Senior Director of Philanthropy The Taft School | Watertown, Connecticut The Taft School (Taft), one of the nation’s premier college-preparatory boarding and day schools, seeks an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as the senior director of philanthropy (senior director). This is a compelling opportunity for a skilled leader to oversee the critical areas of annual, principal, major, and planned giving, while also managing a select portfolio of major and principal gift donors. The senior director will expertly devise cohesive strategies to elevate these functions as the advancement enterprise raises sights under the new leadership of Kathleen Cleary, who began her tenure as chief advancement officer (CAO) in September 2025 and comes to Taft following a decade of leadership experience at Phillips Academy. This leadership role to strategically guide and elevate Taft’s frontline fundraising divisions comes at an exciting time of growth and momentum as the School prepares to embark on a historic comprehensive campaign that will further Taft’s mission, values, and culture: its insistence on excellence, passion for community and belonging, commitment to improvement and to service, and pride in school spirit. The Taft School was founded in 1890 by Horace D. Taft, who believed that character, above all else, determines success in life. Nearly 135 years later, Taft students, or Tafties as they are colloquially known, continue to live out the School’s motto of “Not to be served, but to serve” both in and out of the classroom. Taft’s appeal is strong, as evidenced by its 1,650 annual applications and 16 percent acceptance rate. The campus attracts a mix of boarding and day students and prioritizes enrolling diverse classes: 42 percent of students identify as students of color; 19 percent are international students, hailing from 54 different countries; and 35 percent of the student body receives financial aid. The School’s tradition of alumni giving is notable, with 34 percent of alumni donating annually, ensuring its ability to sustain excellence for the coming generations. Additionally, more than 90 percent of Taft’s current parents contribute annually to the Parents’ Fund.Reporting to the CAO, the senior director will serve as a leader within the advancement enterprise and build and motivate a dynamic team focused on maximizing the level of support for the School. Leading by example, the senior director will manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects to secure major and principal gifts, while overseeing and building a team of cohesive, high-performing gift officers across all giving levels and vehicles, effectively growing the School’s pipeline and volume of individual donors. As Taft continues to invest in the growth and sophistication of its advancement enterprise, the senior director is presented with the unique opportunity to build out these key functions and make a number of significant hires to the team, most notably in major and principal giving. The senior director will oversee a growing team of 8-12 professionals.The ideal candidate will be a seasoned development professional with strong analytical, managerial, and frontline fundraising skills. The successful candidate will be a dedicated and motivational team leader adept at optimizing, retaining, and advocating for staff, while facilitating team success. The senior director will inspire collaboration across the advancement enterprise, most notably with colleagues in advancement services, alumni and parent relations, and constituent relations. Ideally, this individual will also bring a depth of experience in a comprehensive campaign setting. The senior director will be a self–assured, results-oriented development professional with a collegial and accessible leadership style. This individual must also possess strong organizational and program-building skills; a keen understanding of best practices in fundraising, and a comprehensive knowledge of all major advancement functions. Importantly, the incoming senior director will bring a deep appreciation for the mission, history, and values of Taft, along with an authentic and enthusiastic spirit to serve as an external representative of the School.Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Maureen Bogdan, and Ryan Cheung.The Taft School is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is the policy of The Taft School to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, actual or perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition, or any other class protected by law. APPLY NOMINATE contact Maureen Bogdan Full Description
The Taft School (Taft), one of the nation’s premier college-preparatory boarding and day schools, seeks an experienced and collaborative leader to serve as the senior director of philanthropy (senior director). This is a compelling opportunity for a skilled leader to oversee the critical areas of annual, principal, major, and planned giving, while also managing a select portfolio of major and principal gift donors. The senior director will expertly devise cohesive strategies to elevate these functions as the advancement enterprise raises sights under the new leadership of Kathleen Cleary, who began her tenure as chief advancement officer (CAO) in September 2025 and comes to Taft following a decade of leadership experience at Phillips Academy. This leadership role to strategically guide and elevate Taft’s frontline fundraising divisions comes at an exciting time of growth and momentum as the School prepares to embark on a historic comprehensive campaign that will further Taft’s mission, values, and culture: its insistence on excellence, passion for community and belonging, commitment to improvement and to service, and pride in school spirit. The Taft School was founded in 1890 by Horace D. Taft, who believed that character, above all else, determines success in life. Nearly 135 years later, Taft students, or Tafties as they are colloquially known, continue to live out the School’s motto of “Not to be served, but to serve” both in and out of the classroom. Taft’s appeal is strong, as evidenced by its 1,650 annual applications and 16 percent acceptance rate. The campus attracts a mix of boarding and day students and prioritizes enrolling diverse classes: 42 percent of students identify as students of color; 19 percent are international students, hailing from 54 different countries; and 35 percent of the student body receives financial aid. The School’s tradition of alumni giving is notable, with 34 percent of alumni donating annually, ensuring its ability to sustain excellence for the coming generations. Additionally, more than 90 percent of Taft’s current parents contribute annually to the Parents’ Fund.Reporting to the CAO, the senior director will serve as a leader within the advancement enterprise and build and motivate a dynamic team focused on maximizing the level of support for the School. Leading by example, the senior director will manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects to secure major and principal gifts, while overseeing and building a team of cohesive, high-performing gift officers across all giving levels and vehicles, effectively growing the School’s pipeline and volume of individual donors. As Taft continues to invest in the growth and sophistication of its advancement enterprise, the senior director is presented with the unique opportunity to build out these key functions and make a number of significant hires to the team, most notably in major and principal giving. The senior director will oversee a growing team of 8-12 professionals.The ideal candidate will be a seasoned development professional with strong analytical, managerial, and frontline fundraising skills. The successful candidate will be a dedicated and motivational team leader adept at optimizing, retaining, and advocating for staff, while facilitating team success. The senior director will inspire collaboration across the advancement enterprise, most notably with colleagues in advancement services, alumni and parent relations, and constituent relations. Ideally, this individual will also bring a depth of experience in a comprehensive campaign setting. The senior director will be a self–assured, results-oriented development professional with a collegial and accessible leadership style. This individual must also possess strong organizational and program-building skills; a keen understanding of best practices in fundraising, and a comprehensive knowledge of all major advancement functions. Importantly, the incoming senior director will bring a deep appreciation for the mission, history, and values of Taft, along with an authentic and enthusiastic spirit to serve as an external representative of the School.Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Maureen Bogdan, and Ryan Cheung.The Taft School is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is the policy of The Taft School to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, actual or perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition, or any other class protected by law.
