I am a nonprofit professional with extensive experience in financial management, donor cultivation, relationship building, brand management, marketing, and communications. I’m an accomplished fundraiser and team builder eager to make my next, big move to an organization poised to make a difference in the world and in the areas I care most deeply about.

• In FY23 to date, exceeded annual fundraising performance by more than 33% in March vs. full-year performance in FY22; redesigned the parent association using a collaborative and inclusive model for distributed parent leadership
• Lead strategic planning for all areas of advancement, rooted in the School’s strategic plan, priorities, and goals
• Establish an organizational structure for the Advancement Team and hire, train, evaluate, and supervise a staff of 7 that spans advancement services, marketing and communications, events, development, and enrollment management and admission
• Design a fundraising program that attracts private funding to support the School’s priorities and strategic initiatives, all efforts to cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts; personally cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift and capital campaign donors
• Oversee efforts to establish and strengthen ties with the School’s various constituencies, including alumni, parents, grandparents, alumni parents, and other friends of the School

Director of Advancement

• Foster the School’s growing culture of philanthropy and engage all school constituencies in community-wide development initiatives that increase a sense of belonging with the School and an awareness of the community’s strengths and successes. In FY22, increased Annual Fund giving from $700 thousand to $900 thousand. 
• Implement short- and long-term fundraising strategies for operating support, facilities, special projects, capital campaigns, and endowment growth.
• Oversee communications and marketing efforts, both internal and external, as well as media relations.
• Build a collaborative fundraising team in partnership with the Board of Trustees and school leadership to develop and maintain donor and volunteer relationships.
Cultivate, solicit, and steward major gifts prospects; build and manage a portfolio of prospective donors.

• Oversaw the Annual Fund, which raised $1.1 million and earned more than 95% parent participation in FY21, and the COVID Fund, which raised an additional $450 thousand to cover the costs associated with pandemic response.
• Led our communications efforts during the COVID pandemic response, coordinating messaging around initial transition to distance learning, subsequent reopening, and individual case response. This included developing our first-ever virtual Spring Benefit, which raised more than $250 thousand.
• Mentored and supervised the work of a team of three advancement professionals focused on communications, gift documentation and database maintenance, and constituent relations.
• Partnered with the Assistant Head of School for Advancement and Strategy and the Head of School on a silent phase capital campaign, having raised $4.5 million prior to my departure.
• Implemented effective gift acceptance and documentation policies and business office partnership to ensure clean audits and accurate stewardship of gifts.
Increased new-family inquiries by more than 100% over a four-year period by transitioning to measurable, data-driven digital marketing and targeting our advertising budget investments where they would make the most impact.
• Supported the Board of Trustees by serving as a staff liaison to the Advancement Committee and the Capital Campaign Committee and as an adviser to the full Board. Report regularly on the performance of projects in my portfolio. 
• Brought a multi-year rebranding effort to fruition by compiling and publishing a schoolwide style guide and stewarding the look and messaging of the school in all print and digital media.

• Wrote copy, developed layouts, proofread content, and designed printed and online publications, including yearbook, email blasts, banners, brochures, weekly newsletters, ads, invitations, and event collateral (e.g., tickets, programs).
• In collaboration with the Head of School, Director of Advancement, Director of Admission, and other stakeholders, developed a marketing strategy to drive the school toward achieving its recruitment and fundraising goals.
• Collaborated with Advancement Office colleagues on fundraising-related campaign development and electronic and print pieces, including alumni communications, annual fund campaigns, Annual Reports, and the capital campaign.
• Established and maintained visual and editorial brand standards for the school, expressed in web, social media, and print content.

Communications Manager

As Student Activities Center Program Assistant (and as Director of Student Activities in the summer): 
• Innovated internal communications vehicles to drive participation in Student Activities events and club life, publishing weekly newsletters, email blasts, print media, video campaigns, and more.
• Planned and implemented the annual Opening Days of School, coordinating events, messaging, print collateral, and student move-in logistics for 12 years.
• Oversaw the work of student leaders as adviser to the radio station, six a cappella groups, and other student groups.
• Coordinated with contract employees to produce large-scale pep rallies, dances, and concerts throughout the year.
• Stewarded major donors whose endowed projects intersected with my work, both in writing and in person.

Mary-Ellen Lavigne

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