Nonprofit Managing Director

About the role

Scholar Opportunity is a nonprofit organization focused on expanding access to higher education through innovative financing mechanisms. We are developing a recuperable grant structure, combining philanthropic capital with income-based repayment safety nets, to support students who are underserved by traditional financial aid models. We operate in partnership with ScholarBasis, a technology platform that provides origination, tracking, and reporting infrastructure for our pilot programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising & Capital Formation
• Lead all philanthropic fundraising and efforts for the organization's inaugural funding round.
• Build and steward a network of donors, grantmakers, alumni, and institutional partners aligned with education finance reform.
• Develop compelling impact narratives that connect donor intent to measurable student outcomes.
• Secure $1-2M in committed capital within the first 12 months of operation.
• Establish multi-year donor relationships and institutional funding commitments.
• Program Design & Parameterization
• Finalize The Parameters Of Scholar Opportunity's Pilot Program, Including Target cohort size and student eligibility criteria.
• Recuperation amounts and income-based repayment terms.
• Scalars and conditions governing grant disbursement.
• Ensure program design is aligned with legal, philanthropic, and institutional requirements.
• Collaborate with ScholarBasis to incorporate automation and predictive analytics into program delivery.
• Institutional Operations & Technology Oversight
• Oversee the organization's use of ScholarBasis platform services across onboarding, origination, student tracking, and reporting.
• Provide strategic direction to ensure technology and operational workflows support program goals.
• Leverage existing technology infrastructure provided by ScholarBasis.
• Impact Reporting & Expansion Strategy
• Translate ScholarBasis-generated reports into compelling narratives for donor engagement and program expansion.
• Develop evidence of program success, including repayment rates, student outcomes, institutional adoption, and donor impact.
• Prepare and deliver quarterly impact reports to donors and board members.
• Publish a comprehensive pilot impact report within the first year, and use findings to support a second fundraising round.
• Organizational Leadership & Governance
• Serve as a founding Board Member and provide strategic direction for organizational growth.
• Lead mission-setting, hiring, and organizational development as the team expands.
• Explore opportunities to extend Scholar Opportunity's model into new geographies, student populations, and institutional partnerships.
• Operate with integrity and independence within the financial constraints of the fund.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated track record in fundraising, development, or philanthropic capital formation.
• Established network within education, finance, or social impact philanthropy.
• Deep personal commitment to education finance reform and expanding college access.
• Experience operating within the financial and governance constraints of an independent nonprofit.
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to inspire donors, partners, and board members.
• Comfort working with fractional and cross-functional teams in a startup environment.

Preferred

• Prior experience in a higher education institution including former deans, enrollment officers, financial aid directors, or institutional leadership.
• Familiarity with income-share agreements, recuperable grants, or other alternative education finance instruments.
• Demonstrated ability to translate data and program analytics into donor-facing narratives and expansion strategies.
• Experience building or launching a nonprofit organization.

Human-centered design and stakeholder outreach

Interpreting and marketing data-driven results to non-technical audiences.

Organizational maturity and experienced judgment to complement a passionate, early-stage team.

Position Details

• Location: Remote / Home Office
• Time Commitment: Part-time (~50% FTE)
• Travel: As required to meet donors, partners, and institutions (travel expenses reimbursed)
• Team Structure: Fractional and collaborative; works closely with ScholarBasis and organizational board
• Employment Type: Contract or part-time employee; commensurate with experience and organizational stage
• Compensation Details: Available upon request

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive organization that reflects the students we serve.