Director, Development - Boston

Uncommon Schools is a nonprofit network of high-performing public charter schools dedicated to providing an exceptional K-12 education in economically disadvantaged communities. Operating in Boston, Camden, New York City, Newark, and Rochester, we are committed to closing the college completion gap and preparing every student for college and beyond. Our students consistently exceed national benchmarks, reflecting our dedication to their success. We invest deeply in our educators, offering weekly coaching, feedback, and professional development to ensure excellence in teaching and leadership. Join us to work hard, do good, and make a lasting difference!

The Director, Development - Boston designs and executes a comprehensive regional fundraising strategy to ensure the long-term financial sustainability of Roxbury Prep in Boston. Reporting within the Development team, this role serves as the primary regional lead for major donor cultivation, institutional grant writing, and local board engagement. Through strategic pipeline management and compelling impact storytelling, the Director expands philanthropic support across individual, corporate, and foundation partners. Working in close collaboration with Roxbury Prep School leaders, regional board members, and external stakeholders, the role deepens community relationships and advances educational equity for students.

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Major Gift Management

• Design and execute a comprehensive regional fundraising strategy that supports the long-term financial sustainability of Roxbury Prep in Boston.
• Actively identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and institutional donors to secure five, six, and seven-figure gifts.
• Lead prospect management alongside regional board members, host volunteer and fundraising events, and maximize direct donor outreach.
• Re-engage warm and lapsed donors by establishing a regular cadence of in-person school visits and individual meetings.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Oversee regional donor stewardship by designing high-impact engagement events and developing tailored communication materials.
• Share organizational impact through data-driven reporting and authentic storytelling.
• Partner closely with Roxbury Prep school leaders and regional board members to establish a consistent in-house rhythm for donor site visits and stewardship updates.
• Develop and disseminate compelling internal and external communications to keep donors and stakeholders informed, engaged, and aligned with organizational goals.

Pipeline Development & Grant Management

• Research, identify, and vet 30 to 50 new potential individual, corporate, and foundation prospects annually to build a sustainable long-term donor pipeline.
• Structure and implement moves management strategies to advance prospective funders through the cultivation funnel.
• Write persuasive, high-stakes grant proposals, foundation requests, and donor presentations.
• Build and maintain a grant tracker to ensure on-time submission of all foundation proposals, renewal requests, and grant reporting deadlines.

Operations, Systems & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Establish and maintain internal tracking infrastructure, pipeline management systems, and reporting in Salesforce to monitor progress toward regional fundraising targets.
• Utilize data visualization tools to analyze donor metrics, track progress against goals, and inform strategic fundraising decisions.
• Collaborate cross-functionally across regional and organizational teams to align development initiatives with broader institutional priorities.

Required Qualifications

• 7–9 years of relevant experience in major gift fundraising, institutional giving, donor cultivation, or corporate partnerships.
• Bachelor’s degree.
• Demonstrated ability to directly solicit and close high-impact gifts from high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, or corporate partners.
• Experience researching, vetting, and developing moves management strategies for new individual and institutional prospects.
• Skilled in writing high-stakes grant proposals, foundation requests, and donor communications.
• Intermediate proficiency with data analysis and visualization tools (e.g., Excel, Salesforce, or iWave) to manage pipelines and track progress.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.

Physical Requirements

• Minimal physical demands; primary work involves sitting at a desk for prolonged periods.

Not sure you meet every qualification? We encourage you to apply—we're excited to learn what you bring.

Our people are what make us Uncommon. We offer competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits that support the personal health, wellness, and finances of our staff and their families. Our compensation philosophy values equity & fairness and attracting & retaining top talent.

Compensation

The full compensation range for this role is $104,000-$130,000.

Typically, new hires who fully meet the qualifications and experience expectations for the role will start at or near $110,500.

Starting compensation below this reflects candidates with less experience or qualifications. Offers near the top end of the range are reserved for candidates who significantly exceed the qualifications, bringing extensive experience and specialized expertise beyond what is listed.

Compensation determinations consider relevant experience and tenure with Uncommon Schools. Additionally, because we value internal growth and tenure, current staff members are not subject to salary caps within this range.

Work Environment

Uncommon is an in-person organization, with a commitment of at least three days each week at our Network Office in one of our schools.

Benefits

• 19 days of paid time off
• 3 weeks of paid Winter and Summer org-wide holidays
• Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance plans
• 403(b) retirement savings program + employer match
• Paid leave of absence options (parental, medical, disability, etc.)
• Mental health and counseling support + wellness benefits
• Pre-tax flexible spending, dependent care, and health savings accounts

*A detailed list of all benefits is located HERE. 

At Uncommon, we believe that a supportive and welcoming environment helps our students, staff, and community thrive. We are dedicated to building a team that brings a wide range of perspectives and experiences, reflective of the communities we serve---with over 70% of our staff identifying as people of color. Our organization values respect and open dialogue on important topics that shape our school culture.

As an equal opportunity employer, Uncommon provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We also ensure that individuals with disabilities receive all privileges and benefits associated with employment and are provided reasonable accommodations for the interview process and to perform core job functions. If you would like to request an accommodation, please email [email protected].