Director of Development and Donor Relations

I3 Academy; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement plan

Job summary

I3 Academy, a Birmingham, AL public charter school, is seeking a Director of Development and Donor Relations to lead our fundraising strategy and donor engagement. You will oversee major gifts, grants, and a development team to ensure long-term financial sustainability.

Responsibilities include designing annual fundraising plans, managing donor pipelines, and coordinating with communications to raise awareness and support for the school's mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 5+ years of fundraising, nonprofit management, communications, and/or marketing experience preferred.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for compelling proposals and donor pitches.
• Strong interpersonal and networking skills to engage diverse stakeholders and executives.
• Proficiency with donor management systems and experience meeting budget goals.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute fundraising strategy to meet organizational targets.
• Identify, cultivate, and steward major donors and corporate sponsors.
• Oversee grant research, writing, and reporting process.
• Plan and oversee signature fundraising events and donor appreciation campaigns.
• Lead and mentor development staff and collaborate with communications/marketing teams.
• Develop and oversee network marketing initiatives to grow donor base and revenue.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Strategic planning

Communication

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Donor management systems (e.g., Network for Good, Raiser's Edge)

Job description

Director of Development and Donor Relations

Position Type: Administration/Director

Date Posted: 10/23/2026

Location: i3 Academy Central Office

I3 Academy, a public charter school in Birmingham, Alabama, is seeking a Director of Development and Donor Relations to serve as a member of our leadership team responsible for designing and executing the organization's overall revenue-generation strategy. They oversee fundraising campaigns, manage major donor relationships, secure grants, and direct development staff to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of the organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Fundraising Strategy: Develop and implement both short- and long-term fundraising plans to meet organizational financial target of $1,500,000 annually through a portfolio of grants, philanthropic and corporate support, signature fundraising event, and other local, regional, and national sources,
• Donor Cultivation: Identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with major donors, corporate sponsors, and board members.
• Grant Management: Oversee the research, writing, and reporting of grants from foundations and corporate or government entities.
• Event Oversight: Plan and execute signature fundraising events, annual galas, and donor appreciation campaigns.
• Team Leadership: Manage and mentor development staff (such as grant writers and event coordinators) and collaborate with communications/marketing teams.
• Network Marketing Oversight: Develop and oversee network marketing initiatives and strategies that expand the organization's network of supporters, strengthen community and corporate partnerships, increase awareness of I3 Academy's mission, and identify opportunities to generate additional revenue and philanthropic support. Monitor the effectiveness of these initiatives to ensure alignment with the organization's overall development and fundraising goals.

Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: A bachelor's degree and 5+ years of professional experience in fundraising, nonprofit management, communications, and/or marketing preferred.
• Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills for compelling grant proposals and persuasive donor pitches.
• Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal and networking skills to engage effectively with diverse stakeholders and high-level executives and corporations.
• Data & Financial Acumen: Proficiency with donor management systems (e.g., Network for Good, Raiser's Edge, etc.) and demonstrated success in meeting budget goals.

Salary and Benefits

• Negotiable with a goal that the salary, in years two and beyond, will be part of the overall fundraising strategy.
• Eligible for state health insurance and retirement.