Drew School San Francisco, California Director of Advancement July 1, 2017 www.drewschool.org
Mission
Fast Facts
Drew knows and believes in teenagers. We engage each student in a process of intellectual discovery to develop an individual voice, the confidence to express it, and the empathy to understand its impact.
Students: 280 Students of color: 38% Faculty members: 35 Faculty of color: 11% Faculty with advanced degrees: 74% Student/teacher ratio: 8:1 Annual operating budget: $12.8 million Financial aid awarded: $2.9 million Students receiving financial aid: 44%
The School Drew School knows and believes in teenagers. For more than 100 years, Drew has been a leader within San Francisco and the greater Bay Area at engaging high schoolers in a process of intellectual discovery that develops an individual voice, the confidence to express it, and the empathy to understand its impact. Drew challenges traditional notions of success through a constructivist model of education in an environment where relationships truly matter. Drew students are individually known, understood, supported, challenged, and celebrated. They come to see Drew as a second home as they develop into well-rounded individuals who are sought after by colleges and who know themselves well when they step out into the world. Drew promotes high school as a time for profound discovery and exploration—not as an endurance test or a race to college. Drew’s faculty are experts in their subject areas and in the developmental process of teenagers. All of this allows Drew’s students to engage deeply in their education and learn more about the material, themselves, and the world around them. This is an exciting moment for Drew School. A dynamic new Head of School, David Frankenberg, was appointed in 2015. His vision and leadership are already impacting curriculum, community, and communications. Drew recently completed a re-branding initiative, enrollment is on the rise, fundraising is expanding, and facilities have been significantly upgraded. The fiercely competitive independent school market in San Francisco is trending toward a more progressive, student-centered approach that is Drew’s hallmark. This represents a unique opportunity for Drew’s new Director of Advancement. Drew has become more confident and clear in expressing its long-held values and philosophy, which are ahead of the market’s trend. Therefore, this is an occasion for the right candidate to capitalize on shifting educational philosophies to advance the school, solidify its value proposition, and firmly establish Drew as a clear leader in a crowded market. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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School History Throughout its history, Drew has encouraged and guided students to express themselves and pursue their individual interests and talents. Founded in 1908 by Bay Area educator John Sheehan Drew, the school has grown from a one-student “coaching” school to a fully accredited, co-educational, college preparatory school enrolling 280 students in grades 9-12. In concert with the educational picture in San Francisco, Drew has undergone various iterations: preparing students for military academies in the 1940s and 1950s; serving students with learning and social differences in the 1960s and 1970s; and enrolling international students in the 1970s and 1980s. In the past 25 years, Drew has honed its student-centered approach where success is measured one student at a time.
The Academics Drew’s academic program is designed to fully engage students in their learning so that every student feels ownership and agency in the process. Drew’s talented faculty are experts in their subject matter and in teenagers’ intricate development. Teachers build close relationships with students as they collaborate on innovative pursuits, creating an environment in which students feel safe and supported in taking intellectual risks. While Drew proudly prepares its students to attend the most rigorous universities, the aim is much larger than mere college readiness. Drew strives to create an intentional educational experience that taps into each student’s natural interests and curiosity and uses them as building blocks of a transformative process that allows them to become lifelong learners with a deep sense of themselves and of their place in this world. Drew offers a wide range of courses and opportunities for students, including honors and Advanced Placement classes, four languages, a robust arts program, student clubs, experiential electives, affinity groups, a Global Awareness program, a Writers Festival, a MakerSpace, and more. The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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Each year, students participate in the weeklong DEALL (Drew Education for Active Lifelong Learning) program, a faculty generated and led program offering projects that give students the chance to explore their talents, take risks, and draw connections between what’s learned in the classroom and real world situations. Activities range from international trips to study ecology or culture to local adventures and community service activities. The individualized and hands-on approach that characterizes the Drew curriculum culminates in the senior year, when students craft independent senior projects that enable them to explore their academic, creative, and professional interests.
Student Life Students see Drew as a second home. This comfort and happiness are developed through an assortment of co- and extra-curricular activities that enrich life at the school. Students take advantage of Drew’s urban location through an open campus policy, where students are free to leave campus during lunch and breaks to take advantage of the nearby restaurants, parks, and neighborhood. The school believes that a commitment to athleticism, teamwork, and healthy competition builds confidence, leadership, and school spirit. Students may select from 21 varsity and junior varsity teams on which to play. Nearly 70% of Drew students participate in the school’s athletic program. Both Drew’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams are CIF NCS champions.
Physical Campus In recent years, Drew has enhanced and improved its physical facilities, creating state-of-the-art space that reflects the school’s values and philosophy. The Cuddeback Wing, opened in 2011, added significant classroom space to campus as well as a multi-purpose assembly hall and theater, The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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affording the entire community the opportunity to come together for a variety of school events. The theater includes a modern control room and a large music rehearsal room connected to a stateof-the-art digital multi-track recording studio. A LEED Gold certified building, the Cuddeback Wing represents Drew’s larger commitment to sustainability. A living roof and vertical garden with 1,700 square feet of planted area and more than 4,500 plants top the wing.
