Director, Major Gifts

As Director, Major Gifts, you will build and manage a portfolio of high-capacity donors and prospects, leading the full lifecycle of major gift fundraising, from identifying and cultivating new relationships to securing transformational philanthropic investments and stewarding long-term partnerships. You will develop individualized engagement strategies, partner closely with school and Home Office leaders, and connect donors to Uncommon Schools' mission through meaningful opportunities to invest in student success. Your work will play a critical role in expanding philanthropic support and advancing our organizational priorities.

Portfolio Management & Fundraising Strategy

• Build and manage a portfolio of major gift prospects and donors, with a focus on cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding relationships

• Design and execute individualized strategies to align donor interests with Uncommon’s priorities

• Develop proposals, letters of inquiry, and tailored communications to support fundraising efforts

Donor Engagement & Relationship Building

• Lead in-person and virtual engagement with donors through meetings, school visits, and curated experiences

• Translate Uncommon’s impact into clear, compelling narratives that inspire philanthropic investment

• Ensure timely, thoughtful stewardship to strengthen long-term donor relationships

Prospect Identification & Network Expansion

• Identify and qualify new prospective donors through research, events, and outreach

• Partner with internal stakeholders and leadership to expand access to new donor networks

• Contribute to building a strong pipeline of high-capacity prospects

Pipeline Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Maintain accurate donor records and pipeline data in Salesforce or similar systems

• Forecast revenue and track progress toward fundraising goals

• Collaborate with development, marketing, and program teams to align messaging and engagement strategies