La Scuola International School is a private, Preschool - Grade 8 independent school in San Francisco soon to be expanding to the Peninsula with the opening of a new Campus in East Palo Alto in February 2022. 

The school founded its preschool, La Piccola Scuola Italiana,  in 2002 and has earned awards and accolades for its work with Reggio Children in Italy as a leading example of the Reggio Emilia pedagogy in North America.  In 2012, the school expanded its curriculum through grade 8 and is the only school in San Francisco to offer the International Baccalaureate program for the elementary and middle school years as well as the only school in the world to offer a program that blends Reggio Emilia, the International Baccalaureate and Italian language immersion. 

The mission of the school is to inspire brave learners to shape the future. The school does this by believing steadfastly in children’s innate ability to learn and by challenging them academically, creatively and innovatively in an environment that is intentionally designed to elicit creativity and curiosity from those that work there. 

Its language immersion program helps children to develop cognitive skills as well as empathy and awareness of the world around them. The school’s  multicultural and diverse community esteems different perspectives and experiences and strives to educate the global citizens and leaders of tomorrow.

La Scuola International School is accredited by NAIS, CAIS, WASC and CIS and is one of two  Italian schools recognized by the Italian government in the United States.

We believe our community thrives through diversity of backgrounds, perspectives and realities. Only through a persistent drive to listen and learn from one another, create and promote equitable opportunities and to continue to reflect and evolve will we be able to establish systems which will address the needs of the one and the many.

Reporting to the Director of Advancement and working in partnership with the entire advancement staff and Business Office, the associate's primary responsibility is to collaboratively plan, organize and implement La Scuola’s annual giving. Annual giving encompasses all aspects of the school’s comprehensive campaign, including the Annual Fund, the signature annual fundraising gala event, the current capital campaign, and the volunteer management and stewardship that accompany all.  The Advancement Associate must execute an effective program that includes direct messaging, fundraising, and preparation of monthly and annual reports related to giving. The Advancement Associate will coordinate with the Director of Advancement to organize the logistics of all solicitations that make up the annual giving of the school, as well as maintain ongoing communications with existing donors, including individuals, groups, and organizations. A key responsibility of the Advancement Associate is to update and maintain all relevant records within the school’s databases, as well as analyze this data to make any necessary changes to the giving program.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate on planning, implementing, and managing all aspects of an inspiring and compelling Annual Giving program including appeals, donor recognition, and stewardship.

• Strategize with the Director of Advancement to integrate a successful Annual Giving program within the context of a comprehensive campaign.

• Assist in recruiting, training, leading, engaging, and retaining the Annual Giving ambassadors and volunteer solicitors for peer to peer outreach. Communicate updates and next steps.

• Collaborate on researching potential donors and collaborate on solicitation strategies. 

• Execute all AG mailings and donor maintenance. 

• Gift processing and preparing reports.

• Assist in all fundraising activities and major campaigns, including planning, researching donors, tracking campaign progress, recognition, and stewardship.

• Coordinate with the Business Office for monthly and annual reconciliation and financial reporting; reconcile Funds to Bank Deposits

• Strategize with the Director of Advancement on inclusion strategies with the goal of maximizing parent connections to the school, participation in annual giving and advancement programs.

• Identify, cultivate and strengthen relationships with donors through strategic stewardship. 

• Manage the creation, operation, maintenance, data input, data integrity and accuracy of La Scuola’s constituent database

• Lead and manage volunteers for the signature annual fundraising event.

• Oversee Grandparents & Special Friends Day.

• Timely entry of all contributed gifts to La Scuola and the acknowledgement letters for each gift

• Produce reports for a variety of Advancement initiatives including restricted gifts, outstanding commitments, and giving history

• Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Advancement and Head of School.

• Participate in ongoing professional development.

•  Bachelor’s degree.

• A minimum of five years of progressive experience in annual giving, preferably in an academic setting.

• Demonstrated commitment to equity, and supportive of La Scuola’s Statement on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity; demonstrated personal growth and accomplishment in this area preferred.

• Comfort with a range of technology, including Blackbaud’s The Raiser’s Edge (NXT), Generations, Google Suite, Excel, iWaves

• Personal characteristics of an outstanding professional: warmth, tact, discernment, independent thinking and problem-solving, attention to detail, superb communication and organization skills, high energy and a good sense of humor.

• Fluency in Italian a plus!

Position receives excellent benefits, including medical, vision and dental coverage. The school also offers group life insurance, employer-matched retirement, long-term disability insurance and commuter benefits. Other fringe benefits include PTO, paid holidays, daily warm lunch and outstanding professional development.

To be considered for the position, please apply here with a letter of intent, a resume and a minimum of 3 references. More information about our school can be found here https://www.lascuolasf.org/. 

NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY

In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals, employment decisions at La Scuola will be based on merit, qualifications and abilities. La Scuola does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical condition, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability (actual or perceived), medical condition, genetic characteristics, political affiliation or any other characteristic protected by state, federal or local law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, layoff, promotion, transfer and access to benefits and training. If you feel you may have been discriminated against on the basis of sex or would like more information, please contact Dani Sollberger, Director of Administration, by email or 415-558-9006 or by mail at 728 20th Street, San Francisco, CA 94107.