We seek an organized and inventive Alumni & Community Engagement Coordinator to help build a vibrant, connected Idyllwild Arts community.
Working closely with Advancement colleagues and campus partners, this person will make engagement tangible: connect alumni across generations and disciplines, bring families and supporters into campus life, organize meaningful programs, and ensure that every interaction is followed by consistent relationship-building and accurate information.
The role is intentionally engagement-centered. It contributes to philanthropy through relationships, volunteer leadership, event participation, alumni discovery, and thoughtful coordination with fundraising colleagues; it does not carry the primary responsibility for closing major gifts.
Location: Idyllwild, California; primarily campus-based, with occasional regional travelCORE RESPONSIBILITIESAlumni Relations and Engagement
- Implement an annual alumni and community engagement calendar with clear audience priorities, budgets, schedules, communications, and measures of participation and follow-up.
- Build relationships with Idyllwild Arts Academy graduates and relevant Summer Program communities; reconnect alumni by class year, geography, artistic discipline, and interests, including young and international alumni.
- Coordinate campus and regional alumni gatherings, receptions, exhibitions, performances, reunions, virtual programs, and volunteer activities; deliver distinctive, hospitable experiences without relying on costly large events.
- Develop opportunities for alumni to serve as mentors, speakers, professional connectors, visiting artists, volunteers, and advocates, working with the Academy and other departments under appropriate student-safety protocols.
Family and Community Engagement
- Support meaningful engagement of parents, former parents, and families with Advancement, Enrollment, Student Life, faculty, and event partners; coordinate communications and appropriate volunteer opportunities.
- Work with Marketing & Communications to source and share alumni stories, event invitations, digital updates, alumni accomplishments, and thoughtful calls to participate; maintain consistency of voice and brand.
Relationship Management and Philanthropic Support
- Maintain accurate alumni and engagement records in the Advancement CRM, including current contact information, attendance, volunteer interests, meaningful interactions, consent preferences, and timely follow-up tasks.
- Identify promising alumni, parent, and community relationships and share qualified referrals with frontline fundraisers; support annual giving and stewardship outreach without independently setting gift strategy or managing high-value solicitations.
Events and Program Administration
- Coordinate event logistics, vendor arrangements, volunteer assignments, budgets, registration, guest experience, accessibility needs, and post-event evaluation with careful stewardship of resources.
- Produce concise monthly engagement reports using reliable metrics and feedback; track reach, new/reconnected constituents, repeat participation, volunteer involvement, and relationships advanced.
- Typically two to four years of relevant experience in alumni relations, community engagement, education, arts administration, events, customer or constituent relations, or nonprofit programs.
- Excellent relationship-building, project management, writing, scheduling, and follow-through skills; comfortable balancing logistics and interpersonal care.
- Proficiency with digital communication tools, spreadsheets, event-registration platforms, and contact or CRM databases; strong attention to data quality and privacy.
- Ability to work thoughtfully with students, faculty, alumni, families, artists, and community partners from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds.
- Interest in contemporary arts and education; experience with alumni programming, volunteer management, or international communities a plus.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience; ability to work on campus and occasionally attend evening and weekend events, with schedule and overtime handled according to applicable law.
- A dependable, well-attended calendar of high-value engagement opportunities tailored to alumni, families, and campus life.
- Accurate contact records; outreach, re-engagement, volunteer involvement, and thoughtfully documented follow-up.
- Visible collaboration among Advancement, the Academy, Summer Program, Enrollment, and Marketing & Communications.
- A growing pipeline of alumni and community advocates, mentors, potential supporters, and other meaningful institutional connections.
Idyllwild Arts Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to an inclusive community. Employment is contingent upon completion of applicable school safety and background-check requirements. Reasonable accommodations are available in the application process and in employment in accordance with applicable law.
Skills Required
- Two to four years of relevant experience in alumni relations, community engagement, education, arts administration, events, customer or constituent relations, or nonprofit programs
- Excellent relationship-building, project management, writing, scheduling, and follow-through skills
- Proficiency with digital communication tools, spreadsheets, event-registration platforms, and contact or CRM databases
- Strong attention to data quality and privacy
- Ability to work thoughtfully with students, faculty, alumni, families, artists, and community partners from diverse backgrounds
- Interest in contemporary arts and education
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant experience
- Ability to work on campus and occasionally attend evening and weekend events
- Experience with alumni programming, volunteer management, or international communities
What We Do
Idyllwild Arts is a nonprofit arts education institution in Idyllwild, California, operating a residential arts high school and a summer program. The Academy combines pre-professional training across artistic disciplines with a comprehensive college-preparatory curriculum for grades 9–12 and postgraduate students. Its summer program provides arts instruction and workshops for people of all ages and abilities. The organization aims to advance artistic and cultural development and cultivate creative, engaged citizens.





