BUILD Senior Director of Development

“BUILD shined a mirror into how I wanted to change and be a better me. Honestly, the program was so life-changing.” Ay’anna Moody, Director of Social Impact, Golden State Warriors and BUILD Alumna

POSITION SUMMARY

BUILD seeks a dynamic and accomplished Senior Director of Development to lead national fundraising efforts, specifically focusing on building a robust pipeline for 2026. Reporting to the Chief Financial & Operations Officer, this role will spearhead major donor and foundation relationships at the national level, developing and executing strategies to secure significant philanthropic investments. The Senior Director will collaborate with the Executive Team to align fundraising priorities with organizational goals while creating and implementing systems for effective donor prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship. Success in this role requires a proven track record of securing six and seven-figure gifts, exceptional relationship-building abilities, and a passionate commitment to BUILD's mission of advancing educational equity. This position offers the opportunity to significantly impact BUILD's future by establishing a strong foundation of national support while working within a collaborative, mission-driven organization.

MAJOR FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

As Senior Director of Development, you will be responsible for the following threads of work:

ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERSHIP

• Collaborate effectively with the Executive Team to ensure alignment of national fundraising priorities with organizational goals and objectives.

• Build and sustain excellent relationships both within BUILD and with external stakeholders.

• Contribute to a transparent and compassionate culture where staff feels supported and can engage in critical conversations productively.

• Support and advance BUILD's ongoing work on diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

FUNDRAISING STRATEGY AND EXECUTION

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to build a robust national pipeline for 2026, with a particular focus on major donors and foundations.

• Create and maintain systems and practices that support national fundraising efforts, relationship building, and donor stewardship.

• Monitor, analyze, and report fundraising data and key performance indicators to assess progress towards pipeline development goals.

• Develop and manage assigned portfolio budget, ensuring strategic investments and responsible fiscal controls.

NATIONAL FUNDRAISING

• Lead the identification, cultivation, and stewardship of relationships with major donors and foundations at the national level.

• Design and execute strategies to expand BUILD's national funding base

• Create compelling funding proposals and impact reports for national prospects and donors

• Partner with senior leadership to develop and implement strategies for donor engagement and stewardship

DONOR RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS

• Represent BUILD in external-facing work with donors, partners and other stakeholder communities.

• Collaborate with the communications team to develop targeted messaging and materials for donor audiences.

• Serve as a passionate advocate for BUILD's mission in donor meetings and external events.

• Maintain knowledge of educational developments and trends to position BUILD's work with donors effectively

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

There are innumerable ways to learn, grow, and excel professionally. We respect this when we review applications and take a broad look at the experience of each applicant. We want to get to know you and the unique strengths you will bring to the work. This said, we are most likely to be interested in your candidacy if you can demonstrate the majority of the qualifications and experiences listed below. Successful candidates will demonstrate deeply held respect for and understanding of the power of our programming, even if their primary professional background is in another field:

• 7+ years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated success in major gifts and foundation relationships, preferably within the educational or youth development sectors

• Proven track record of building and executing successful fundraising strategies with a focus on pipeline development and major donor cultivation

• Demonstrated ability to secure six and seven-figure gifts from individual donors and foundations

• Experience in creating and implementing systems for donor prospecting, cultivation, and stewardship

• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to develop and execute long-term fundraising plans

• Excellence in relationship building with high-net-worth individuals, foundation officers, and organizational leaders

• Exceptional oral and written communication skills, including ability to craft compelling proposals and presentations

• Experience working collaboratively across teams and departments to achieve fundraising goals

• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment

• Understanding of current trends in philanthropy and education

• Commitment to BUILD's mission and core values

• Ability to travel as needed for donor meetings and events

BUILD’s Core Values:

Successful candidates will demonstrate BUILD's Core Values and competencies through a combination of previous education/work experiences.

