Feb 06, 2025
Full-Time
Business Development
Fundraising/Development
Job Description
DonorsChoose is the #1 nonprofit funding site for U.S. public school teachers. Public school teachers from every corner of America request the resources they need, and you can give any amount to the project that inspires you.
About the Organization
Since 2000, more than 6 million people and partners have contributed $1.5 billion to support 3 million teacher requests for classroom resources and experiences. Projects range from art supplies to build the set for a school musical, books and puzzles affirming students' identities, and bird seed for an at-home science project. We proudly serve all US public schools, public charter schools, and Head Start centers, and we combat systemic inequity by driving a majority of donations to schools that have been historically underfunded due to economic and racial inequity.
GOOD Magazine and the Nonprofit Times have recognized DonorsChoose as a best place to work. Fast Company named DonorsChoose one of the 50 Most Innovative Companies in the World—the first time a charity has made this list. Our dedicated team works from across the United States to bring classroom dreams to life.
About the Role
What You'll Do
The Managing Director, Foundation Partnerships will serve as a critical frontline fundraiser and key strategic leader on our Corporate & Foundation Partnerships team, and will be responsible for:
Contributing to our revenue goal by fundraising from foundation prospects
- Build relationships and lead conversations with foundations with $250K+ giving potential, with a goal of forming sustainable 6- and 7-figure partnerships
- Build and manage a robust portfolio of 100+ opportunities
- Work toward a foundation fundraising goal of $10M annually
- Lead the strategy and development of partnership options and benefits for foundation partners, and leverage our data to craft bespoke and impactful pitches
- Smoothly transition won accounts to another team to be executed upon and renewed
Helping to shape our fundraising strategy and practices
- Represent DonorsChoose at key events with prospects from across the country, e.g. AFP ICON, Social Innovation Summit, etc.
- Engage in our team's work to share fundraising best practices and key trends and takeaways from the foundation fundraising landscape, supporting the Partnerships team to constantly improve our craft
- Work with our Revenue Operations team to convert their lead generation work, and to improve upon our outbound lead sourcing process
- Serve as a resident expert in foundation fundraising, particularly with an emphasis on fundraising for education
- Collaborate with foundations and our internal Research & Insights team to unlock data and identify insights in support influencing systemic change in education
Being a core contributor to a small-but-mighty team
- Manage and develop at least one direct report in keeping with our culture and core values
- Support teammates when needed, and identify other opportunities to contribute to the team and organizational culture
- Play a key role in our evolution to more directly address racial inequity in education through our partnerships
Who You'll Work With
Team Overview: The Managing Director, Foundation Partnerships will report to the SVP Partnerships and manage a team of one. The Partnerships team sits within the Community Growth & Impact Team and raises funds for teachers and students by designing and executing philanthropic partnerships with corporations and foundations, and renewing and growing those partnerships over time. We hope to grow our funding from $60M annually to $90M annually over the next three years through creative, collaborative partnerships with our institutional donors. $15M of that funding comes from Business Development work: pursuing corporations and foundations to partner with us for the first time. (More about our partnerships)
Hiring Organization
DonorsChoose
Qualifications
Required Skills and Experience
- You're committed to our mission to support public school teachers and students, and energized by sharing that passion with others. You're passionate about equity, and able to speak knowledgeably and persuasively about racial equity.
- You have 10+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years in a direct fundraising role or program officer role, with deep expertise in foundation fundraising, in the K-12 education sector or an adjacent one.
- You have a track record of building and sustaining partnerships at 6- and 7-figure levels, and raising $5-10M annually.
- You are a strategic, systems thinker and have a track record of identifying and leveraging insights to drive outcomes.
- You have some management and leadership experience, ideally including overseeing at least 1 direct report.
- You have a proven track record of successful outbound business development: sourcing new partnerships.
- You're comfortable with public speaking, networking, and building relationships.
- You think like an owner: you're wildly strategic and are constantly aiming to improve your craft, and to win new partnerships.
- You're deeply curious: you want to know what drives people and organizations, and you ask great questions.
- You're extremely efficient and organized and excel at navigating ambiguity and driving outcomes.
- You thrive on winning others over, and on finding the "yes' wherever you can.
- You're a team player. It's more important to you that someone gets the win, than that you personally get the credit.
Industry/Service Area
Education
Level
Director
Benefits
Salary
- The hiring salary range for this role is $142,000 - $157,000
- We have a hiring salary range of $157,000 - $175,000 for specific higher cost of labor locations, which include New York City, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, and Washington, D.C.
Benefits
DonorsChoose offers health insurance via a rich employer-paid individual and family plan
100%-paid vision & dental benefits
Paid time off includes 25 vacation days and 11 holidays per year
Generous paid family leave
Retirement plan includes a 401(k) plan matching up to 5% of base salary
Annual professional development stipend
Casual and flexible work environment
Application Instructions
Qualified individuals, please apply: https://www.on-ramps.com/jobs/3426