San Francisco, California San Francisco is one of the most diverse and dynamic communities in the United States. With that comes an independent school market that is extremely competitive, sophisticated, and collegial. Drew is emerging as a leader in this market among nationally recognized schools. Famous for its scenic beauty, cultural attractions, diverse communities, and world-class cuisine, the San Francisco Bay Area is one of the world’s most coveted places to live. The Golden Gate Bridge and the city’s abundant parks provide outdoor respite to residents and visitors. Among its cultural and civic attractions, San Francisco has a world-renowned symphony, ballet, and opera companies, several world-class art museums, and such top experiential learning institutions as the California Academy of Sciences and the Exploratorium. The Bay Area is home to many leading universities and colleges, including Stanford, UC Berkeley, University of California San Francisco, Mills College, University of San Francisco, and San Francisco State University.
Opportunities and Challenges The new Director of Advancement will be a key partner to the Head of School and within his senior administrative team, charged integrating the school’s Admissions, Communications, and Development efforts within the school brand and with achieving an ambitious set of annual and The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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endowment fundraising goals. Drew’s advancement work will focus on continuing to establish Drew as a market leader in San Francisco through its distinctive value proposition of providing an inclusive and compassionate environment where each student is known, valued, and engaged in a constructivist process of intellectual discovery that develops their individual voice. The new DOA will oversee the strategic planning and all operational phases of the advancement program. Increased Annual Fund giving over the past five years reflects a strong sense of community among current parents, students, the Board, faculty, and alumni. Thus, further energized engagement of these constituencies, especially alumni, is timely. To complement recent significant physical plant, additions, including multiple new teaching and gathering spaces, the successful candidate must broaden Drew’s major gift prospect base both to bolster the Annual Fund and to enhance endowment and operational funding. In short, solidifying a broad-based major gifts program, involving prospect identification, research, and stewardship, including planned giving elements, will support all essential Drew initiatives looking forward. Simultaneously, the new DOA must get to know the Advancement personnel, understanding their respective roles and determining any voids in staffing or emphasis. As part of the senior administrative team, the successful candidate must forge productive working relationships with the Head of School, Board members, the Director of Admission, the COO/CFO, and the Director of Communications. Being a visible presence on campus, well-known to faculty and staff, will also enhance the Advancement Office’s efforts.
Responsibilities of the Director of Advancement • Develop a vision for and hire, train, motivate, manage, and evaluate an advancement team; • Manage the Drew brand - ensuring that all of the school’s advancement activities are cohesive and intentional; • Engage the Board of Trustees in fundraising goals and initiatives; • Use data to assess and monitor annual development goals and develop longer-term plans for
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approval by the Head of School; • Externally represent Drew to current and prospective support constituencies; • Sustain and enhance current development, alumni relations, and parent programming; • Partner with the Trustee Development Committee to help implement annual support goals, with an emphasis on operating funds and endowment,; • Increase annual giving participation and dollars; • Formulate leadership gift solicitation strategies, emphasizing endowment and, when needed, capital project priorities; • Ensure prompt and accurate gift and pledge recording, acknowledgement, and compliance with school policy and philanthropic best practices; • Serve as an effective mentor and communicator to constituents with different personalities and cultures; • Be an articulate and passionate spokesperson for Drew’s mission, brand, and programs; • Enhance the school environment by serving as an active community member; • Be a natural team builder; • Demonstrate a strong external and strategic focus.
Desired Experience and Qualities of the Director of Advancement • B.A. degree (advanced degree preferred); • 7-10 years of leadership fundraising experience, including campaign planning and management, ideally in an independent school, college, or university; • Track record of cohesively integrating the full range of advancement programs; • Demonstrated evidence of ability to raise six- and seven-figure gifts; • Experience in creating departmental budgets and in supervising development and constituent relations administration; • Highly professional team-player, with a strong sense of integrity and a sense of humor; • A firm believer in the school’s values and the capacity articulate the case for support of Drew; • A data-driven, systems-thinker, with deep strategic and analytical skills; The Search Group | Carney, Sandoe & Associates
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• A decisive and confident leader, with the capacity to understand the school’s culture and develop consensus; • Excellent communication skills, both oral and written; • Mastery of a relational database such as Raiser’s Edge, Word, and Excel; • Urban school experience a plus.
To Apply Interested candidates should submit the following materials confidentially to Gary Dicovitsky and Bob Fricker (electronically in one email and as separate documents, preferably as PDFs): • Current résumé with Education, Experience, and Related Professional Experience; • Cover letter expressing interest in and suitability for the position; • List of references with name, phone number, and email address for each—references will be contacted only with the candidate’s permission. Send to: Senior Search Consultants: Gary Dicovitsky gary.dicovitsky@carneysandoe.com Bob Fricker bob.fricker@carneysandoe.com
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