Senior Managing Director, Development

ROLE

TITLE:

Senior Managing Director, Development

POSITION

REPORTS TO:

Vice President, Field Fundraising

PRIORITY Final date to receive applications:
Friday, May 29, 2026. Applications received after this date will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

LOCATION:
Must be based on Ohio, ideally Greater Cincinnati

All prospect & donor management roles on Field Fundraising teams are responsible for cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and managing a portfolio of donors across Ohio who share our commitment to ensuring that all children have access to an equitable and excellent education. As a member of the Field Fundraising team, you will be part of a team‑based effort charged with developing and executing on a long‑term vision and strategy to achieve our development goals for both public and private funding.

In your role, you will partner with the Executive Director, regional advisory board members, and other front‑line fundraisers to maximize giving in Ohio, playing a key role in new donor strategy and acquisition over the next 3–5 years.

• 20% – Build a comprehensive, multi‑year vision and development plan for cultivating complex, high‑giving potential donors across the state of Ohio with the goal of maximizing public and private revenue to the organization as a whole. Drive new donor strategy and acquisition.
• 40% – Directly manage, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of donors and prospects across a variety of funding streams. Build and maintain critical relationships in the public and private sphere to advance fundraising efforts.
• 20% – Work in close partnership with the local Executive Director to build the long‑term strategy, develop and maintain a keen understanding of the political landscape and its relationship to public and private donors and funding opportunities, and build and maintain critical relationships in the public and private sphere necessary to advance fundraising efforts, including local advisory board members.
• 10% – Manage a team of development staff members, holding accountability for their individual fundraising in addition to the goals for the portfolio you manage.
• 5% – Consistently maintain donor, prospect, and fundraising activity information in our customer relationship management system and leverage this information in tracking progress, monitoring gaps, and adjusting strategy and approach.
• 5% – Steward team and organizational initiatives in partnership with the Development team and regional Ohio team.

Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter most for this role (minimum qualifications):

• Relationship Building and Management
  • Exceptional relationship builder, particularly with external stakeholders.
  • Orientation and desire to seek out and develop new relationships and partnerships.
  • Experience cultivating executive‑level donors and partners.
• Fundraising and Development Strategy
  • Subject‑matter expert in advanced development practices and the art and science of fundraising.
  • Comprehensive experience and success working with high‑potential donors across a variety of streams (individual, corporate, foundation, public).
  • Adept at building multi‑year development plans that maintain exceptional donor retention and build pathways to diversifying pipelines and securing new donors.
  • Understands current trends in philanthropy at both a local and national level and leverages up‑to‑date information and/or best practices.
• Portfolio Management
  • Ability to autonomously steward a complex portfolio of donors and prospects at and through all stages of the donor life cycle toward successful closing of gifts.
  • Monitor progress across the portfolio to ensure continuous donor stewardship.
  • When appropriate, serve as the primary relationship holder and/or primary solicitor for opportunities and donors.
• Mentorship/Management of Fundraising Staff
  • Manage and mentor fundraising staff by giving feedback, coaching, and fundraising‑related resources and learning experiences.

• Required:
  
  At least 10+ years of related experience in a highly complex development and fundraising context.
• Required:
  
  Track record of meeting and exceeding ambitious goals as a donor…