Executive Brief

Director of Annual Giving
Carroll School

About Carroll School

Carroll School is a dynamic independent day school for elementary and middle school students in grades 1-9 who have been diagnosed with specific learning difficulties in reading and writing, such as dyslexia. The school consists of a lower school in Waltham, Massachusetts, a middle school in Lincoln, and an upper school in Wayland, Massachusetts.

Carroll School empowers children to become academically skilled students who are strong self-advocates and confident lifelong learners prepared to enter other academic settings. Carroll is an inclusive community committed to embracing diverse strengths, identities, and lived experiences in order to give each child what they most need to thrive.

Carroll School is an equal opportunity employer that offers competitive salaries and benefits, including comprehensive professional development opportunities.

Leadership Spotlights:

Dr. Renée Greenfield - Head of School

Dr. Renée Greenfield
Head of School


 

I am so excited to lead a community that shares my foundational beliefs about how kids learn. When I work with teachers, I always encourage them to think about our role as educators in these ways: 1) know the whole child, not just their academic profile; 2) appreciate each child for who they are; and 3) have a plan to help each child succeed. Carroll has this same approach. Being able to continue to push that forward, it’s an awesome set-up for a school leader
- Dr. Renée Greenfield

Dr. Renée Greenfield brings over 20 years of experience as a teacher, Orton-Gillingham Fellow, university professor, and leader in education. She returns to Carroll after teaching at the school from 2000-2004 and serving as a teacher coach from 2011-2012. Fueled by her early experiences at Carroll and a desire to support children who are underserved, Renée focused her advanced studies on language learning and dyslexia, earning a Master of Education in Moderate Disabilities (pre-K-9) from Lesley University and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction, Language and Literacy from Boston College.

The path that led Renée back to lead Carroll School is rooted in her experience in the classroom, educating both students and teachers. Renée began her career as a speech-language teacher in the Lawrence Public Schools, before joining Carroll as a teacher and teacher coach for four years. She went on to teach in the Newton Public Schools where she helped to create the REACH program, a citywide language development program that supports students with language-based learning disabilities. In the pursuit of acquiring a deeper understanding of how language is developed in children and how to support students who struggle to acquire reading skills, Renée earned her doctoral degree in curriculum and instruction from Boston College.

Renée went on to become professor of special education at the University of Hartford, where she specialized in the areas of language development, learning disabilities, and preparing educators to educate linguistically diverse students with and without disabilities. After four years, Renée was presented the opportunity by the Amherst Pelham Public School District to combine her dedication towards teaching both students and teachers. As a specialized instructional coach, Renée coached the district’s co-teachers, taught courses in the Orton-Gillingham approach, provided ongoing professional support to K-12 educators, and worked with the English Language coordinator to educate bilingual students with learning disabilities. In 2017, Renée assumed the leadership position of assistant principal at Fort River Elementary School, where she worked collaboratively and strategically with district leaders, teachers and staff, including leading the school’s special education team.

Renée’s career has gained her the skills to successfully guide the mission and strategic vision of Carroll School in 2021 and beyond. With 20 years of instructional leadership experiences and a robust background in quantitative and qualitative research, Renée understands how students and teachers learn and is uniquely qualified to further build and improve upon Carroll's exceptional academic program. She looks forward to continuing Carroll’s commitment to giving each child what they most need, data-informed instruction, partnering and engaging in research in the LBLD field, strengthening its commitment to social justice, and professional development for faculty and staff.

Meaghan Kilian - Executive Director of Advancement

Meaghan Kilian
Executive Director of Advancement


Meaghan Kilian, Carroll School's Executive Director of Advancement, has over 15 years of advancement experience in higher education, environmental nonprofits, and independent schools. In the past, she served as the Director of Major and Principal Gifts at St. Mark’s School in Southborough. While at St. Mark’s, Meaghan oversaw all strategy and frontline fundraising activity for a team that raised over $112M as part of the Lives of Consequence campaign, the largest fundraising initiative in St. Mark’s history.

Meaghan holds a B.A. in Economics and Sociology from Trinity College and an MBA in Public and Nonprofit Management from Boston University.


