. Employees must be authorized to work in the USA. For more information on Shady Hill please visit us at www.shs.org .
About the company
Company website•Primary and Secondary Education
Shady Hill School is an independent, co-educational day school in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1915, Shady Hill serves students in pre-kindergarten (called 'Beginners) through 8th grade. The school has an enrollment of approximately 500 students. Current Shady Hill Head of School Mark Stanek became the school's sixth director in 2010.
A teaching approach called Central Subject is the fundamental organizing force behind Shady Hill's curriculum. It is a year-long study around which each grade, III - VIII, focuses its work in history, literature, geography, and writing. It is the study of a people, a period of history, an idea or movement. It is a way of organizing subject matter that is flexible, inclusive, frequently changing in its application, yet constant in its commitment to certain approaches to study.