Senior Managing Director, Emerging Markets

Teach For America; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 108,900 - 168,700; Full time

Job summary

Teach For America seeks a Senior Managing Director, Emerging Markets for a remote, full‑time role with preference for CA, CO, WA, and SD. The role leads field fundraising, guiding regional strategy and donor engagement to grow public and private funding across Emerging Markets.

You will supervise three MDs of Development, a Director of Grants, and a Manager of Development, drive five‑ to six‑figure gifts, and shape long‑term fundraising strategy in collaboration with the VP and EDs.

Qualifications

• At least 10+ years of development and fundraising experience with experience soliciting and securing 5‑ and 6‑figure gifts.
• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Track record of meeting and exceeding ambitious goals as a donor portfolio manager and is an experienced people manager.
• Fundraising experience in the Western USA states.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive multi‑year fundraising strategy across the Emerging Markets vertical.
• Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects across multiple funding streams.
• Lead and develop a team of fundraising professionals with coaching and accountability.
• Partner with stakeholders to assess market opportunities and align fundraising strategies.
• Maintain donor and activity information in the CRM and analyze portfolio performance.
• Contribute to team priorities and support cross‑functional fundraising initiatives.

Skills

Donor fundraising

Portfolio management

Team leadership

Strategic planning

Stakeholder engagement

Grant proposals

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Senior Managing Director, Emerging Markets (Full time)

Position reports to: Vice President, Field Fundraising.

Priority application deadline: Friday, July 24th 11:59 PM ET.

Location: Washington, Colorado (Denver) or San Francisco Bay Area (California); This is a remote role, with a preference for candidates located in the above geographic regions.

What You’ll Do

All prospect & donor management roles on Field Fundraising teams are responsible for cultivating, soliciting, stewarding, and managing a portfolio of donors who share our commitment to ensuring all children have access to an equitable and excellent education. The SMD, Emerging Markets, will lead field fundraising team members in Colorado, Washington, and South Dakota markets. Additionally, you will partner directly with the Executive Directors in California Capital Valley and San Diego (alongside the Southern California team) to assess feasibility and advance fundraising. As a member of the Field Fundraising team, you will be a part of a team-based effort charged with developing and executing a long‑term vision and strategy to achieve our development goals for both public and private funding. In your role, you will partner with Executive Directors, internal/external stakeholders, and front‑line fundraisers to maximize giving across the Emerging Markets vertical, playing a key role in new donor strategy and acquisition.

Reporting to the Vice President, Field Fundraising, you will be charged with raising $5+ million collectively from the portfolio of high‑potential donors and prospects across multiple funding streams. Success in this role will require developing pathways that deepen engagement over time and result in increased philanthropic investment, with an emphasis on growing five‑ and six‑figure giving across a diversified Emerging Markets portfolio. You will manage three Managing Directors of Development, a Director of Grants, and a Manager of Development. As a subject‑matter expert in fundraising and development, you will provide strategic counsel, coaching, and fundraising leadership to development staff while building learning opportunities and sharing best practices in partnership with the VP, Field Fundraising.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

• 20% – Develop and execute a comprehensive multi‑year fundraising strategy across the Emerging Markets vertical, with a focus on strengthening existing funding streams, expanding philanthropic support, and driving new donor acquisition to maximize public and private revenue.
• 30% – Manage a portfolio of major donors and prospects across multiple funding streams. Cultivate, solicit, steward, and deepen relationships with individuals, foundations, corporations, and public‑sector partners to achieve ambitious fundraising goals.
• 25% – Lead and develop a team of fundraising professionals, providing coaching, accountability, and strategic guidance while overseeing performance against individual and team fundraising goals.
• 20% – Partner closely with internal and external stakeholders to assess market opportunities, align fundraising strategies with local priorities, navigate the philanthropic landscape, and build relationships that advance revenue growth and long‑term sustainability.
• 5% – Maintain accurate donor, prospect, and fundraising activity information within the CRM and leverage data, reporting, and portfolio analysis to monitor performance, identify opportunities, and inform strategy adjustments.
• 5% – Contribute to team and organizational priorities, foster collaboration across development functions, and support initiatives that strengthen fundraising effectiveness.

