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Why we need you

Springboard Collaborative invites talented and passionate candidates to apply for the position of Director of Philanthropy. The Director of Philanthropy will be responsible for raising money for Springboard's programs in the Mid-Atlantic/South. This region has a significant footprint in Baltimore and Washington, D.C., with opportunities for new partnerships in the South (the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Texas, and the Mississippi Delta). A successful candidate will be results-focused, consistently driving towards achieving goals and delivering outcomes with efficiency and precision; excel at building and nurturing strong relationships; and demonstrate exceptional verbal and written communication skills. Applications are welcome from any location within the United States, with a strong preference for candidates living in the Atlanta or Baltimore/D.C. area.

Springboard Collaborative closes the literacy gap by closing the gap between home and school. We coach educators and family members to help kids learn to read by 4th grade. Springboard envisions a world in which all children have the requisite literacy skills to access life opportunities. The Director of Philanthropy supports this goal by securing critical philanthropic resources, ensuring that all students, regardless of their district's funding, have access to our award-winning programs.

The Director of Philanthropy will report to the Senior Director of Philanthropy, and work as part of the Partnerships team. This is a great opportunity to support an entrepreneurial team to maximize the impact of a rapidly growing organization.

You can read more about the requirements, competencies, goals, and responsibilities below. We'd love to have you join us!

This is important

We are an equal opportunity employer. Diversity is more than a commitment at Springboard Collaborative—it’s at the core of what we do and how we do it. No one can solve a problem better than those who experience it firsthand. That’s why Springboard aspires to hire a diverse team that is representative of the marginalized communities we serve.

We also know that having a diverse workforce makes for a better workplace. Springboard’s hiring process seeks individuals who value diversity of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, national origin, etc.

Finally, if you’re passionate about an open role, we encourage you to apply— even if you don’t meet 100% of the qualifications listed on the job description!

Here are your priorities in the first year:

• You will raise $750K in philanthropic revenue to support programming in the Mid-Atlantic/South region and $250K to launch Springboard programs in new district(s) in 2026. You will achieve a 75% retention rate of prior year donors and secure gifts from at least 5 new donors.
• Once onboarded, you will identify, schedule, and conduct 25 meetings with current and prospective donors per quarter.
• You will achieve high-quality donor stewardship by engaging donors through at least 1 relationship-based, non-solicitation touchpoint per quarter per donor.

Here are your responsibilities within and beyond the first year:

• You support strategy & pipeline management.
• Manage relationships across all aspects of the donor lifecycle (i.e. identification, qualification, engagement, solicitation, and stewardship) with a portfolio of prospective and existing donors
• Ensure adequate volume, and stage movement, and achieve interim benchmarks to manage the donor pipeline effectively
• You manage donor acquisition to meet annual retention and growth goals.
• Build brand awareness in assigned regions by coordinating conferences, press, events, and other activities that support lead generation
• Identify and qualify new prospective donors and create cultivation plans to move them toward a gift
• You coordinate donor communications.
• Communicate submission (i.e., proposals, reports, LOIs) deadlines and requirements to the Donor Communications team
• Give direction to Donor Communications team to inform the preparation of grant proposals, reports & LOIs
• Review and give feedback on all materials produced by the Donor Communications team before sharing them externally
• You support operations and data management.
• Deliver regular meeting reports and ensure Salesforce is updated with all donor communications and other data
• Track next steps in Salesforce and/or other relevant locations to ensure robust record-keeping and consistent follow-through on cultivation plans

What you offer us

Here are the competencies and requirements we expect the right candidate to have:

• Results Focus: You closely monitor the fundraising pipeline, developing targeted strategies with clear, measurable goals, and you ensure the execution of tactical plans to drive progress and achieve fundraising objectives.
• Relationship Building: You excel at fostering strong, trusting relationships both with external donors and internal collaborators; promoting a culture of teamwork, engagement, and mutual respect that drives collective success.
• Customer focus: You ensure a positive and seamless donor experience with Springboard by consistently fostering satisfaction and loyalty through personalized attention and thoughtful engagement.
• Communication: You effectively communicate both verbally and in writing. You clearly articulate needs and provide direction to internal writing teams, whether presenting key points for grant writing or delivering concise updates, ensuring alignment and clarity in all collaborative efforts.
• Tact: You diplomatically navigate challenging or tense interpersonal situations. You handle feedback, both giving and receiving, with sensitivity and professionalism, fostering a constructive and uplifting environment that encourages growth and collaboration.
• Valuing Diversity Equity and Inclusion: You understand how our work improves the lives of marginalized students and use that understanding to support the success of Springboard’s fundraising efforts.
• 5+ years experience in a nonprofit development role that required direct donor engagement, prospecting, and managing donor strategy, and/or transferable experience from sales, and partnerships.
• Demonstrated success in cultivating, soliciting, and closing foundation grants and individual gifts in the $100K - $500K range.

It would also be nice if you had:

• Proficiency in Salesforce (or similar fundraising database) and project management tools such as Asana
• Experience in planning, organizing, executing, and supervising fundraising campaigns
• Proficiency with the use of the research tools Instrumentl and iWave
• Experience with a literacy or education-focused organization

While this description is meant to provide an overview of the responsibilities of the Director of Philanthropy, we are seeking candidates who demonstrate flexibility and can adapt to evolving needs in an entrepreneurial environment.

What we offer you

Compensation
Our compensation values: At Springboard, compensation equity is integral to the way we operate and our commitment to competitiveness, pay equity, performance-based rewards, transparent & equitable career growth, and progressive benefits.

Compensation for this role: Each role at Springboard is placed in a compensation band with 5 levels. Generally, we expect all candidates who meet the hiring criteria to be offered the midpoint of the band. This role sits within Band 5. The midpoint of this band is $125,859. The actual level of the successful candidate (and corresponding salary) will be based on compensable factors such as job-relevant education, job-relevant experience, training, licensure, demonstrated competencies, and other factors. You may also be eligible for Springboard's collective bonus program.

Our process to determine compensation: Springboard does not negotiate the offered salary during the offer conversation. Throughout the interview process, we will evaluate your alignment with the compensable factors listed in the job description. From there, we will determine your starting salary on a level within the job band.