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 StrategyBuild and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationshipsDesign and execute individualized strategies to align donor interests with Uncommon’s prioritiesDevelop proposals, letters of inquiry, and tailored communications to support fundraising effortsDonor Engagement & Relationship BuildingLead in-person and virtual engagement with donors through meetings, school visits, and curated experiencesTranslate Uncommon’s impact into clear, compelling narratives that inspire philanthropic investmentEnsure timely, thoughtful stewardship to strengthen long-term donor relationshipsProspect Identification & Network ExpansionIdentify and qualify new prospective donors through research, events, and outreachPartner with internal stakeholders and leadership to expand access to new donor networksContribute to building a strong pipeline of high-capacity prospectsPipeline Management & Cross-Functional CollaborationMaintain accurate donor records and pipeline data in Salesforce or similar systemsForecast revenue and track progress toward fundraising goalsCollaborate with development, marketing, and program teams to align messaging and engagement strategies
