Director of Development

The Five Star Education Foundation mobilizes community investment to support students, educators, and schools across Adams 12 Five Star Schools. Through strategic partnerships, philanthropy, and innovative programming, the Foundation helps ensure every student has access to opportunities, resources, and experiences that support academic success, career readiness, and overall well-being.  At the Five Star Foundation, we say ALL means ALL.Our work spans critical areas including STEM and career-connected learning, educator support, student basic needs, scholarships, and innovative school-based initiatives. We believe strong public schools strengthen entire communities, and we are committed to creating opportunities that help all students thrive.We are seeking a collaborative, strategic, and relationship-driven fundraising leader to help advance this mission and grow community impact across the district.About the RoleThe Director of Development is a key leadership position responsible for designing, leading, and implementing a comprehensive fundraising and donor engagement strategy for the Foundation. Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will lead efforts to grow revenue through corporate partnerships, grants, individual giving, sponsorships, and community engagement initiatives. The position also provides supervision and leadership to assigned staff and volunteers supporting development and fundraising activities, while ensuring alignment across grant strategy, reporting, and development operations.The ideal candidate is both strategic and execution-oriented, someone who can build authentic relationships, manage multiple fundraising priorities, analyze results, and inspire donors and partners to invest in student success. This role requires a strong communicator, an organized project manager, and a passionate advocate for educational opportunity and community impact.Key ResponsibilitiesFundraising Strategy & LeadershipDevelop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan aligned with organizational priorities and fundraising goalsPartner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to advance strategic fundraising initiatives and community partnershipsEstablish annual fundraising projections, campaign goals, and revenue tracking systemsAnalyze fundraising performance and donor engagement data to inform strategy and identify opportunities for growthSupport long-term sustainability efforts, including major gifts and planned giving initiativesCorporate & Community PartnershipsIdentify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate sponsors and community partnersDevelop meaningful partnerships that align community investment with student and school impactManage sponsorship opportunities for Foundation events and initiativesRepresent the Foundation at community meetings, networking events, and district functionsIndividual Giving & Donor StewardshipManage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospectsDevelop personalized donor engagement and stewardship strategies to strengthen long-term relationshipsCoordinate donor communications, impact reporting, recognition efforts, and stewardship activitiesSupport donor cultivation through school visits, events, and storytelling opportunitiesGrants & Institutional FundingIdentify and pursue grant opportunities aligned with Foundation prioritiesManage relationships with foundation and institutional fundersOversee proposal development, reporting, compliance, and grant stewardship activitiesCollaborate with district and program staff to gather outcomes, stories, and impact dataCampaigns, Events & CommunicationsSupport the planning and execution of fundraising campaigns and eventsTrack campaign performance and provide regular reports and recommendationsCollaborate with communications and program staff to ensure donor-centered messaging and compelling storytellingAssist in developing materials that communicate organizational impact and fundraising prioritiesOperations & Team CollaborationMaintain accurate donor records and moves management systems within CRM platformsEnsure strong development operations, including gift tracking, reporting, acknowledgments, and data integrityCollaborate across teams to support organizational priorities and strategic initiativesHelp foster a culture of philanthropy, collaboration, accountability, and community engagementProvide supervision, guidance, and support to assigned staff and volunteers involved in development and fundraising activitiesQualifications & SkillsThe ideal candidate will possess:Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experienceMinimum of 4-5 years of progressive nonprofit fundraising or development experienceProven success securing and stewarding corporate sponsorships, grants, and individual giftsExperience building long-term donor relationshipsStrong understanding of fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and development operations Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skillsExperience using CRM and fundraising platforms (we use Bloomerang)Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneouslyAbility to work collaboratively with staff, volunteers, donors, school district leaders, and community partnersPassion for public education, educational equity, and student successPreferred Qualifications:CFRE certification preferredExperience working within education-focused nonprofits or school district partnershipsBilingual English/Spanish skills are a plusCompensation & BenefitsSalary range: $90,000–$110,000 annually, commensurate with experienceCompetitive benefits package Hybrid Flexibility: 2 days in the Thoroffice, 3 days remote (after ramp-up) Collaborative work environmentProfessional development opportunitiesOpportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of students, educators, and families across Adams 12