Q: How did you find your way to Carroll School?

My journey to Carroll actually started on the sidelines of a preschool soccer game where I struck up a conversation with Kate Collins, Upper School Division Head, as we watched our kids play. Kate’s passion for Carroll was infectious and she encouraged me to consider learning more about the school and the Executive Director of Advancement position. After discussions with several other faculty, staff, and trustees, I was convinced that Kate was right; Carroll is indeed a very special place!

Q: What does an Executive Director of Advancement do?

The Executive Director of Advancement is responsible for envisioning and executing the fundraising strategy that will help Carroll School achieve its next phase of growth. In this role, I will lead the Advancement team in partnership with the Head of School, colleagues across Carroll, and volunteer leaders to grow annual revenue and long-term capital investment. Beyond raising funds, the Advancement team plays a key role in engaging parents, alumni, and friends in the life of the school. I look forward to getting to know the whole Carroll community, near and far.

Q: Carroll works to nurture a "culture of giving." What does this mean to you and why is it important?

A culture of giving involves understanding the impact of philanthropy and celebrating generosity in all of its forms. We give generously to organizations that are meaningful to us, and we give in a variety of ways—through our time, advocacy, and philanthropy. The impact of past and present generosity to Carroll is evident in all the ways that the School is exceptional—its educators, staff, and programs, and the way that it changes the lives of its students.

Q: What would you like to accomplish in your first year?

I am so lucky to be joining a team that is already quite accomplished and to have the opportunity to build upon a very strong advancement foundation. The success of the recent If Not for Carroll Campaign and the growth in the Annual Fund over the past several years speaks volumes about the commitment of the Carroll community, both internal and external. In my first year, I plan to complete the team by hiring two new staff members, to meet and get to know as many members of the Carroll community as possible, and to lay the groundwork for significant growth in fundraising over the next several years.

Q: What does belonging mean to you?

Brené Brown defines belonging as “being part of something bigger, but also having the courage to stand alone and belong to yourself above all else.” I find this definition particularly relevant for a school like Carroll, where every student, teacher, parent, staff member, etc. contributes their own unique strengths and differences to the common cause of learning, growing, and supporting one another.

Q: What are a few fun facts about your life outside work that you'd like to share with the Carroll community?

I live in Boxborough with my husband, Kevin, our daughters, Alexandra (5) and Lydia (1.5), and our 80 lb. hound dog named Leo. In our free time you will usually find us hiking on the trails in town (led by Leo), or bopping around the local playground circuit.

"If not for Carroll, my daughter would have had a completely different trajectory. Instead of despair, there is confidence. Instead of failure, there is success. Instead of hating learning, she loves it." - Trish Greenhalgh, Parent

"Thank you, Carroll, for being a place where my son can learn happily from dedicated teachers in a way that is tailored to his needs. Carroll's specialized education embedded in a caring, warm school culture that supports the whole child is remarkable." - Christine Hong, Parent

"Thanks to Carroll, my daughter is now a happy, motivated college sophomore. Carroll provided her with a wonderful school experience and our family with optimism for her future when we most needed it. There is not only art and science, but a fair amount of magic at work at Carroll School." -Brenda Clark, Parent of an Alumna


Celebration of Giving at Carroll

Carroll School's Celebration of Giving (PDF Document)

The Opportunity: Director of Annual Giving

Carroll School - Director of Annual Giving - Job Description (PDF Download)

Position Summary

The Director of Annual Giving develops, implements, and evaluates a strategic annual giving program that raises philanthropic support for the Annual Fund and other approved priorities. This individual will create a comprehensive annual giving communication plan and oversee efforts to strategically engage, solicit, and steward parents, alumni, grandparents, and other important Carroll constituencies. The Director works closely with other members of the advancement team to educate and inspire the Carroll community on the case for annual giving and to grow overall donors and philanthropic revenue. Additionally, the Director will manage a portfolio of prospects and collaborate with the Executive Director and other Carroll leadership on strategies to build the pipeline of leadership-level donors.

