Director of Development - Individual Giving & Stewardship

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation

Location: Greater Los Angeles, CA (Primarily Remote with in-person donor meetings and occasional in-person team meetings
Salary Range: $120,000 - $140,000 annually

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOUNDATION

The Alliance College-Ready Public Schools Foundation (Alliance Foundation) is dedicated to strengthening the community support and investment that has lifted Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Alliance) since its inception. The Alliance Foundation raises resources and visibility for the Alliance network of schools, advocates for policies that improve quality public education for historically underserved youth, and builds partnerships to strengthen Alliance schools and the communities that Alliance serves. We believe in the unlimited potential of our scholars and work to shine a bright light on what is possible for all public schools. Incorporated in 2019, the Alliance Foundation builds on the strong legacy of active and engaged civic leaders committed to educational justice and who believe in the brilliant promise of Alliance scholars and schools. By joining the Alliance Foundation, you will be part of a collaborative community that drives long-lasting change across Los Angeles.

ABOUT ALLIANCE COLLEGE-READY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Alliance College-Ready Public Schools (Alliance) was founded on the belief that all young people, regardless of zip code, can achieve at high levels. Now in its 22nd year, Alliance is one of the largest and most successful public charter school networks in the nation, operating 25 high-performing middle and high schools serving more than 12,000 scholars in systematically underserved communities across Los Angeles. For more than two decades, Alliance has built a strong, stable organization with a proven track record of serving scholars and communities. Despite the average scholar arriving at Alliance schools three grade levels behind in reading, 96% of Alliance graduates are accepted to college, including 85% to a four-year college or university. Alliance remains committed to changing the trajectories of our scholars and communities, with the aspiration that 75% of Alliance graduates will complete a four-year college degree.

ROLE SUMMARY

The Director of Development – Individual Giving & Stewardship is a strategic fundraising leader responsible for growing and sustaining the Alliance Foundation’s individual giving program, with a particular focus on mid-level giving, annual fund strategy, donor portfolio management, and long-term donor engagement. The Director will manage a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, lead the growth of the Foundation’s Scholar Success Circle, oversee the Annual Fund, and lead the Foundation’s two annual fundraising events, with a focus on driving fundraising growth. The Director will develop strategies that deepen donor relationships, increase retention and giving, and build a sustainable pipeline toward major and principal gifts. Reporting to the Vice President of Development, the Director supervises and mentors the Manager of Development Operations and Events and collaborates closely with Foundation leadership, colleagues, Board members, volunteers, and external partners. The ideal candidate is an experienced, results-oriented fundraiser who combines strategic thinking with strong execution. They bring sound judgment, initiative, and the ability to translate organizational priorities into clear plans, manage competing priorities, and deliver measurable results.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Individual Giving & Portfolio Management

• Manage and strategically grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects with the capacity to contribute $2,500 to $25,000 annually, identifying opportunities to cultivate larger gifts and long-term philanthropic commitments.
• Lead the donor engagement cycle, including prospect identification, research, cultivation, solicitation, gift closure, stewardship, renewal, and upgrading.
• Develop and execute mid-level giving and Annual Fund strategies to acquire new donors, increase retention, strengthen engagement, and grow unrestricted and other philanthropic support.
• Leverage fundraising events, individual networks, and existing corporate relationships to identify new prospects and convert one-time contributors into sustained supporters.

Scholar Success Circle & Mid-Level Giving

• Lead the strategic development, implementation, and growth of the Alliance Foundation’s Scholar Success Circle, a mid-level giving program recognizing individuals who contribute a cumulative $5,000 or more annually.
• Develop strategies to identify prospective members, deepen engagement with existing supporters, and build a sustainable pipeline of donors contributing approximately $5,000 to $10,000 annually.
• Design and implement cultivation, recognition, and stewardship activities that encourage renewal, increased giving, and long-term engagement.
• Establish measurable goals and use donor data and engagement insights to assess performance and inform improvements.
• Analyze fundraising performance and donor engagement data to identify opportunities for growth, improve processes, and recommend strategic adjustments.

Fundraising Events & Donor Engagement

• Lead the fundraising strategy and sponsorship development for the Alliance Foundation’s two annual fundraising events, Heroes Among Us ($1.5M Goal) and Leaders of Change ($200K Goal), working collaboratively with internal colleagues and external event consultants responsible for event production and logistics.
• Develop and implement strategies to secure new event sponsors, renew existing sponsorships, increase contributions, and use events to strengthen ongoing donor relationships.
• Partner with the Communications Director to develop donor-centered fundraising, event, solicitation, and stewardship materials that communicate philanthropic impact.
• Support donor and Board engagement events throughout the year, ensuring a thoughtful and cohesive donor experience.
• Facilitate and support volunteer engagement opportunities, including the annual scholarship awards process and the Career and Internship Program, in collaboration with the Alliance School Network Team.

