July 9th, 2025
Groton School
Director of Major and Planned Giving
( Massachusetts | On-site )
About the Organization
Groton School is a prestigious co-educational private boarding and day school serving grades 8–12 in Groton, Massachusetts. Founded in 1884 by Episcopal priest Endicott Peabody, the school was built on the principle of developing character, scholarship, leadership, and service—a mission still emblazoned on its crest: Cui servire est regnare (“For whom service is perfect freedom”) .
Set on an idyllic 480‑acre campus approximately 35 miles northwest of Boston, Groton’s centerpiece is the iconic “Circle,” a landscape designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and hailed as Massachusetts’s most beautiful independent school property. Its 380‑student community enjoys small 11‑student average class sizes, a 4:1 student‑faculty ratio, and a faculty where 76% hold advanced degrees.
Groton delivers a rigorous, well-rounded curriculum—encompassing classics, STEM, visual and performing arts, and religious studies—with opportunities for student‑designed tutorials. Daily chapel services support its Episcopal heritage, and a strong emphasis is placed on community life, with longstanding traditions like Roll Call, morning prayers, Service Motto, and leadership through the senior “prefect” system.
Job Description
With a commitment to affordability and inclusion, Groton School, one of the nation’s most prestigious boarding schools, seeks a dynamic and strategic Director of Major and Planned Giving to grow a robust philanthropic program that supports the school’s mission and long-term sustainability. Reporting to the Director of Development and Alumni Affairs, the Director is responsible for identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding major and planned gift prospects, with a focus on gifts of $100,000 and above.
This position plays a vital role in shaping the future of the institution through meaningful engagement with alumni, parents, and friends of the school, is a key member of the Development and Alumni Affairs leadership team, and an important thought partner to the Director of Development and Alumni Affairs.
Essential Responsibilities and Qualifications
Key Responsibilities:
Major Gifts: Sustain and grow a comprehensive major gifts program aligned with the school’s strategic priorities, including capital projects, financial aid, endowed funds, and other initiatives. Partner with the Director of Development and Alumni Affairs to design and implement short- and long-term fundraising goals and strategy.
Planned Giving Program: Lead and manage the school’s planned giving efforts, including bequests, charitable trusts and annuities, and other legacy giving vehicles; work collaboratively with legal and financial advisors as needed.
Portfolio Management: Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of approximately 150 high-net-worth individuals, establishing long-term donor relationships and securing six- and seven-figure gifts. Conduct 100-120 donor meetings annually, on- and off-campus.
Donor Stewardship: Ensure high-quality, personalized stewardship of major donors to deepen engagement and encourage long-term investment.
Data and Reporting: Use the school’s CRM (Raiser’s Edge NXT) to track donor activity, generate reports, and ensure data accuracy and integrity. Create strategy briefings, correspondence, proposals, and related documents.
Events and Engagement: Participate in Development and Alumni Affairs and school-wide events, both on- and off-campus, to build relationships and represent the school’s philanthropic mission. Organize small, donor-based events in regional areas to cultivate and steward key donors.