About the Organization
The Children’s Scholarship Fund (CSF) is a national non-profit organization based in New York City that works to advance educational freedom for all children. For 25 years, CSF has provided children of low-income families with tuition assistance in grades K-8, while working to expand educational opportunities through education savings account programs and education tax credit programs at the state and national level. CSF relies on financial support from generous individuals, corporations and foundations to fund our scholarships and operations. We are seeking a Director of Development to join our New York City-based team who shares our passion for empowering all parents to choose how best to meet their children’s education needs.
About the Role
The Director of Development is part of a small, passionate, creative and talented team operating in an office culture characterized by high standards and cross-functional collaboration. This person will report to the Vice President of Strategic Planning & Development and work directly with the CEO, as well. The ideal candidate for this position is philosophically committed to ensuring that all parents have the ability to choose how best to educate their children; is results driven, attentive to detail, hyper-organized, and outgoing; and has excellent communications skills and a strong work ethic. The Director of Development must be committed to helping the Children’s Scholarship Fund meet and exceed its goals of raising the financial resources necessary to expand private education opportunities for a growing number of children in need, particularly in New York City; however, prior fundraising experience is not necessary. We are more interested in identifying a candidate who is a focused, self-motivated team player eager to learn fundraising skills and enthusiastically serve as an ambassador for CSF, all while building and strengthening donor relationships that advance our mission and help accomplish our strategic goals. Having a keen understanding of – and ability to articulate educational choice policies is a plus. This role requires the ability to meet in person with New York City area donors and attend evening events as necessary.
Primary responsibilities include:
- Cultivate, solicit and exercise stewardship of a growing a portfolio of donors for CSF scholarships in NY City while also identifying and approaching new prospects
- Re-engage and renew lapsed donors
- Manage and grow CSF’s President’s Council (donors giving $2k+ for NYC Scholarships)
- Build strategic relationships with foundations interested in supporting scholarships in NY, soliciting contributions; submitting letters of inquiry and proposals, and reporting on grants
- Utilize donor research tools effectively
- Build and maintain relationships that deepen donors’ connections with CSF through personal contacts, meetings, networking and promoting CSF’s NY City and national program
- Serve as an ambassador for CSF and its work at occasional conferences and events, sometimes outside of normal work hours, primarily in the New York City area
- Maintain accurate notes, tracking outreach and other relevant information using our Raiser’s Edge database
- Monitor progress toward individual and team fundraising goals
- Provide regular updates and reports to the development team, keeping VP of Strategic Planning & Development and other team members aware of upcoming meetings, submission deadlines, events, and other opportunities to advance our strategic goals.
- Assist the team in strategizing with regard to researching and cultivating prospective donors, developing donor communications materials, outreach opportunities, and events
- This role requires ~15% of travel outside of the Greater New York City area
Qualifications and skills:
- 5 years or more of professional work experience
- Ability to work independently, take initiative, and meet deadlines with little oversight
- Excellent demonstrated interpersonal communications skills, both speaking and writing, with close attention to detail
- Ability to stay organized, track progress, and meet goals
- Ability to use Microsoft Office programs, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Raiser’s Edge experience a plus
- Strong work ethic and action-oriented approach to work
- Highly organized and results-driven with a desire to help themselves and the development team efficiently and effectively meet and exceed ambitious goals
- High level of enthusiasm, energy, and productivity with demonstrated follow-through and success in managing a portfolio of current and prospective donors; meeting deadlines; and tracking progress against specific and measurable goals
- Willingness to be flexible and provide assistance where needed to help the overall organization accomplish its goals
- Degree from a 4-year accredited college or university
Compensation
The projected salary range for this role is $125,000-$150,000, contingent upon the specific skills and experience of the selected candidate. We are also willing to explore higher compensation for an exceptional candidate.
How to Apply
Qualified candidates should submit the following application materials (in order) in one PDF document:
- Cover letter detailing your interest in the role and CSF’s mission
- Resume
Applications should be submitted to Talent Market via this link: talentmarket.org/apply-for-your-dream-job/.
Questions can be directed to Stephanie Keaveney, Senior Manager of Outreach at Talent Market, who is managing the search process: [email protected].
There is no application deadline for this position. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. This job will remain posted on our site until it is filled.
While we thank all applicants in advance for their interest in this position, we are only able to contact those to whom we can offer an interview. Only direct applications will be considered. No phone calls, please.
Talent Market is a nonprofit entity dedicated to promoting liberty by helping free-market nonprofits identify talent for critical roles. We provide consulting and recruiting services at no cost to 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations that clearly and directly focus on advancing the principles of economic freedom, free enterprise, free trade, free speech, property rights, rule of law, and limited regulation.
