City Year Cleveland is seeking a skilled fundraising professional with an entrepreneurial mindset to be the Senior Director of Development. The ideal candidate is an ambitious and sophisticated forward-thinker, communicator, and equity-driven fundraising professional who thrives in roles that require them to be strategic, creative, and collaborative.

Reporting to the Executive Director, as a member of the site’s Executive Leadership Team, the Senior Director of Development will manage the Director of Development. This person is responsible for developing and implementing the Development and Communications strategy for City Year Cleveland to raise and sustain at least $1,300,000 from the private sector in FY25 and grow annually. The Senior Director of Development will develop and execute strategic, diversified development plans to raise funds through grant writing, individual giving, and institutional partners, such as corporations and foundations.

The ideal candidate is an initiative-taking problem-solver and strategic thinker who is committed to helping advance educational equity by developing leaders and supporting students in Cleveland’s under-resourced schools. City Year values and continuously works to build an equitable and inclusive culture where people with diverse lived experiences feel they belong.

Responsibility

Fundraising Strategy

In partnership with the Executive Director and the City Year Cleveland Board and Development team, leverage and enhance the site’s existing Development plan to implement a strategic and diversified fundraising plan that meets the current goal of raising $1,300,000 from the private sector and anticipates future needs and growth objectives. In partnership with the Executive Director, set and monitor annual private revenue goals.

Develop strategies to identify and secure partnerships with corporations and foundations that reflect their marketing and business needs as well as philanthropic and community engagement goals. In partnership with the Director of Development, co-create strategies to identify and secure new individual supporters, fully leverage existing relationships, increase multi-year commitments, and maintain or elevate current commitments. Implement a high-quality stewardship program and engages, recognizes, and thanks supporters to strengthen their relationship with the organization.

Team Leadership

Lead and coach the Director of Development and support ongoing coaching, career growth, and professional development for a diverse staff.

Portfolio Management: Build and manage a portfolio with a personal revenue target of 1,300.000, consisting of donors and prospects with $25,000+ capacity for giving, and a focus on prospects capable of giving $100,000+. Cultivate, solicit, and close annual, major gift and multi-year contributions.

Engage 3-5 donors per week, on average, through meetings, calls, emails, and events in the community. Achieve 75 meaningful contacts with portfolio prospects annually and make 25 intentional asks. Document and maintain clear and timely records and call reports to track contacts, donor giving, and notes in the Salesforce database.

Board Management

In partnership with the Executive Director, the Senior Director of Development will engage the Board to meet critical financial and advocacy goals for the organization. Serve as primary relationship manager for Development Committee or Development focused board members. Provide regular updates and maintain engagement (both financially and otherwise) to ensure Board retention and satisfaction.

Events and Civic Engagement Program Strategy Leadership

In partnership with site leadership and Development team, drive strategies to leverage large-scale fundraising events, including our annual Gala as well as smaller events to thoughtfully engage donor communities.

Organizational Leadership

Help shape organizational strategy and play a leadership role in implementing the site’s local operating plan as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Work collaboratively with other site departments and City Year’s national and regional staff. Represent, respect, and role-model City Year’s organizational culture and values on a daily basis, both internally as a member of the site Senior Leadership Team, and externally as a primary representative of the organization. Actively contribute as leadership team member and support our ongoing Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging work. Partner with all departments through site events, projects, and cross-departmental committees as needed to ensure site-wide goals are met.

Marketing and Communications

In partnership with the Executive Director, local Development team, and national Marketing & Communications team, lead overall marketing and communications strategy for the site. Leverage available channels (email, social media, direct mail, etc.), to enhance City Year’s brand in the local community and increase connection to key donor audiences.

Development Operations

In partnership with the Development Operations staff, support development business processes from donor identification through to stewardship, ensuring accurate maintenance of records and donor information in the Salesforce database. Direct monthly pipeline meetings with the Development team and Executive Director to provide updated revenue figures, pipeline reports, and progress towards monthly/quarterly goals. Identify areas for operational improvements and drive continual improvements of processes.

Qualifications

At least 5-7 years of non-profit fundraising experience, gained in a frontline fundraising role.
Direct experience leading Development program, including managing diverse teams.
Track record of soliciting and securing six-figure gifts and personally managing a portfolio.
Skilled in working across all levels of employees and stakeholders, including Board members and committees.
Strong interpersonal, networking, and relationship building skills.
Persuasive written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to problem solve, work independently, meet deadlines, and balance multiple high-profile partner priorities simultaneously.
Passion for service, the empowerment of young people, and City Year’s mission to provide educational equity and school success for those who are further from opportunities.
Flexibility to attend in-person donor meetings, work related events, respond to unpredictable partnership needs, and other duties as assigned, which at times are outside of standard working hours.
Knowledge of high-net-worth and philanthropic community in Cleveland via local business, civic, and cultural networks desirable.
City Year/AmeriCorps experience a plus
Experience with Salesforce preferred

Key Competencies

In order to succeed in this role, the applicant must have the following competencies:

External Relationship Development: takes initiative in establishing new partnership and external opportunities; ability to secure new commitments to the organization; strong interpersonal and relationship building skills in one-on-one and large group settings.
Strategic Thinking and Planning: develops and translates strategies into action plans that build the capacity of the site/department; creative out-of-the-box thinker.
Executes to Results: is proactive and a problem-solver, produces high quality work, prioritizes appropriately, and accepts accountability; delegates responsibilities and holds others accountable.
Communication: ability to communicate mission and vision to diverse audiences using creative storytelling to connect to individual/corporate passions and purpose; clearly articulates information and ideas orally and in writing.
Desire to Learn: City Year has a unique service model and organizational culture. Successful applicants will have strong experience and a proven track record of success in the above areas but must also be willing and eager to continue to learn.

City Year jobs

Senior Director, Development