Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing, public charter schools providing an outstanding K-12 education in historically under-resourced communities. We have proudly built schools that reflect our student population, with more than 60% of our teachers and staff across our network identifying as a person of color. Uncommon currently manages 52 schools serving 19,000 students in five cities: Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester. We are proud that Uncommon graduates persist in and graduate from college at five times the rate of their peers nationally. We achieve this by offering strong academic, co-curricular, and social-emotional learning that prepares students for success in college and beyond.

The Head of Development will be joining the Home Office development team at a transformative moment for Uncommon – our schools are working urgently to accelerate learning in the post-COVID era and as our college-bound population quickly grows. The $20 million in annual revenue generated by the development team will be essential to ensuring that our network has the financial strength and flexibility to seize new opportunities and continue to respond to challenges. In addition, an active capital campaign in Boston is ongoing and plans for at least two additional projects are beginning to take shape. 

This role is responsible for leading all Development work for the Uncommon Schools network. The Head of Development will develop and manage the strategy and execution of our fundraising efforts to ensure that our network of 52 schools and our Home Office has the private philanthropy they need to thrive. They will be responsible for all activities associated with identifying, securing, nurturing, and engaging new and existing individual and institutional donors.

As team lead for the Development team, the Head of Development will report to the Chief External Officer and work closely with the Co-Chief Executive Officer to manage a portfolio of key institutional and individual donors. In addition, this person will lead a team of eight individuals based at the Home Office and in our regions to support institutional and regional philanthropy. Together, the team will raise the philanthropy needed to fuel our growth across the network and support key initiatives that advance our organizational priorities.

Develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising strategy to meet the organization’s long-term growth objectives (20%)

• Raise $20M in annual revenue and drive capital campaigns as required.
• Develop and implement a strategy and pipeline for growing individual and institutional giving, including foundation, corporate, and competitive government grants.
• Oversee the strategy behind and manage the execution of simultaneous capital campaigns in multiple regions to ensure that regions have the resources they need to provide high-quality facilities to their current and future students.

Build and grow relationships with current and prospective donors, Uncommon and regional Board of Trustees, and internal partners (35%)

• Lead our growing individual giving work, including prospecting, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of five-, six-, and seven-figure individual donors.
• Serve as primary Development relationship for the Uncommon Board and support Development relationships with our five regional Boards, including quarterly presentations at Board meetings, quarterly Development Committee meetings, and individual relationships to support Board members giving at the top of their capacity.
• Working closely with the co-CEO, manage a portfolio of high-value prospects and relationships to cultivate, solicit, and close gifts.
• Partner and collaborate with Uncommon’s external affairs, finance, strategic initiatives, real estate and grants compliance teams.

Lead a high-performing development team and institute sustainable systems and processes (45%)

• Oversee a team of eight individuals in Uncommon’s Home Office (New York City) and our regions. This person will manage five direct reports.
• Ensure consistent high-quality execution of development work (e.g., written proposals, presentations, and grant reports; co-CEO/senior leader preparation and talking points)   
• Continue to develop donor database and relationship management system within Salesforce, including regular reporting to the executive leadership team.
• Optimize channels and content for communications with current and prospective donors.

• Bachelor’s degree required
• Master’s degree preferred
• 10+ years’ work experience with increasing responsibility in non-profit development and/or education
• Experience working with Boards and high-net-worth donors
• Experience developing and leading a team with varying levels of experience and expertise
• Experience leading development work across a variety of disciplines, including institutional and individual giving
• Experience with optimizing Salesforce as a donor database tool to cultivate relationships and outreach, as well as run reports on donor pipeline
• Excellent strategic skills and ability to understand the intersection of multiple functions
• Excellent stakeholder and relationship management; excellent interpersonal skills with both internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Excellent communication skills: verbal and written
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills
• Strong systems orientation, attention to detail, and data-driven mindset
• Ability to be diplomatic and confidential
• Ability to thrive in a complex environment with equanimity and adaptability