Statewide Director of Development - Junior Achievement

Overview

Junior Achievement USA is the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. Junior Achievement's programs, in the core content areas of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy ignite the spark in young people to experience and realize the opportunities and realities of work and life in the 21st century.

JA’s values include:

• Belief In the boundless potential of young people.
• Seek Out Various backgrounds, perspectives, and talents in our staff and volunteers, and boards to reflect the geographies and communities we serve.
• Nurture The power of partnerships and collaboration.
• Approach Our work with passion, honesty, integrity, and excellence.
• Teach Principled market-based economics and entrepreneurship that build a more sustainable world.
• Advocate For relevant hands‑on learning.

Junior Achievement of Wisconsin (JA Wisconsin) is the region’s premier business-connected educational provider. The organization catalyzes cross‑sector partnerships to deliver innovative solutions that significantly improve educational attainment, workforce readiness, and access. With operations throughout the state, JA Wisconsin has built a reputation for innovation and results, working with school districts to integrate and scale experiential learning. Today, over 120,000 students engage in a continuum of real‑world applied learning experiences that shape their mindset, behaviors, and skills to envision and pursue opportunity‑filled futures.

In fact, JA is also responding to emerging needs among a growing number of young adults struggling financially with independent living after school. JA is excited to be part of this new opportunity to help support one student at a time for their “last mile” of academic learning. This transformation has been fueled by partnerships with school districts, colleges, and major employers that are united by JA’s programs to solve entrenched barriers to economic opportunity.

Through these efforts, JA Wisconsin has expanded its strategic partnerships and the reach of high‑impact solutions across the state.

Junior Achievement designs learning experiences with the end in mind: real outcomes for students. Our experiences don’t just expose young people to ideas about the future — they help students clearly connect what they are learning today to where they want to go tomorrow in a measurable way.

The Statewide Director of Development at Junior Achievement of Wisconsin is charged with leading the organization’s efforts to significantly expand its financial resources and strengthen external partnerships and brand awareness. This role is responsible for all fundraising activities in the Southeast Wisconsin Region in addition to providing strategy development and functional oversight for statewide philanthropic initiatives. This senior director role will increase major donor contributions, enhance the organization’s public image, and achieve specific performance metrics.

Additionally, this position serves as a key member of the state leadership team.

Strategic Fundraising Leadership: Drive the development and execution of an integrated statewide fundraising strategy to improve communication and collaboration among regions, standardize processes, share best practices, diversify revenue, expand donor engagement, and maximize sustainable funding through campaigns, strategic sponsor ships, grants, and major gifts. Lead fundraiser for all aspects of the southeastern region fund development: cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding critical relationships to secure and enhance funding sources.

Organize annual strategy meetings with Regional Directors to establish and refine fundraising goals, incorporating best practices for campaign and event management. Develop and lead regional and statewide grant strategy and approach. Review funding opportunities from JA USA & operationalize as appropriate. Lead the Region’s Event and Marketing Team.

Individual Giving Cultivation and Management: Direct a statewide…