Development Director, Education Fundraising & Partnerships

Academy-For-Urban-School-Leadership-; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Paid time off

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Savings Plan

Parental Leave

Professional Growth Plans

Flexible Spending Accounts

Job summary

The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) in Chicago seeks a Director of Development to lead donor relations, secure funding for AUSL’s projects, and grow a portfolio of individual and corporate donors. The role reports to the Chief Development Officer and advances strategic fundraising goals through targeted engagement and stewardship.

The successful candidate will manage major gifts, collaborate across teams, and drive development operations while representing AUSL at donor meetings,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree; five+ years of significant frontline fundraising experience securing major gifts ($100K+).
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to create compelling donor narratives.
• Ability to engage senior donors and manage multiple high-priority projects with autonomy.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual and corporate donors and prospects with five- and six-figure gifts.
• Drive development operations, pipeline management, stewardship, and reporting with rigor.
• Support donor strategy with the CDO and Executive Director, including proposals and engagement.
• Prepare briefings for donor meetings and lead post-meeting follow-up for relationship continuity.
• Represent AUSL at donor meetings, site visits, events, and cultivation activities.
• Collaborate with Communications to align donor content with AUSL’s brand.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

CRM management

Communication

Project management

Team collaboration

Autonomy

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Tools

Salesforce

Raiser’s Edge

Microsoft Office

Job description

The Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL) in Chicago seeks a Director of Development to lead donor relations, secure funding for AUSL’s projects, and grow a portfolio of individual and corporate donors. The role reports to the Chief Development Officer and advances strategic fundraising goals through targeted engagement and stewardship.

The successful candidate will manage major gifts, collaborate across teams, and drive development operations while representing AUSL at donor meetings,