Senior Director, Major Gifts

About Achievement First

Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life.

The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI.

Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves.

Achievement First seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven Senior Director, Major Gifts to join our development team

Your Impact

The Senior Director will manage a portfolio of 100–150 corporate and major gift prospects, with responsibility for generating $1.0M–$1.5M in annual philanthropic revenue through gifts of $10,000 or more. This individual will play a central role in strengthening Achievement First’s regional philanthropic presence by building meaningful relationships with donors, community leaders, and board members.

Working closely with the Rhode Island and Connecticut Executive Directors, Managing Directors of External Affairs, and regional school leaders, the Senior Director will help expand Achievement First’s network of philanthropic supporters and ensure donors experience the impact of their investments firsthand.

The Senior Director will also supervise a direct report, helping expand the organization’s mid-level donor pipeline by cultivating a base of 750–1,000 prospects with potential to contribute $1,000–$9,999 annually and strengthening donor communications and engagement strategies. This role requires a highly collaborative fundraiser who can build trusted relationships, think strategically about philanthropic growth, and translate Achievement First’s mission into compelling opportunities for donor investment.

Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer you will be responsible for:

Major Gifts Portfolio Management and Solicitation

• Manage a portfolio of 100–150 major donor prospects across Connecticut and Rhode Island
• Develop and execute tailored engagement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors who can contribute $10,000+ annually or $50,000 over five years
• Conduct regular donor meetings, school visits, and cultivation events to deepen relationships with Achievement First’s philanthropic partners. 
• Prepare compelling proposals, donor briefings, and stewardship reports in alignment with RI and CT leadership
• Track donor engagement and maintain accurate records of strategy, outreach, and revenue pipeline in the Salesforce CRM system

Prospect Identification and Pipeline Development

• Identify and cultivate new philanthropic prospects across Connecticut and Rhode Island. 
• Expand Achievement First’s donor network through referrals, community engagement, and strategic prospect research.
• Partner with the development operations and foundation teams to build a strong pipeline of prospective major donors.
• Track portfolio performance and adjust cultivation strategies to meet revenue goals.
• Participate in external events and community gatherings to expand philanthropic relationships, and lead internal events and visits to do the same.

Regional Leadership and School Collaboration

• Partner with the Rhode Island and Connecticut Executive Directors, Managing Directors of External Affairs, and school leaders to align fundraising priorities with regional strategy.
• Coordinate school visits, donor briefings, and leadership engagement opportunities.
• Work with regional leadership to identify compelling philanthropic opportunities and funding priorities.
• Ensure donors experience the impact of their philanthropic investment through meaningful engagement with students, educators, and programs.

Team Leadership and Development

• Supervise and mentor the Senior Associate, Development Marketing and Communications, supporting their professional growth and development.
• Guide the development of donor communications, engagement campaigns, and stewardship initiatives.
• Support the expansion of a mid-level donor pipeline of 750–1,000 prospects contributing $1,000–$9,999 annually.
• Ensure alignment between communications strategy, donor engagement, and major gifts fundraising priorities.

Board Engagement and Network Expansion

• Collaborate with the Rhode Island and Connecticut Boards of Directors to identify and cultivate prospective donors within their networks.
• Support board members in facilitating introductions, hosting cultivation opportunities, and participating in donor meetings.
• In partnership with the regional Managing Directors of External Affairs, develop strategies to engage board members as ambassadors for Achievement First’s mission and philanthropic priorities, and ensure 100% board giving.

Qualifications 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree (e.g., B.A., B.S., B.S.N.); Master’s degree in a relevant field preferred
• Experience:
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible fundraising experience, including frontline fundraising and major gifts portfolio management
• Proven track record of securing individual gifts of $10,000+
• Experience managing a portfolio of 100+ donors and prospects
• Proficiency with CRM systems
• Demonstrated ability to partner with senior leaders and board members to advance philanthropic relationships
• Prior experience supervising staff or mentoring junior development professionals preferred
• Experience in education, youth-serving organizations, or other mission-driven nonprofits preferred

Knowledge & Skills

• Strong understanding of organizational budgets and financial drivers
• Ability to collaborate effectively with both internal and external stakeholders
• Exceptional written, verbal, and presentation communication skills

Travel Expectations 

This is a hybrid role requiring the individual to work from a Network Support Office in Connecticut or Rhode Island at least three days per week. Monthly travel to other regions may be necessary. Regular in-state travel is expected for school visits, board meetings, and funder engagements. Candidates must be based in either Connecticut or Rhode Island.

Compensation

Achievement First sets salaries are set through a lens of equity, and based on the requisite skills, education, and experience relevant to the role.  The salary for this position is $130,842. In order to uphold our commitment to equity, Achievement First does not negotiate pay.  Additionally, Achievement First offers to all regular, full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes paid time off, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, a 403(b) retirement benefit package with match, and paid Family Leave.