Director of Business Development

Greenwood Project; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 110,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid schedule

Health, dental & vision insurance

401(k) plan

Generous paid time off

Job summary

Greenwood Project in Chicago, IL seeks a Director of Business Development to lead revenue growth by closing major gifts and six-figure deals with foundations, family offices, and high-net-worth individuals.

You will design prospecting strategies, own the full revenue cycle, and collaborate with the CEO and Programs, Partnerships, and Boards to align donor engagement with organizational priorities. This high-growth, mission-driven role offers autonomy and significant impact.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in revenue-generating roles with closing/quota responsibility or equivalent major gifts fundraising experience.
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills with C-suite exposure.
• Self-starter with strong organizational discipline and strategic thinking.
• Familiarity with CRM platforms (HubSpot preferred).

Responsibilities

• Revenue leadership: Build and execute a $1M+ annual revenue strategy targeting high-net-worth individuals, foundations and family offices.
• Deal execution: Own the full revenue cycle from prospecting to close and expansion.
• Portfolio and pipeline management: Maintain a 75+ qualified prospects pipeline with data-driven forecasting.
• Executive collaboration: Align donor engagement with organizational priorities with CEO and cross-functional teams.
• Sales & development operations: Implement CRM tracking, forecasting, and performance metrics.

Skills

Relationship management

C-suite presentations

Closing complex deals

CRM proficiency

Tools

HubSpot CRM

Job description

Greenwood Project

Greenwood Project was founded in 2016 based on two core principles:

Department: Partnerships

Location: Chicago, IL

Director of Business Development

Ready to build relationships that fund futures? We're seeking a Director of Business Development to drive revenue growth by closing deals with foundations, high net worth individuals, and family offices. This role reports to the CEO and is designed for experienced sales and business development professionals who have closed major accounts, exceeded revenue targets, built trusted client relationships, and who are excited to bring that expertise into a mission-driven context. We also welcome seasoned fundraisers with a proven track record of driving major gift strategies and closing significant gifts.

This is an opportunity to build and own this revenue function from the ground up. You'll have the autonomy to design your own prospecting strategies, create cultivation processes, and establish the systems that will scale with our growth.

Every relationship you cultivate and every gift you close directly creates opportunities for our scholars to break into finance careers.

This role offers the deal complexity and deal sophistication of high-stakes sales with the mission-driven purpose of creating generational wealth-building opportunities.

“Students can’t be what they can’t see”

“There is no lack of talent, only a lack of opportunity.”

Why Now?

Greenwood Project is at an inflection point. We've proven our model works and our programs are scaling rapidly. We need someone who can capitalize on this momentum and turn warm relationships into transformational commitments. With current donor relationships being maintained by our existing team, this person can focus purely on expanding our donor base. You’ll operate like a founder-level revenue leader in a lean, high-growth environment. This is your chance to join during our expansion phase, where your efforts will have an outsized impact on both revenue and organizational growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Revenue Leadership: Build and execute $1M+ annual revenue strategy targeting high-net-worth individuals, foundations and family offices. with an emphasis on closing five- and six-figure deals.
• Deal Execution: Own the full revenue cycle, prospecting, discovery, proposal development, negotiations, close, and expansion. Operate with the urgency and discipline of a quota-carrying sales professional.
• Portfolio and Pipeline Management: Maintain a qualified pipeline of 75+ qualified prospects with systematic tracking, strategic follow up and data-driven forecasting.
• Executive Collaboration: Collaborate with the CEO and cross-functional teams (Programs, Partnerships, Governing Board, Young Professionals Board) to align donor engagement with organizational priorities.
• Sales & Development Operations: Implement and manage the infrastructure that drives success; CRM tracking, reporting, pipeline forecasting, and performance metrics. Maintain pipeline discipline with systematic relationship tracking across all prospect interactions.
• Executive Presence: Represent Greenwood Project at high-level meetings and events, delivering compelling pitches that clearly communicate the ROI for donors.

Qualifications

A note to potential candidates: Multiple studies have shown that BIPOC and other candidates from marginalized populations are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description. Greenwood Project is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and finding the best candidate for the job. We would strongly encourage interested individuals to apply, even if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described below

Required

• 5+ years in revenue-generating roles with at least 3 years in a closing or quota-carrying capacity. OR equivalent experience in major gifts fundraising with consistent success securing five- and six-figure commitments. Finance industry experience is a strong plus, and we’re especially interested in sales professionals eager to apply their skills in a mission-driven setting
• Excellent relationship management and communication skills: Comfortable presenting to C-suite executives, family office principals and foundation boards. Able to command a room, build trust quickly and close complex deals
• Self-starter with exceptional organizational discipline and strategic thinking - a prospecting athlete comfortable managing complex, long-cycle relationships
• Proficiency in CRM platforms (HubSpot preferred)
• Deep commitment to Greenwood’s mission of education, access, and workforce development

Preferred

• Revenue generation in sales, account management, business development, or fundraising
• Experience in financial services, fintech, or fast-growth startups, building client relationships
• Familiarity with Chicago’s philanthropic community is helpful, but we are equally enthusiastic about candidates from sales or business development backgrounds who are excited to apply their expertise in a new and impactful space
• Knowledge of corporate sponsorships, foundation funding cycles and high-net-worth client events is valuable
• Familiarity with the financial services industry is also a strong plus

Benefits

Equal Employment Opportunity Policy

The Greenwood Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other legally protected classification federally or in the State of Illinois. The Greenwood Project does not discriminate in its activities, educational programs, hiring practices, or employment practices as required by Title VI, IX, and Section 504.

Compensation and Benefits

Base Salary: $110,000-125,000

On-Target Earnings (OTE): Approximately $150,000 at 100% of goal, with total compensation potential up to $265,000 based on performance

This role offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes employee health care, dental and vision coverage, disability insurance, 401(k) plan, and generous paid time off.

Shared Values

• Cultural Competency: All team members strive to build a working knowledge of the historical, social, and economic history of this country with a particular value for diverse identities, ideas, and experiences. As team members, we consistently work to acquire and apply cultural knowledge and adapt to the cultural context of various communities. We are reflective and often think about the impact of our actions, words, and thoughts on various components of their and others’ intersectional lines of identity. We strive to self-monitor our various layers of privilege and push the organization to be the strongest collection of voices possible.
• Influence and Impact: We value learning about the working styles and preferences of others and strive to adapt our approach to maximize the success of everyone on the team.
• Strategic Thinking: We critically analyze inputs and think through the long-term outputs of the organization, working to create systems and structures that are scalable and sustainable.
• Self-Direction: Our team members operate with both initiative and follow-through to ensure that we can operate in ways that build trust in each other.
• Balance: We value in-person collaboration and independent, flexible work. That is why we have a hybrid schedule, with most associates finding a balance between office and home.
• Growth: We want your career to be satisfying for the long term. If you want to try a new project or attend a meeting with another group, we welcome it. We want you to learn, stretch and grow as much as you want.

If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are eager to be part of a team dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified college students while driving meaningful change, we encourage you to apply for this role at Greenwood Project.