Development Specialist

  • Full-time
  • Hiring Start Time: Immediate Start (Home Office)
  • HO Team: Development

Company Description

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing charter public schools that are closing the academic achievement gap and preparing students from historically underserved communities for success in college and beyond. Uncommon currently manages 55 schools serving more than 20,000 students in six cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, Rochester, and Troy. Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at rates far higher than their peers. We believe that every child deserves an outstanding education, and we are committed to working beyond the walls of our schools to achieve that goal through our professional development workshops, books, and district partnerships. 

Job Description

Summary of role

The Development Specialist will be responsible for synthesizing and crafting narrative approaches to communicate the Uncommon story and working closely with the Senior Director of Development to handle their portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation funders and prospects in pursuit of Uncommon Schools’ results-oriented philanthropic revenue goals. The person in this role will build compelling written materials including institutional and individual grant proposals and impact reports, cultivation and stewardship materials, and communications to Uncommon’s supporters, as well as be responsible for effective prospect management in partnership with Senior Director. This person will serve as a crucial member of the Development team, directly supporting the management of the organization’s top-priority funders through the donor pipeline.

Core Duties and Responsibilities

Communications

  • Lead the development of versatile, audience-specific content for the team that will frame, shape, and improve the way we tell our story to prospects and supporters
  • Write convincingly and effectively to build deep and positive relationships with donors and prospective donors
  • Write grant proposals to secure increased support from institutional funders and individuals; reports to convey the impact of giving at Uncommon; individualized and large-scale communications to funders for cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship; and other communications, as needed
  • Ensure successful grants management by leading compliance to all grant requirements including grant contact review and execution, tracking contract landmarks, and completing grant reports
  • Establish relationships with schools, regional, and Home Office teams to ensure key data points and programmatic information can help tailor communications with prospects and funders

Portfolio Management

  • Provide strategic and operational support to the Senior Director in handling their portfolio of top individual, institutional, and corporate partners, which includes relationships owned by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Advancement Officer
  • Build and run an organized and effective system to move high-priority donors and prospects through the donor pipeline and drive internal partners to the specific action that will advance the relationship with each donor
  • Use Salesforce, our donor management system, to drive reporting and decision making across this portfolio of donors and maintain accurate and up-to-date records of progress with funders.
  • Coordinate and lead the logistics and content development for donor visits, meetings, and presentations

Qualifications

Required Skills & Abilities

  • Dedication to the mission of Uncommon Schools
  • Confirmed outstanding writing and editing skills
  • Knowledge of fundraising and development processes and strategies; experience with institutional funders preferred
  • Detail-focused, highly organized, and comfortable in handling and following up with colleagues at all levels of the organization
  • Fundraising and donor management software experience; experience with Salesforce a plus
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Ability to balance multiple projects at once and set landmarks and priorities
  • Ability to learn quickly, to pivot when needed, and to be effective in a fast-paced, multifaceted, ambitious environment
  • Proven success working independently, taking direction as needed, as well as part of a collaborative team

Educational Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree required

Experience Requirements

  • 2-3 years of experience in non-profit fundraising
  • Previous experience in K-12 public education preferred

Physical Requirements

  • Prolonged periods of sitting at desk and working on computer

Travel Requirements

  • Travel to schools locally and regionally on an ad hoc basis (approx. 1-2 times per month)

Additional Information

Uncommon Schools offers salaries commensurate with experience and a very generous benefits and vacation package. All staff members receive extensive professional development, and are equipped with a laptop computer and all necessary supplies.

Uncommon believes in the importance of being a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that enables our students and staff to thrive. We are committed to building a talented team that reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students. At the same time, we work to ensure an inclusive community through creating a space for meaningful dialogue about issues of race and identity for our staff and students.  As an equal opportunity employer, we hire without consideration to race, religion, creed, color, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status or disability.