The Advancement & Engagement Associate is a full-time, twelve-month staff position supporting Lake Forest Country Day School’s comprehensive advancement program. Living at a high-traffic intersection of school activity managed by the development, enrollment, and marketing teams, the Advancement & Engagement Associate acts as a front-line ambassador to families, alumni, donors, and prospective parents. The position’s primary focus is to provide support for the annual Auction, which represents a significant part of the School’s fundraising program, but the role also coordinates the School’s alumni and Parent Association efforts and provides support for enrollment and marketing initiatives.  

The position is designed for a motivated and detail-oriented connector, eager to build and sustain community through the pursuit of the School’s advancement goals. The ideal candidate is a consummate teammate, eager, and capable of wearing many hats in a service-oriented, fast-paced, family-friendly environment. 

LFCDS, founded in 1888 and located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 420 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, personal growth, and nurturing a love of learning. 

Key Responsibilities: 

• Auction Coordination 

• Partner with auction co-chairs to manage communications, solicitations, event logistics, timelines, and budgets. 

• Ensure all auction items and sponsorships have accurate contracts and documentation. 

• Oversee production of auction materials including thank-you letters, gift certificates, and syndicate forms. 

• Draft digital and print auction catalog. Manage database that includes donor specifics and gift restrictions. 

• Support event committees with logistics such as name tags, seating charts, catering reports, and decorations. 

• Coordinate check-out process, post-event follow-up with donors and buyers, and live auction execution. 

• Collaborate with communications team and volunteers to produce event-related materials. 

• Produce accurate and timely monthly and quarterly bank reports, and reconciliations in coordination with the Business Office. 

• Alumni Relations 

• Support the development of an Alumni Council and Class Agents program. 

• Plan and execute reunions, regional gatherings, and alumni orientation luncheons. 

• Maintain and update alumni database information. Manage and prepare copy and content for the Annual Report and other school communications.  

• Parent Association  

• Provide support to the LFCDS Parent Association by being a visible partner in their community engagement efforts. 

• Attend council meetings and serve as a resource for parent volunteers leading committee-based initiatives.  

• Marketing & Communications Support 

• Assist in content creation for newsletters, social media, and the school website. 

• Support branding and messaging consistency across advancement initiatives. 

• Help coordinate photography, video, and other media for events and campaigns. 

• Enrollment & Admissions Support 

• Support enrollment efforts, including attending admission events and family outreach efforts. 

• Serve as an admission representative by supporting prospective family engagement through tours, materials preparation, and follow-up correspondence. 

Qualifications: 

• Bachelor’s degree preferred. 

• Experience in fundraising, event planning, and marketing. Independent school experience is a plus.  

• Strong organizational and communication skills. 

• Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. 

• Proficiency with databases and digital tools (e.g., OneCause, Blackbaud, CRM systems, social media platforms). 

Salary Range 

$55,000-$75,000 with a comprehensive benefits package including tuition remission for dependents of the employee. This is a full-time, 12-month position, occasionally requiring evening and weekend work.  

Interested applicants should email a letter of interest and resume in PDF format to the attention of Alex Sheridan, Associate Head of School for Advancement, at alex.sheridan@lfcds.org with the subject line “Advancement & Engagement Associate”.   

About Lake Forest Country Day School

LFCDS, founded in 1888 and located on a 30-acre campus about 30 miles north of Chicago, Illinois, is a co-educational, independent day school serving 420 students from age 2 through eighth grade. The School has a long tradition of producing thoughtful, confident, and successful students. Children are known, loved, and challenged at LFCDS, and a state-of-the-art facility provides a remarkable setting for inspired teaching, personal growth and nurturing a love of learning.

Connections working at Lake Forest Country Day School