Advancement Assistant (Full-Time)
Royal Palm Academy - Naples, Florida
$25/hour starting pay | 40 hours/week | On-site | 12-month administrative position
Start date: As soon as possible (flexible through July 2026 for an exceptional candidate)

Royal Palm Academy, a joyful and thriving independent Catholic PK-8 school in North Naples, Florida, is seeking a full-time Advancement Assistant to support the growing work of our Advancement Office.

This is a task-oriented, relationship-focused, execution-driven role supporting donor stewardship, events, communications, alumni engagement, and advancement operations. The Advancement Assistant plays a critical behind-the-scenes role in advancing the school's mission and ensuring a high-quality, hospitable experience for donors, families, alumni, and community partners.

This position is well-suited for candidates with a background in events, hospitality, communications, customer service, or high-detail administrative support, and for those who thrive in fast-paced, deadline-driven environments with changing priorities.

Position Overview
The Advancement Assistant reports to the Director of Advancement and works closely with Advancement leadership and the Head of School. This is a high-trust, high-execution role requiring professionalism, discretion, adaptability, and the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.

This role is fully on-site and includes occasional evening and weekend work during peak event cycles.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship and Gift Processing
• Prepare donor acknowledgments, thank-you letters, and stewardship communications.
• Assist with gift entry, pledge processing, and record updates in Blackbaud Raiser's Edge NXT.
• Maintain accurate and confidential donor, alumni, and parent records.
• Support tracking of in-kind gifts, sponsorships, and donor touchpoints.

Event and Hospitality Support
• Provide logistical and hospitality support for Advancement-led events, including the Gala, Fashion Show, donor receptions, alumni events, and community gatherings.
• Build and manage event ticketing in GiveSmart, including attendee communications, updates, and special requests.
• Assist with event materials (name tags, signage, place cards, seating charts, programs, check-in processes).
• Support vendor coordination, supplies, volunteer organization, and event-day execution.
• Serve as a warm, professional presence for guests, donors, and volunteers.

Communications and Administrative Support
• Assist with outbound communications, reminders, and follow-ups related to Advancement initiatives.
• Support preparation of newsletters and updates (Advancement, alumni, PVO).
• Maintain shared files, event documentation, Advancement archives, and PVO materials.
• Provide scheduling support for meetings and donor or vendor appointments.
• Prepare mailings, packets, and printed materials as needed.

Data, Reporting and Systems
• Enter and maintain data in Raiser's Edge NXT with accuracy and attention to detail.
• Pull basic lists and reports for appeals, stewardship, and event follow-up.
• Update sponsor information, logos, and recognition materials for print and digital use.
• Make simple updates in Canva using established Advancement templates.

Professional Expectations

Strong candidates will demonstrate:
• Alignment with the Catholic mission and values of Royal Palm Academy.
• A service-oriented, can-do approach and willingness to step in wherever needed.
• The ability to manage competing priorities in a deadline-driven environment.
• Calm execution under pressure during peak event cycles.
• Creative problem-solving when plans change.
• Professional discretion and confidentiality with donor and school information.
• Warmth, professionalism, and hospitality when representing the Advancement Office.

Qualifications
• Undergraduate degree strongly preferred (hospitality, communications, marketing, public relations, or related fields a plus).
• Experience or demonstrated interest in events, hospitality, nonprofit work, advancement, customer service, or administrative support strongly preferred.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and follow-through.
• Comfort with databases, ticketing systems, and digital tools; CRM experience is a plus but not required.

Training will be provided. Curiosity, reliability, and execution matter more than prior system knowledge.

Growth Pathways

As experience develops, the role may grow to include:
• Ownership of specific events or event components.
• Increased responsibility for sponsorship fulfillment and stewardship initiatives.
• Alumni engagement and contact management.
• Supervised outreach to LYBUNT/SYBUNT and emerging donor segments.

Position Details
• Full-time, on-site, 12-month administrative position
• 40 hours per week (typically 7:30-4:00 daily)
• Starting at $25/hour (with increases based on performance and expanded responsibilities)
• Occasional evening or weekend work required for events
• Reports to the Director of Advancement, with additional projects from the Head of School

How to Apply (Important)
• Strong candidates will first explore our school website and mission, then follow the application instructions provided in our official posting on our website.
• To apply, please visit: www.royalpalmacademy.org/about/employment-opportunities
• Please review our mission and website before applying. Strong candidates will demonstrate attention to detail by carefully following the "To Apply" instructions.