Director, Development

Location: Baltimore-based role with significant in-person and external engagement required. Frequent engagement with donors across the Baltimore region, with in-person commitments increasing during peak seasons, events, and key organizational priorities.

About the role

As a member of the Field Fundraising team, the Director, Development is responsible for cultivating, stewarding, and growing a portfolio of local donors who share our commitment to ensuring that all children have access to an equitable and excellent education. This role plays a critical part in driving new donor growth over the next 3–5 years by managing a diversified portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation donors, as well as designing and executing strategies for first-time gifts, giving circles, and locally led fundraising campaigns.

Reporting to the Managing Director, Development, you will be responsible for raising $1–5 million or more annually. You will partner closely with the Executive Director, regional advisory board members, Steward team partners, and other front-line fundraisers to ensure donors are meaningfully engaged across all stages of the donor lifecycle. This role requires a strong collaborator who can both own donor relationships directly and support primary solicitors to maximize impact across the local fundraising landscape.

Responsibilities

• 40% – Own new donor acquisition and early-stage pipeline growth. Design and execute strategies that convert prospects into first-time donors and repeat supporters through entry-level giving programs, time-bound campaigns, and giving circles. Qualify and cultivate donors with four-figure capacity, track conversion and performance metrics, and maintain clear next steps in Salesforce.
• 35% – Manage and grow a portfolio of donors giving under $25K. Maintain consistent moves-management, conduct donor research, and document clear engagement plans for all assigned donors through thoughtful stewardship, renewal, and upgrade strategies.
• 15% – Partner closely with the Executive Director, MD of Development, and key stakeholders. Prepare donor research and briefing materials, support ED-led meetings, and ensure timely follow-up and CRM documentation to advance donor relationships.
• 5% – Support donor cultivation events. Handle logistics, sponsorship outreach, and guest engagement as a pipeline-building tool. Own post-event follow-up, conversion, and integration into the donor pipeline.
• 5% – Contribute to Teach For America-wide organizational efforts. Participate in selection, confirmation, and other enterprise or regional initiatives that support the broader mission and operating needs of the organization.

Requirements

• At least 4+ years of related experience in development and fundraising.
• Track record of meeting and exceeding ambitious goals managing and/or supporting the management of a portfolio of donors.
• Bachelor's Degree.
• Preferred: Teach For America development experience.

Qualifications

• Relationship Building and Management:
  • Build strong relationships with prospects and donors and/or support the primary relationship holder/solicitor through a comprehensive relationship management plan.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills with a variety of internal and external constituents.
  • Ability to manage up and laterally to influence development teammates in service of donor stewardship.
• Fundraising and Development:
  • Solid foundation in best practices of development and fundraising.
  • Experience stewarding a portfolio of donors/funders from various funding streams.
  • Contribute to complex fundraising and relationship management initiatives.
• Portfolio Management:
  • Leverage the market vision and overarching strategy to determine the specific approach to steward a portfolio of local donors and execute on that strategy in service of maximizing revenue.
  • Monitor progress against the portfolio to ensure continuous donor stewardship.

Work Demands

• Occasional weekend or evening work hours required.
• Some travel to engage with local donors may be required.

About the Team

The Revenue and Development team at Teach For America inspires donors and champions to contribute to shaping the future of our country by investing in Teach For America’s work with students nationally and regionally. We aim to source investments that fuel our work and impact with a revenue growth trajectory to raise $300 million annually. This role will be an essential part of the Field Fundraising arm of the Revenue and Development team, maximizing the contributions of local donors across multiple regions of the country.

Pay

The applicable salary range for this U.S.-based role is based on where the employee works and is aligned to one of 3 tiers according to a cost of labor index in that geographic area. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job-related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.

$81,000 - $106,300