Responsibilities and Requirements

Responsibilities:
  • Plan and execute the overall Annual Fund strategy, working collaboratively with colleagues on the advancement team to assure that the plan is driven and measured by data, aligned with the engagement strategy for alumni, parents, and major donor prospects, and stewarded consistently with all other fundraising efforts:
    • Marketing:
      • Partner with the Director of Marketing & Communications to develop a plan/theme to cover all constituencies, including digital, print, social media and video.
      • Oversee and create content and design for all Annual Fund marketing materials.
      • Act a liaison between the advancement team and outside communications and print vendors.
    • Volunteer management:
      • Support and guide the Annual Fund Chair in their effort to build donor participation and philanthropic revenue.
      • Recruit, train and support a growing network of volunteer Annual Fund Ambassadors.
      • Provide reports for Advancement Committee, Board of Trustees meetings, and others as requested. Attend and actively participate in all Advancement Committee meetings.
         
  • Manage a portfolio of leadership Annual Fund prospects through phone, email, and in person meetings.
     
  • Work with the Executive Director and other advancement colleagues to provide input into the overall development strategy of the office with the goal of building deep relationships with all constituencies and enhancing Carroll’s “culture of giving” (philanthropy, advocacy, and service).
     
  • Research industry trends and peer programs to benchmark Carroll’s annual giving performance. As possible, attend seminars, conferences, and related professional development opportunities.
Qualifications:
  • Minimum 5 years of fundraising experience, preferably in an educational environment.
     
  • Ability to think creatively and strategically.
     
  • Desire to work collaboratively and collectively with a team and colleagues.
     
  • Excellent organizational, interpersonal and communication skills (written and oral).
     
  • Ability to multitask, prioritize, and adjust to competing priorities.
     
  • Bachelor’s degree required.
     
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite, Google, and Raiser’s Edge.

Annual Giving at Carroll

"Carroll isn't like any other community I've been a part of. Other schools feel like a 'nice to have' to me now... and Carroll is a must. I can't imagine not giving in some form or fashion, because I've experienced firsthand the way Carroll changes lives. Giving to the Annual Fund is integral to a healthy operating budget, and that budget is key to everything the faculty, staff, and administration do." - Jonathan Black, P'22

The Annual Fund is a cornerstone of Carroll’s fundraising efforts, generating $1.7 million each year to support critical costs not covered by tuition alone, including Carroll’s exceptional faculty. Forty-nine percent of current families give and most of those gifts are unrestricted, ensuring donations go to the School’s most pressing priorities. There is a deep commitment to the School’s mission from the Carroll community and annual giving has great potential for growth under a talented Director of Annual Giving.

Participation in the Annual Fund is needed not only to ensure that Carroll meets its’ budgeted Annual Fund goal, but it is also an important factor in gift giving decisions made by foundations as well as large donors. In a community, it is important for all members to support the School with a gift that is meaningful to them to encourage Carroll’s continued growth, health, and impact on the wider dyslexia community.

Applications and Nominations

Don’t check off all the boxes or meet every single requirement? We have learned that potential candidates hesitate when applying for a job unless they meet every single requirement. Boyden Boston is dedicated to inclusivity and valuing diversity and equity in the workplace. If this opportunity excites you, but your background may not be a perfect match, we still encourage you to apply.

Contact Information

Carroll School has partnered with Boyden Executive Search. For more information about this opportunity or to submit a cover letter and resume, please email:

Lisa Vuona
Managing Partner, Boston
lvuona@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Lisa Vuona has decades of experience in executive search and human resource management, primarily in the non-profit, healthcare and education sectors. She is distinguished by her track record and network, and by her approach, which combines the strategic power of data with a finely tuned ability to understand the client’s organization and identify high-caliber leaders who fit the culture.

Shaké Sulikyan 
Senior Advisor and Executive Search Consultant, Boston
ssulikyan@boyden.com
LinkedIn

Making the world a better place is Shaké Sulikyan’s mission in life. She has decades of experience in the nonprofit sector including senior leadership roles in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, and social services. Shaké loves connecting nonprofit organizations and exceptional professionals and is honored to support social impact organizations throughout the United States. She currently lives in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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