The Spence School: Director of Advancement (NY, NY)

Overview
A premier New York City institution, The Spence School is a K-12 independent school for girls located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Spence enrolls a diverse group of students who enjoys a rich and challenging academic and co-curricular program rooted in deep inquiry and intellectual discovery in the service of engaging with the world. It is a place of joy and spirited adventure where girls find their voices and develop confidence that sets them up for a life of purpose. Inspired by outstanding teachers who often stay at Spence for decades, students engage enthusiastically in school while also utilizing the wealth of resources New York offers. Along with an outstanding program and an exceptional faculty and staff, the School has impressive facilities, operating across three-plus locations in the East ‘90s including the newest facility, a state of the art athletic and education center that houses a gymnasium, nine squash courts, and the Brizendine Center for Ecology which includes a greenhouse and garden.

Clara Spence, a visionary educator, founded Miss Spence’s School in 1892. Her ideals of progressive education and pioneering work reflected a belief that education of women was essential to social progress. In addition to strong academics, Spence ensured that her students took advantage of the city, taking them on “sightseeing trips.” She developed relationships with universities and invited the likes of Helen Keller and Booker T. Washington to speak. Most importantly, she wanted her students to engage with the world, to give of themselves to society. While she characterized life as “a splendid struggle,” she also believed in having fun, encouraging play and joy among her students. All these characteristics – including the rooftop play area and impressive speakers – remain integral to the school today. The fifteenth Head of School, Felicia Wilks, assumed leadership of the School in 2022, succeeding Bodie Brizendine who led Spence for fifteen years. The School moved to its current location on 91st Street in 1929. Having outgrown that building, the Lower School moved into a renovated townhouse in 2003; the purchase of an adjacent townhouse added significant additional space to the flagship 91st building in 2008; the athletic and education center referred to as 412 was completed in 2021.

Now, Spence seeks a seasoned and thoughtful professional to serve as the School’s next Director of Development, assuming the role in July 2024. Reporting to the Head of School, the Director of Development serves as leader of all philanthropic activities, including alumnae and parent relations; acts as a strategic thought partner to the Head of School and Board of Trustees and collaborates with colleagues throughout the school community as a member of the School’s senior administrative team. A successful Director of Development will build upon the School’s impressive history of generosity to further advance Spence’s short- and long-term strategic goals in keeping with the School’s mission and values.

Opportunities and Challenges
Spence’s next Director of Development will join the community at an exciting and busy time at Spence. Head of School Felicia Wilks is completing her second year of leadership and has been enthusiastically received by the entire Spence community. Felicia is a warm and collaborative leader and will welcome the partnership with the Director of Development as they collaborate to advance Spence’s mission via philanthropy.

Spence has a healthy culture of philanthropy. Last year, the Annual Fund received over $4.2 million in contributions, representing 10% of the School’s operating budget. As a result of an effective and strong Development Office-volunteer partnership, the Annual Fund reached 93% parent and 41% alumnae participation--a remarkable accomplishment. There is also an impressive history of successful capital giving and the most recent capital campaign surpassed $100 million, making Spence one of the highest-performing independent school giving programs.