Assistant - Office of Advancement

Company Description San Juan Diego Academy is a K–8 Catholic school in Grand Rapids, MI, founded in 2010 and located on the grounds of Holy Name of Jesus parish, with strong support from several local parishes. The school partners with families, parishes, and the wider community to educate, mentor, and inspire children from diverse cultures to achieve academic excellence and live their Catholic faith. SJDA embraces and celebrates diverse customs, values, and cultures, creating an inclusive and vibrant learning environment. The school is committed to making a Catholic education accessible, ensuring that families pay no more than five percent of their income in out-of-pocket tuition. This mission-driven approach offers staff the opportunity to support students and families through a dynamic, community-focused education.

Role Description The Assistant – Office of Advancement is a part-time, on-site role based at San Juan Diego Academy in Grand Rapids, MI. This position supports the Office of Advancement in areas such as donor relations, fundraising events, database management, and communications with families, parish partners, and community supporters. Day-to-day responsibilities include preparing correspondence, maintaining records, assisting with mailings and marketing materials, coordinating meeting logistics, and providing excellent customer service to visitors and callers. The assistant will help organize and track donations, process acknowledgments, support grant and report preparation, and collaborate with staff on outreach initiatives. This role requires consistent coordination with school leadership and staff to ensure advancement activities are well-organized, timely, and aligned with the school’s mission.

Qualifications

• Candidates should possess strong Communication skills, including clear written and verbal communication and the ability to interact professionally with families, donors, parish staff, and colleagues.
• Candidates should possess Administrative Assistance and Office Administration skills, including scheduling, record-keeping, document preparation, data entry, and efficient organization of office workflows.
• Candidates should possess Customer Service skills, with a focus on responsiveness, empathy, and a welcoming demeanor when working with students, families, visitors, and community partners.
• Candidates should possess basic Accounting and financial tracking skills, including handling donations, preparing simple reports, and supporting budget and grant-related documentation.
• Relevant qualifications include proficiency with office productivity software (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, email), experience with databases or donor management systems, and strong attention to detail.
• Additional beneficial qualifications include prior experience in education, nonprofit, or faith-based settings; familiarity with fundraising or advancement work; ability to handle confidential information with discretion; Spanish fluency and a commitment to the mission and values of Catholic education.