Director, Major Gifts

Job Description

As Director, Major Gifts, you will build and manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, leading the full lifecycle of major gift fundraising, from identifying and cultivating new relationships to securing transformational philanthropic investments and stewarding long-term partnerships. You will develop individualized engagement strategies, partner closely with school and Home Office leaders, and connect donors to Uncommon Schools' mission through meaningful opportunities to invest in student success. Your work will play a critical role in expanding philanthropic support and advancing our organizational priorities.

Portfolio Management & Fundraising Strategy

• Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships
• Develop individualized strategies to align donor interests with Uncommon’s priorities
• Develop proposals, letters of inquiry, and tailored communications to support fundraising efforts

Donor Engagement & Relationship Building

• Lead in-person and virtual engagement with donors through meetings, school visits, and curated experiences
• Translate Uncommon’s impact into clear, compelling narratives that inspire philanthropic investment
• Ensure timely, thoughtful stewardship to strengthen long-term donor relationships

Prospect Identification & Network Expansion

• Identify and qualify new prospective donors through research, events, and outreach
• Partner with internal stakeholders and leadership to expand access to new donor networks
• Contribute to building a strong pipeline of high-capacity prospects

Pipeline Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain accurate donor records and pipeline data in Salesforce or similar systems
• Forecast revenue and track progress toward fundraising goals
• Collaborate with development, marketing, and program teams to align messaging and engagement strategies

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree
• 10+ years of professional experience or an equivalent track record building and managing sophisticated major gift portfolios
• Demonstrated experience in frontline fundraising, with a focus on major or principal gifts
• Proven success managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing six- and seven-figure philanthropic gifts
• Experience building trusted relationships with senior executives, trustees, philanthropists, or other high-profile stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to clearly convey mission and impact
• Experience developing donor strategies, proposals, and engagement plans
• Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM systems, including pipeline tracking and revenue forecasting

Preferred

• Familiarity with the New York City philanthropic landscape
• Experience collaborating across teams to support fundraising strategy
• Strong analytical skills to support planning and decision-making

Physical Requirements

Minimal physical demands, including extended periods working at a desk

Additional Information

• Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families.
• Compensation: The full compensation range for this role is $116,800–$146,000. Typically, new hires who fully meet all qualifications listed in the job description will start at $124,100. Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications.
• Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.
• Compensation determinations consider relevant professional experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools.
• Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Benefit Highlights

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health saving accounts