Director of Business Development

Greenwoodproject; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Greenwood Project in Chicago is 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 a seasoned sales and development professional ready to build a donor program from the ground up.

You'll design prospecting strategies, cultivate trusted relationships, and establish scalable systems to support scholars pursuing finance careers in a mission-driven

Qualifications

• Proven experience in fundraising and donor relations.
• Track record of closing major gifts and building partnerships.
• Ability to design and scale a donor development program.

Responsibilities

• Close deals with foundations, high-net-worth individuals and family offices to grow revenue.
• Build and own the donor pipeline, from prospecting to stewardship.
• Report to the CEO and design processes that scale with growth.
• Develop strategies to cultivate relationships and convert generosity into sustained support.

Skills

Fundraising

Strategic partnerships

Relationship management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Marketing/Related field

Job description

Greenwood Project

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

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

and

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

GP’s mission is bold, essential and long overdue. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified Black and Latino college students to attain high-trajectory careers in financial services through rigorous training and internships. At Greenwood Project, we don’t just talk about change; we are the catalyst for it, breaking barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse financial industry. Our people are the foundation that allows us to achieve our ambitious goals. Becoming part of the Greenwood Project team means joining a group of driven, passionate and intellectually curious individuals. To work here is to be crucial to the organization’s success.

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.

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.