VP of Development

What We Do

In the United States, too few students can access effective, high-performing public schools. At City Fund, we work to increase educational opportunities for students and families by partnering with city and state leaders to create innovative public school systems. We believe that public schools do best when educators have the power to make decisions that meet the diverse needs of their students, families are provided the information and access to choose the best schools for their children, and schools are held accountable for helping all students succeed.

City Fund provides financial support and expertise to local leaders seeking to improve educational opportunities in their cities. We support 18 cities across the country and hope to eventually reach most American cities. We focus on supporting:

• High quality, innovative K-12 schools with nonprofit governing structures and diverse leadership
• City leaders, including civic leaders and nonprofits that are working to build innovative public education systems
• Advocacy organizations that build the political power of families to shape education in ways that work for them

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We believe that the work in cities will only succeed if it is led by leaders who reflect the students and families they serve. We are investing in increasing the number of diverse leaders who hold roles as superintendents, non-profit executives, and other city-level leadership positions.

What You’ll Do 

As the Vice President of Development, you will be at the forefront of shaping the future of K-12 education through visionary leadership and strategic execution. You will spearhead City Fund’s fund development strategy, which will articulate the goals and objectives of sustaining, deepening, and scaling our work as we enter the next phase of growth. You will work closely with the CEO to expand our network of supporters, foster enduring relationships with high-net-worth individuals and foundations, and secure the essential resources to propel our mission forward to ensure City Fund’s lasting impact.

As VP of Development, you will report to the CEO and be responsible for the following:

Strategic Fundraising Leadership

• Collaborate closely with senior leadership to devise and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy that aligns with City Fund’s mission and objectives.
• Lead the development team, including the Director of Development, and provide strategic guidance for front-line fundraisers within the organization including board members, partners, CEO and President. 
• Innovate and implement compelling fundraising campaigns, events (including donor gatherings, convenings, and other engagement activities), and initiatives that resonate with potential donors to drive increased contributions.

Resource Mobilization and Fundraising

• Serve as lead partner to the CEO on external engagement, including with donors / partners (individuals and organizations). 
• Serve as the Development lead for City Fund’s Board of Directors to drive board involvement in annual fundraising and comprehensive fundraising efforts.
• Develop succinct, fast-cycle communications materials (pitch decks, strategic work products) to support donor engagement.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development to project manage tactical follow ups and partner across team members and functions to ensure timely execution of donor engagement.
• Lead strategy and oversee implementation of best-in-class donor software to track commitments and engagement cycles.

Diversifying and Growing Donor Base

• Develop a robust pipeline of prospects (individuals and foundations), employing data-driven approaches to prioritize and engage potential donors.
• Devise tailored cultivation and solicitation plans for major gift prospects, ensuring an individualized and impactful donor journey.
• Foster and cultivate meaningful connections with high-net-worth individuals, forging enduring partnerships and deepening their alignment with City Fund’s vision.

Impactful Donor Communication

• Craft persuasive and compelling fundraising materials, proposals, and presentations that resonate with donors and eloquently convey the impact of their contributions. 
• Provide consistent updates to donors, ensuring they are well-informed about City Fund’s progress, initiatives, and outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A belief in educational equity and innovative school models with substantial professional experience in the K-12 education nonprofit space 
• A demonstrated commitment to community-driven change, advancing racial equity, and centering the perspectives of those most impacted in decision-making, including experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds
• Excellent communication, writing, and storytelling skills
• Senior level experience interfacing with board members, senior leadership, and external partners
• Track record of success securing six and seven figure contributions from foundations and high-net-worth individual donors
• Experience designing and executing on tailored fundraising campaigns to ensure that prospects (individuals and foundations) have customized cultivation and engagement strategies
• Team management experience, including ability to inspire and motivate a team to achieve fundraising goals
• A self-starting, entrepreneurial, adaptable and action-oriented leader, with experience in a startup-like environment
• Exceptional relationship and trust building skills across a wide array of stakeholder groups (national system leaders, internal team members at all levels, local partners, parents and community members)
• Experience with donor management software and fundraising tools 

What You Get

City Fund is committed to creating and maintaining a total rewards system that supports our ability to recruit and retain a diverse and talented team. As we make decisions about total rewards, we will be guided by the following values: highly competitive pay, equitable pay, clarity, and transparency.

The starting salary for this role is $285,000.

City Fund honors the diverse experiences that candidates bring to roles to which they are applying. Because we deeply value internal pay equity, City Fund does not currently differentiate starting salary offers based on years of experience, degree level, or employee geographic location.

City Fund offers a competitive total rewards package. For full-time roles, this includes 100% employer-paid health insurance, expanded PTO, 5% 401K match, 6 months of paid parental leave, and a host of other benefits.

How To Apply

Submit your application at this link.

City Fund is an equal opportunity employer. Don’t think you check every box listed above? Please consider submitting an application anyway! We’ve learned that underrepresented groups are less likely to apply to a role unless they meet all the criteria on a job description. City Fund welcomes people of all backgrounds, and as we invest in work that is inclusive of everyone who shares our commitment to educational equity, we’re not looking for a “perfect” candidate. If you’re excited about this role and believe that students and their families deserve access to quality education, we look forward to receiving your application!