Chief Advancement Officer

The Taft School (Taft), one of the nation’s premier college-preparatory boarding and day schools, seeks a proven and strategic Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to provide the vision, leadership, and direction for all constituent relations and fundraising activities. This is a compelling opportunity for a seasoned professional to lead a comprehensive advancement program staffed by exceptional, experienced staff  during an exciting time of growth and momentum as the School prepares to embark on a historic comprehensive campaign that will further Taft’s mission, values, and culture: its insistence on excellence, passion for community and belonging, commitment to improvement and to service, and pride in school spirit. This is a rare opportunity to partner with an ambitious board, head of school, and leadership team and to play a central role in leading the distinguished institution to even greater prominence within American high schools.

The Taft School was founded in 1890 by Horace D. Taft who believed that character, above all else, determines success in life. Nearly 135 years later, Taft students, or Tafties as they are colloquially known, continue to live out the School’s motto of “Not to be served, but to serve” both in and out of the classroom. Collectively, Taft students and alumni seek to better the world around them on a local, national, and international scale through engagement in the Watertown community and contributions to global inquiry. Taft’s 583 students enjoy a beautiful Collegiate Gothic campus, exceptional faculty, a rigorous academic curriculum, and art and athletic programs that compete on a national scale. After Taft, they are admitted to the nation’s most prestigious institutions.

Taft’s appeal is strong, as evidenced by its 1,650 annual applications and 16 percent acceptance rate. The campus attracts a mix of boarding and day students and prioritizes enrolling diverse classes: 42 percent of students identify as students of color; 19 percent are international students, hailing from 54 different countries; and 35 percent of the student body receives financial aid. As of February 28, 2025, Taft boasts an endowment of $343 million, one of the top 15 boarding school endowments in the nation. Taft maintains an operating budget of approximately $54 million. The School’s strong tradition of alumni giving, with 34 percent of alumni donating annually, ensures its ability to sustain excellence for the coming generations. Additionally, more than 90 percent of Taft’s current parents contribute annually to the Parents’ Fund.

Reporting to the Head of School, Peter Becker ’95, and serving as a key member of his Senior Administrative Team, the CAO provides astute leadership and strategic vision to all aspects of the School’s constituent relations and fundraising activities. In addition, the CAO serves as the liaison to the Board of Trustees and its Committee on Trustees and Institutional Advancement Committee. This individual will establish priorities, objectives, and aspirations for a nearly 20-member comprehensive alumni and development team across major, endowed, leadership, and planned giving; the Taft Fund and the Parents’ Fund; reunion and class campaigns; advancement services and operations; development and campaign communications; and constituent relations and special events. The CAO will build upon a culture of high achievement, accountability, and professionalism to ensure that the School’s more than 10,000 alumni, current and former parents, trustees, and friends are actively engaged in the life of the institution. 

Critical to success will be the CAO’s ability to maintain a big-picture, strategic perspective while also effectively managing the details and building the necessary infrastructure to support sustainable long-term philanthropic success. With a depth of knowledge in all key areas of advancement, the ideal candidate will possess a proven track record of creating highly efficient and effective advancement programs and experience leading an advancement operation to heightened levels of achievement. Further, as Taft is nearing the completion of the first phase of strategic planning and is a third of the way through a comprehensive campus planning process, the successful candidate will bring a demonstrated ability to plan, manage, and successfully close a multi-million-dollar comprehensive campaign informed by institutional strategic priorities and needs. The incoming CAO must possess a deep appreciation for the mission, history, and values of Taft, along with an authentic and enthusiastic spirit to serve as an external representative of the School to a variety of audiences.

Jack Gorman is leading this search with Nicole Poe, Maureen Perry, and Ryan Cheung. 

The Taft School is an affirmative action-equal opportunity employer in accordance with regulations adopted by the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities. It is the policy of The Taft School to provide equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals without regard to age, gender, race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, actual or perceived disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran’s status, genetic predisposition, or any other class protected by law.