Senior Development Officer

Since 2006, Success Academy (SA) has created a national model of K-12 access to excellence for children across all demographics. The majority of its 22,000 students are children of color from low-income households in disadvantaged neighborhoods, admitted to our schools through a random public lottery. To date, 100% of its graduates have been accepted to college, many to highly selective institutions.

Its distinctive K-12 approach, designed as a holistic 13-year educational trajectory, produces student outcomes that outpace even those in affluent suburban schools. In 2025, Success Academy ranked #1 in Math and #2 in Reading/ELA out of more than 700+ K-12 school districts and charter networks in New York State. SA continues to operate as a national model for education reform, focusing on closing achievement gaps and preparing students for college success. 

Position Overview 

Reporting to the Head of Development and serving as a key member of the Development team within the Advancement department, the Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts (SDO) advances the mission of SA through the engagement and solicitation of high net worth donors and prospects (individuals, family foundations, and others) with the capacity to make a significant philanthropic gifts 6-figure or higher. 

Specifically, this includes managing and coordinating the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of an assigned portfolio with the goal of significantly increasing philanthropic revenues in support of SA’s ambitious goals for operational, programmatic, and capital purposes. The successful candidate will be a seasoned fundraising professional with a demonstrated track record of managing a portfolio and soliciting/closing significant philanthropic gifts.  The SDO will work in close partnership with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Advancement Officer (CAO), and other executive leaders and volunteers.

About the CandidateThe Senior Development Officer, Major Gifts is a high-impact, proactive, confident self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that values results. They are persistent and driven to succeed in advancing efforts to grow a robust pipeline of high-net-worth individual donors and in meeting or exceeding stretch goals. Success in this role will require the following qualities:

• Self-motivated, self-sufficient, and driven to lead and collaborate with others to achieve success. 
• Detail-oriented and analytical. 
• Strategic, proactive, and forward thinking. 
• Persuasive, outgoing, and confident with exceptional communication skills. 
• Possesses the highest standards of personal and professional integrity; and 

Adheres to and promotes SA’s mission, culture, and strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

Major Gifts Fundraising 

• As a leader and senior member of the Development team, strategically manages and grows a portfolio of 100+ Major Gifts donors/prospects to meet or exceed agreed upon monthly, quarterly, and annual goals and related performance metrics with respect to portfolio management, moves management, solicitations, closures, and dollars raised. 
• Develops cultivation and solicitation strategies for the assigned portfolio; builds and manages a network of relationships with prospective donors, strategically involving executives and others as appropriate. 
• Identifies, cultivates, solicits, closes, and stewards major donors through highly personalized engagement strategies, including in-person meetings, tailored proposals and written solicitations, email and other customized touchpoints
• Prepares and advises executive leaders and volunteers involved in donor relationships and solicitations to ensure coordinated, high-impact engagement.
• Collaborates with the Head of Development, Head of External Relations, and the CAO to create opportunities for meaningful donor engagement, solicitation, and stewardship. 
• In collaboration with the Head of Development, mentors and develops team members to elevate fundraising capabilities and performance, leading by example and reinforcing best-in-class major gift practices.
• Actively participates in the solicitation of gifts in support of marquee special events (e.g., Spring Benefit) to meet/exceed Advancement team goals. 
• Works closely with the Head of Development, the Project Manager for Principal Gifts, and the CAO in improving forecasting and tracking of progress against goals. 
• Records all significant donor interactions in Raiser’s Edge NXT database and tracks proposals, gifts, and pledge fulfillment within the assigned portfolio. Works closely with Advancement Services to monitor pledge reminders, receipts, and acknowledgement processes for portfolio donors for timeliness and accuracy. 

Donor Prospecting & Qualification

• Partners closely with Advancement Services to leverage the constituent database, prospect research, and analytical tools to proactively identify, source, and qualify a broader and deeper pool of prospective donors through informed queries and data-driven analysis.
• Works closely with the External Relations team to identify event attendees and other prospective donors for deeper engagement opportunities.
• Tracks philanthropic and financial media related to high-net-worth individuals to strategically inform cultivation and solicitation approaches.

Donor Stewardship & Communications

• Works closely with other team members to design and implement creative and impactful stewardship strategies to deepen engagement and sustain/increase giving. 
• Authors, reviews, and/or edits strategic communications with donors and prospects, sometimes on behalf of others, including proposals, reports, and emails or other correspondence. Often provides advice and guidance about strategic relationships within the officer’s portfolio in support of CEO and other leadership communications. 
• Along with other Development team members, assists with annual donor recognition and stewardship efforts, events, and communications, including the SA Leadership Council. 
• Assists the Head of Development and CAO with special projects, especially those related to major and principal giving, including but not limited to fundraising events, gift planning, board relations, and other projects. 
• Actively participates in strategic planning, revenue forecasting, and budgeting, as requested, and manages direct expenses within budget. 
• Remains abreast of SA programs, activities, accolades, and new initiatives to most effectively engage and/or steward donors to greater levels of support. 

Participates in and assists with SA/Advancement events, as needed.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressively responsible experience in nonprofit fundraising, investor relations, or consultative sales working with high-net-worth individuals; experience in K-12 education and/or charter schools a plus. 
• Demonstrated track record of successfully soliciting/closing major gifts of $100,000 and above. Experience with solicitations at higher levels strongly preferred. 

• Demonstrated comfort working with high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and/or family offices, as well as successful track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding significant gifts, as well as building/managing donor/customer relationships. 
• Capacity for strategic leadership and vision to work with executive leadership and key volunteers on fundraising priorities and to use moves management and metrics to ensure a high level of personal performance and accountability. 
• Deep experience in effectively managing a donor/customer portfolio and consistently moving relationships towards desired outcomes and goals. 
• Effectiveness working independently and across teams, with assiduous attention to sharing information with others. 
• Bachelor’s Degree Required and advanced degree preferred. CFRE or other specialized certification/designation is beneficial. 

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proficiency in communicating complex issues with diverse audiences and inspiring their engagement and support. 
• Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and high level of emotional intelligence. 
• Exceptional writing and presentation skills. 
• Highly self-motivated, accountable, and able to make decisions independently. 
• Ability to think strategically and contextually and to anticipate the needs and expectations of manager and other executives. 
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple, concurrent tasks, exhibit flexibility, and meet deadlines. 
• Ability to analyze and present data effectively, make decisions, and align efforts with priorities and opportunities. 

Acts with tact and discretion, respecting confidentiality and proprietary information.

• Proficiency with RE NXT or similar CRM system is highly desirable, proficiency with MSOffice and/or Google suite required. 
• Knowledge of relevant prospect research and philanthropic analytical tools is beneficial. 

• Possesses a passion for the mission of SA and engages prospects with the same passion. 

Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed, occasionally work after hours and on weekends.

Compensation Range - $150,000—$167,000 USD
SA offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.

SA is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at its organization. They do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. They actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. SA offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.