Director of Individual Giving

Student Leadership Network supports young people growing up in diverse underserved communities to gain access to educational opportunities that help prepare them to lead successful lives. In 1996, Student Leadership Network (SL Network) opened the United States’ first all-girls public school in 30 years – The Young Women’s Leadership School of East Harlem. What started with one school has grown to a network of 36 public schools, including 13 all-girls schools nationwide, and has expanded to support college access and success in co-educational settings across the country. Over the last 25 years, SL Network has impacted more than 44,000 students through three life-changing programs: The Young Women's Leadership Schools (TYWLS), CollegeBound Initiative (CBI), and Young Women's Leadership Network (YWLN). To learn more, visit www.student leadership network.org. 

SL Network is seeking a full-time Director of Individual Giving (DIG) to manage all aspects of our individual giving strategy and operations. Reporting to the Senior Managing Director of Development (SMDD), the DIG will play a critical role in building a top-notch individual giving program and significantly scaling this revenue stream from a minimum goal of $600,000 for Student Leadership Network. This role will partner closely with the Founder and President, the Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Managing Director of Development, the Leadership Team, and the Board to achieve the major gifts fundraising goals and to build the pipeline of future donors.

The DIG must be comfortable interacting and proactively building relationships with high-net-worth individuals. They should be charismatic and highly organized; have superb written and oral communication skills; be technologically savvy; be a strong researcher and editor; have immaculate attention to detail; and be energetic and committed to achieving excellent results. A passion for equalizing educational opportunities for students growing up in diverse underserved communities is essential. This role is an excellent opportunity for someone who wants to work with a fantastic team of committed professionals dedicated to educational equity!

Primary Roles and Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Partnering with the SMDD to set vision, drive strategy, and implement the individual giving program to achieve revenue goals:
  • Work with SMDD to set annual revenue goals and analyze progress each quarter
  • Design and execute creative donor engagement strategies to significantly increase funding from existing, lapsed, and new individual donors
  • Translate short- and long-term strategies into targeted actions that drive year-over-year renewals, with a focus on upgrading event donors into ongoing donors to SL Network
  • Create materials, write reports, and develop and discuss strategy for all major donors, especially where the SMDD and CEO are the primary contact person
• Manage the portfolio of individual donors:
  • Develop robust cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans customized for each donor and prospect in the portfolio, with an emphasis on securing new donors
  • Build and manage relationships with donors through personalized outreach, meetings, event invitations, and regular communications efforts
  • Partner with the Founder and President, Chief Executive Officer, the Senior Managing Director of Development, and the Board to significantly scale and meet Major Gift fundraising goals
• Use sophisticated research techniques to expand the individual giving pipeline:
  • Identify and screen prospects using various research methods including iWave
  • Develop an entrepreneurial approach to move prospects forward and to secure their financial support
  • Utilize moves management tools in Salesforce to track prospect status
• Direct annual fundraising campaigns including, but not limited to, #GivingTuesday, Year-End Appeal, Spring Campaign, and other special initiatives:
  • Develop and execute comprehensive campaign strategies
  • Create and manage dynamic campaign schedules across a variety of outreach methods (e.g., email, direct mail, social media, phone, and/or face-to-face solicitations)
  • Work with the Marketing and Communications team to develop high-impact, compelling materials and messaging
  • Work with external vendors to manage online giving platform as necessary
• Plan and execute events including cultivation events and school tours:
  • Partner with the relevant program teams to develop a year-long strategy and ensure seamless execution of cultivation and stewardship events
  • Support all event fundraising by developing prospect lists, soliciting table and ticket purchases, and providing on-site support

• Demonstrated commitment to SL Network’s mission, vision, and core values
• Bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is preferred
• Minimum of 7 years of nonprofit fundraising experience in roles of increasing responsibility, with a demonstrated track record of soliciting 5-6 figure gifts from high-level individual donors
• Proven ability to generate revenue growth and meet ambitious revenue goals; ability to identify new opportunities without direction from supervisor
• Proven ability to create personalized cultivation and stewardship plans, develop strong relationships with donors, and provide outstanding stewardship and customer service to internal and external stakeholders
• Strong communicator as demonstrated by exceptional written, oral, interpersonal, and presentation skills
• Innovative thinker, with a track record for translating strategic thinking into action plans and output
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment and prioritize while working under multiple deadlines. Commitment to excellent results and deadline-driven
• Knowledge of development best practices, including using data to make informed decisions, and willingness to learn and stay apprised of industry trends/best practices for inclusive fundraising
• Operates effectively as part of a team and independently
• Energetic, flexible, collaborative, and proactive
• Excellent computer skills including Google Suite and Microsoft Office; Salesforce and iWave experience a plus
• Available evenings and weekends for donor visits and events, on occasion

Benefits: Student Leadership Network offers a competitive benefits package to eligible employees, including:

• Medical (health, dental, and vision)
• Health Reimbursement Account (up to $14,000 for families)
• Flexible Spending Account (for Medical, Dependent Care and Transit/Parking)
• 401K Retirement Plan with 4% Employer Match
• Generous Paid Family Leave minimum of 12 weeks based on tenure 
• Life Insurance (100% of the insurance premium) 
• Employee Assistance Program
• Paid Time Off
  • Full-time employees earn 17 days per year in the first three years
  • 10 Federal holidays and 2 floating holidays
  • Wellness: 10 sick days per year
  • Annual Wellness Week between Christmas and New Year’s
  • Summer Fridays early dismissal