Strategic Leadership, Project Management & Collaboration

• Translate the Foundation’s fundraising priorities and annual goals into clear plans with objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and measures of success.
• Lead assigned fundraising initiatives from strategy development through execution, progress monitoring, and evaluation.
• Develop and maintain organized, efficient workflows that support effective collaboration and execution across fundraising initiatives, ensuring accountability for key milestones and deliverables.
• Supervise and mentor the Manager of Development Operations and Events, supporting gift processing, Salesforce data management and reporting, event coordination, and related operational priorities.
• Contribute to a collaborative, results-oriented team culture by communicating progress, proactively identifying opportunities and challenges, and taking ownership of assigned responsibilities.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE WILL HAVE AND/OR BE

• A Proven Individual Giving Fundraiser: Demonstrated success personally managing donor portfolios, cultivating relationships, soliciting and closing five-figure gifts, and achieving individual giving revenue goals.
• Experienced in Mid-Level and Annual Giving: Strong experience developing or expanding annual giving, mid-level giving, giving societies, or comparable donor engagement programs, with a demonstrated ability to improve retention and grow philanthropic support.
• A Strategic Thinker and Effective Executor: Able to connect fundraising activities to broader organizational goals, develop sound strategies, translate ideas into action, and assess results.
• Experienced in Fundraising Events and Sponsorships: Proven ability to secure, renew, and grow event sponsorships and use fundraising events to support donor cultivation and fundraising goals.
• A Relationship Builder: Skilled at developing trusted relationships with donors, colleagues, volunteers, Board members, and community partners. Possesses strong emotional intelligence and an ability to engage and influence diverse stakeholders.
• Proactive and Accountable: Comfortable working with a high degree of autonomy, taking initiative, managing competing priorities, and following through on commitments.
• Collaborative and Solutions-Oriented: Thrives in a small, mission-driven team, contributes ideas and recommendations, and approaches challenges with curiosity and sound judgment.
• Analytical and Organized: Skilled at using fundraising data, performance measures, and project management practices to inform decisions, prioritize work, evaluate outcomes, and improve processes.
• An Excellent Communicator: Demonstrates strong written and oral communication skills, including the ability to communicate compellingly with donors and present thoughtful recommendations to internal and external stakeholders.
• Mission-Aligned: Demonstrates a deep commitment to the missions of the Alliance Foundation and Alliance College-Ready Public Schools and to advancing educational opportunities for historically underserved communities.
• Technologically Proficient: Comfortable working with donor management systems, CRM platforms (preferably Salesforce), project management tools (preferably Asana), and Google Workspace and Microsoft Office applications.
• Knowledge of urban school environments, education nonprofits, and school culture is a plus.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree preferred.
• A minimum of 10–12 years of progressive fundraising experience, including substantial, direct responsibility for individual giving, donor portfolio management, and achieving fundraising revenue goals.
• Demonstrated success in donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention, including experience managing mid-level or annual giving initiatives.
• Experience developing and executing fundraising strategies and managing complex initiatives with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
• Experience leading or supporting teams and cross-functional initiatives.
• Experience with fundraising events and sponsorships.
• Experience in nonprofit organizations is a must; experience in education or education-adjacent organizations is strongly preferred.
• Residency in the Greater Los Angeles area is required. Regular travel across Los Angeles is required; a valid driver’s license and an automobile available for daily use are required.
• Willingness to work occasional evenings and weekends.

Application Requirement: Candidates must submit a cover letter along with their résumé.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

In alignment with our commitment to equity for our scholars and school communities, Alliance Foundation is committed to equitable and transparent compensation practices and offers competitive salaries commensurate with experience, along with a comprehensive benefits package.

This is an exempt position.

Compensation: The annual salary range for this role is $120,000 to $140,000 based on relevant years of experience and qualifications. There is also an opportunity for a team bonus upon successful achievement of annual goals.

Health Insurance: Medical, dental, and vision plan options with 100% of monthly premiums covered for individual employees and partial coverage for spouses and families.

Retirement: Employees are eligible for a 401(k) retirement plan, including an annual employer contribution of 6% of regular earnings plus an additional 1% employer match after the first month of employment.

Paid Leave and Holidays: Benefits include an annual accrual of 15 vacation days and 10 sick days, plus 19 paid holidays, including paid time off between Christmas and New Year’s Day, and the first week of July.

Professional Development: Employees receive an annual allocation of $750 for professional development expenses.

Flexible Work Environment: This is a remote-based role offering flexibility in work location within the Greater Los Angeles area. Regular monthly in-person meetings at the Alliance Home Office in Downtown Los Angeles, participation in events, and travel for donor visits and related activities are required.