A Week In The Life

A typical week in this role blends strategic leadership, frontline fundraising, and team development. You’ll partner with Executive Directors, advisory board members, and development staff to advance fundraising strategies, assess market opportunities, and drive revenue growth. You’ll cultivate relationships with major donors, foundations, corporations, and public‑sector partners, while coaching team members, reviewing portfolio performance, and advancing significant gift opportunities. Through a combination of relationship‑building, strategy, and leadership, you’ll help strengthen and grow the Emerging Markets portfolio.

Relationship Building and Management

• Exceptional relationship builder with a demonstrated ability to engage and influence a diverse range of external stakeholders.
• Proactive in identifying, cultivating, and expanding strategic relationships and partnerships that advance fundraising goals.
• Skilled at tailoring engagement strategies to the motivations and interests of diverse donors and stakeholders, resulting in strong relationships and meaningful philanthropic investment.

Fundraising and Development Strategy

• Demonstrated success securing significant investments from high‑capacity donors across multiple funding streams, including individual, corporate, foundation, and public sources.
• Established experience developing and reviewing compelling grant proposals and funding narratives, with the ability to coach staff on proposal strategy, positioning, and overall quality.
• Proven ability to develop and execute multi‑year fundraising strategies that strengthen donor retention, diversify funding sources, and drive new donor acquisition.
• Demonstrated success in setting strategy and executing to outcomes across multiple states/fundraising markets.
• Strong understanding of local and national philanthropic trends and the ability to apply emerging best practices to fundraising strategy and execution.

Portfolio Management

• Proven ability to independently manage a complex portfolio of major donors and prospects through all stages of the donor lifecycle, from qualification through solicitation and stewardship.
• Skilled at leveraging portfolio insights, performance data, and donor engagement strategies to drive progress and maximize fundraising outcomes.

Leadership and Management of Fundraising Staff

• Experience leading, coaching, and developing fundraising professionals through performance management, strategic guidance, and ongoing learning opportunities.
• Ability to build high‑performing teams, foster accountability, and support staff in achieving ambitious fundraising goals.

Required Qualifications

• At least 10+ years of related experience in development and fundraising with experience soliciting and securing 5‑ and 6‑figure gifts.
• Bachelor’s Degree.
• Track record of meeting and exceeding ambitious goals as a donor portfolio manager and is an experienced people manager.
• Fundraising experience in the Western USA states.

Preferred Qualifications

• Fundraising certification (i.e. CRFE/CRFM or the equivalent) and/or related Master’s Degree (e.g. MBA, M, Non‑Profit Management).
• Knowledge of the philanthropic landscape in several markets that comprise the Emerging Markets vertical.
• Experience managing geographically dispersed teams.

Work Demands: Willing to work occasional weekend or evening work hours required. This role will also require approximately 10‑20% travel to directly managed markets.

Your Future Team

The Revenue and Development team at Teach For America inspires donors and champions to contribute to shaping the future of our country by investing in Teach For America’s work with students nationally and regionally. We aim to source investments that fuel our work and impact with a revenue growth trajectory to raise $300 million annually. This role will be an essential part of the Field Fundraising arm of the Revenue and Development team, maximizing the contributions of local donors across multiple regions of the country.

Your Compensation

The applicable salary range for each U.S.-based role is based on where the employee works and is aligned to one of 3 tiers according to a cost of labor index in that geographic area. Starting pay for the successful applicant will depend on a variety of job‑related factors, which may include education, training, experience, location, business needs, or market demands. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role. The expected salary ranges for this role are set forth below. These ranges may be modified in the future.

• Tier A: $108,900 - $143,000
• Tier B: $118,700 - $155,800
• Tier C: $128,500 - $168,700

You can view which tier applies to where you plan to work here.