Senior Director, Major Gifts

About Achievement First Achievement First (AF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supporting 39 public charter schools across New York, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. For more than 25 years, AF has been recognized as one of the top tuition-free public charter school networks in the country. We are committed to creating schools of academic excellence within nurturing environments — schools that prepare students to be college-ready and to pursue and succeed in whatever paths they choose in life. The majority of AF students are Black and Latinx children from low-income families, many of whom will be the first in their families to graduate from college. Across our network, we employ more than 2,200 staff members — 64% of whom identify as Black, Indigenous, or People of Color — who collectively educate nearly 15,000 students in Brooklyn and Queens, NY; New Haven, Bridgeport, and Hartford, CT; and Providence and Cranston, RI. Our mission is to prepare every student to excel in college, career, and life; deepen their understanding of self and community; and lead lives of purpose. We believe in the limitless potential within our students and their power to shape a more just society. That belief drives our deep commitment to student achievement: we aim to set a high bar for learning and create warm, demanding classrooms where rigorous instruction is paired with the care, encouragement, and consistency every student deserves. Achievement First seeks a dynamic and relationship-driven Senior Director, Major Gifts to join our development team Your Impact The Senior Director will manage a portfolio of 100–150 corporate and major gift prospects, with responsibility for generating $1.0M–$1.5M in annual philanthropic revenue through gifts of $10,000 or more. This individual will play a central role in strengthening Achievement First’s regional philanthropic presence by building meaningful relationships with donors, community leaders, and board members. Working closely with the Rhode Island and Connecticut Executive Directors, Managing Directors of External Affairs, and regional school leaders, the Senior Director will help expand Achievement First’s network of philanthropic supporters and ensure donors experience the impact of their investments firsthand. The Senior Director will also supervise a direct report, helping expand the organization’s mid-level donor pipeline by cultivating a base of 750–1,000 prospects with potential to contribute $1,000–$9,999 annually and strengthening donor communications and engagement strategies. This role requires a highly collaborative fundraiser who can build trusted relationships, think strategically about philanthropic growth, and translate Achievement First’s mission into compelling opportunities for donor investment. Reporting directly to the Chief Development Officer you will be responsible for: Major Gifts Portfolio Management and Solicitation Manage a portfolio of 100–150 major donor prospects across Connecticut and Rhode Island Develop and execute tailored engagement strategies to cultivate, solicit, and steward donors who can contribute $10,000+ annually or $50,000 over five years Conduct regular donor meetings, school visits, and cultivation events to deepen relationships with Achievement First’s philanthropic partners. Prepare compelling proposals, donor briefings, and stewardship reports in alignment with RI and CT leadership Track donor engagement and maintain accurate records of strategy, outreach, and revenue pipeline in the Salesforce CRM system Prospect Identification and Pipeline Development Identify and cultivate new philanthropic prospects across Connecticut and Rhode Island. Expand Achievement First’s donor network through referrals, community engagement, and strategic prospect research. Partner with the development operations and foundation teams to build a strong pipeline of prospective major donors. Track portfolio performance and adjust cultivation strategies to meet revenue goal…