Executive Director of Advancement

Mar 26

Brentwood School
Los Angeles, CA

Anticipated Start Date: February 25

Description

Brentwood School, a vibrant and diverse K–12 independent school in West Los Angeles, seeks an accomplished and entrepreneurial Executive Director of Advancement to lead the evolution of philanthropy and community engagement at the school. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of advancement at one of Los Angeles’ premier independent schools, building on a strong foundation of support while expanding Brentwood’s philanthropic reach and impact. Brentwood benefits from a deeply engaged parent community and a successful annual giving program.

At the same time, the school recognizes an opportunity to grow and elevate its advancement efforts by broadening philanthropic participation, strengthening alumni engagement, and building the infrastructure needed to support future institutional priorities. Reporting directly to the Head of School and serving as a key member of the senior leadership team, the Executive Director of Advancement will lead the development and execution of a comprehensive advancement strategy that inspires philanthropic investment and deepens relationships across Brentwood’s community of parents, alumni, trustees, and friends of the school.

Working closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees, this leader will help shape Brentwood’s next chapter of fundraising, bringing strategic clarity, creativity, and entrepreneurial energy to the advancement program while building and leading a high-performing team aligned around ambitious goals. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, relationship builder, and organizational leader who can inspire confidence across Brentwood’s community while strengthening the systems and culture needed to sustain a best-in-class advancement program.

Responsibilities

Advancement Strategy & Institutional Leadership

Serve as the strategic leader for Brentwood School’s advancement enterprise, developing and executing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that expands philanthropic engagement and supports the school’s long-term priorities.
Partner closely with the Head of School, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership to align advancement efforts with Brentwood’s institutional vision and future ambitions.
Play a central role in shaping the school’s philanthropic narrative, translating Brentwood’s mission, values, and aspirations into compelling opportunities for donor investment

Build and Lead a High-Performing Advancement Program

Lead the continued evolution of Brentwood’s advancement operation, assessing current structures, systems, and staffing and implementing improvements that position the program for long-term success.
Recruit, mentor, and develop a collaborative and high-performing advancement team while establishing clear goals, accountability, and performance metrics.
Foster a culture of creativity, professionalism, and relationship-driven fundraising across the advancement office.

Major Gifts & Philanthropic Partnerships

Personally cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership and major donors while expanding Brentwood’s pipeline of philanthropic prospects.
Partner with the Head of School and trustees to engage high-capacity donors and strengthen relationships with key supporters of the school.
Develop strategies to grow major gifts and leadership giving while broadening Brentwood’s base of philanthropic support.

Annual Giving & Community Engagement

Oversee and strengthen the Brentwood Annual Fund, building on its strong foundation while identifying opportunities to deepen participation and increase philanthropic investment.
Develop innovative approaches to engage parents, alumni, grandparents, and friends of the school in meaningful and sustained support of Brentwood’s mission.

Alumni Relations & Lifelong Engagement

Reimagine and strengthen Brentwood’s alumni engagement strategy to foster lifelong connections between alumni and the school.
Create programs and initiatives that deepen alumni involvement and build a stronger culture of alumni philanthropy.

Board Partnership & Volunteer Leadership

Work closely with the Head of School and Board of Trustees to advance Brentwood’s fundraising priorities.
Support and engage trustees and other volunteer leaders in donor cultivation, stewardship, and philanthropic advocacy on behalf of the school.

Position the School for Future Philanthropic Opportunities

Help prepare Brentwood for future institutional initiatives by strengthening donor relationships, building philanthropic capacity, and expanding engagement across the community.
Develop the strategic foundation necessary to support future fundraising efforts included but not limited to capital campaigns and long-term philanthropic growth.

Data, Systems & Advancement Operations

Ensure the advancement program utilizes strong systems, data management practices, and reporting tools to support effective fundraising.
Monitor key metrics related to donor engagement, pipeline development, and fundraising performance to inform strategy and continuous improvement.

Requirements

Significant leadership experience in advancement or development, with a demonstrated record of cultivating and securing major and leadership gifts within complex, relationship-driven organizations.
Experience designing and executing comprehensive advancement strategies that integrate major gifts, annual giving, alumni engagement, and community partnerships to support institutional priorities.
Proven success building and leading high-performing advancement teams, including experience strengthening structures, systems, and processes that support sustained fundraising growth.
Demonstrated ability to partner effectively with senior leadership and boards of trustees in advancing philanthropic strategy and engaging volunteer leadership in fundraising.
Sophisticated relationship-building skills, with the ability to cultivate trust and inspire philanthropic investment among diverse constituencies including parents, alumni, trustees, and community leaders.
Familiarity with advancement CRM platforms (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, or similar systems) and the ability to leverage data and analytics to guide fundraising strategy, donor pipeline development, and engagement efforts.
Excellent communication and storytelling abilities, with the capacity to translate institutional priorities into compelling philanthropic opportunities.

Salary Range and Employee Benefits

Salary will be competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications, with an expected range of $250,000–$350,000. Brentwood offers a comprehensive benefits package consistent with senior leadership roles.

How to Apply for this Job

Interested and qualified candidates are welcome to submit an application to: BrentwoodSchoolEDADV@KornFerry.com

About the Organization

The School In its relatively short 50-year history, Brentwood School has grown into one of the premier independent day schools in Southern California. The West Campus for students in grades K-5 and the East Campus for grades 6-12 enjoy beautiful and innovative facilities and outdoor spaces designed to enrich the academic, artistic, athletic, and social experiences for the students.

A strong sense of community and a commitment to Brentwood School is expressed and demonstrated by faculty, staff, students, parents, and alumni. Brentwood is unique in its region for providing a rigorous academic program supported with high expectations and strong values, yet balanced to ensure students are able to enjoy and participate in the full range of opportunities available.

Innovative programs like the Belldegrun Center for Innovation and Leadership provide opportunities for K-12 students and faculty to engage in projects, independent study, and exposure to real-life problem-solving. A unique, mutually beneficial partnership with the West Los Angeles VA allows the school to provide countless hours of direct service to veterans, access to shared facilities, and significant income and in-kind services to the VA from lease agreements

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