• Keep Students at the Center - As BUILDers, we hold an unwavering passionate commitment and belief in the power and potential of youth. Our organization exists to serve students. We seize each opportunity to contribute to the foundation of knowledge, skills, and networks from which students can build extraordinary lives. Our operating principles and decisions focus on what is in the best interest of our students.

• Bring the Spark - As BUILDers, we excel in the entrepreneurial Spark Skills that we teach our students - Communication, Collaboration, Problem Solving, Innovation, Grit and Self-Management. We communicate through transparent and honest dialogue. We cherish teamwork, tenacity, and thinking outside the box. We demonstrate a relentless pursuit of excellence and approach work with a positive can-do attitude. When we bring the spark we achieve great things together, and we model the way for our students.

• Bridge Communities - As BUILDers, we develop and foster relationships in service of creating access and opportunities for our students, staff, and stakeholders. We value all who come to the table as partners to maximize our collective impact. By connecting the communities in which we work, we build empathy, equity, and social capital.

Role Specific Competencies:

• Managing Performance - Take responsibility for one's own or one's employees' performance by setting clear goals and expectations, tracking progress against the goals, ensuring feedback, and addressing performance problems and issues promptly.

• Interpersonal Skills: Use a variety of techniques, as appropriate, to connect with others to build positive relationships.

• Strategic Thinking (Networking): Take into account and analyze various points of view/relationships and pieces of data to form a perspective appropriate to a particular context/network.

• Persuasive Communication: Plan and deliver oral and written communications that make an impact and persuade their intended audiences.

• Vision - Envision innovative yet achievable possibilities for the future and communicate those possibilities to constituents in an inspiring and motivational style.

• Forward Thinking - Anticipate the implications and consequences of situations and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies.

Compensation:

The salary range for this position is $150,000-$160,000 per BUILD’s equity-focused salary bands and based on experience.

In addition to the salary, BUILD offers a competitive compensation and benefits package to all full-time employees, including:

• medical, dental, & vision coverage,

• flexible spending account,

• 403(b) plan with employer match.

In addition, BUILD employees are eligible for generous paid vacation, sick time, 10 paid holidays per year, a flexible work environment, and performance bonuses.

This remote position requires some travel for organization/team, funder, and partner meetings.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are encouraged to submit their application through our online portal promptly. All applicants will receive a response to their application within two weeks of submission. Please email mcarlton@positivelypartners.org with questions or for support submitting your application.

Candidates who advance should expect initial interviews with the recruitment team at Positively Partners, beginning in late February, followed by a virtual interview with the hiring committee in March and a final interview, which will include opportunities to meet and engage with the BUILD team more broadly. The target start date is April 2025.

Organization Profile:

Founded in 1999, BUILD’s mission is to use entrepreneurship to ignite the power of youth in under-resourced communities to build Career success, Entrepreneurial mindsets, and Opportunity. We help students become the CEO of their own lives.

BUILD’s unique program offers students a four-year entrepreneurship experience designed to develop 21st Century Skills and motivate student engagement in school. Starting in 9th grade, BUILD students work with their peers and community mentors to develop business ideas, pitch to funders and launch real businesses. As students journey through high school and continue to grow their businesses, BUILD helps them explore college and career options, and assists students with the college application process. Entrepreneurship is the spark – college, career, and life success are the goals.

We recently launched and completed a $15M growth campaign called BUILDing Gen E to inspire a diverse new generation of entrepreneurial leaders and changemakers across America. Our BUILDing Gen E Campaign includes three core pillars:

• Digital Acceleration: reaching more students and educators with greater impact.

• Geographic Expansion: bringing our work to new communities nationwide.

• Systemic Change: making entrepreneurship a foundational course in under-resourced schools.

Key Program milestones

• 55,000 High School Students served through our digital program

• 2,500 High School Students served via in school program in regional hubs in San Francisco, Washington DC, New York City, Boston Los Angeles, and Pittsburgh

• 2,500 Teacher participants

• In the next two years, we aim to serve 24,000 youth and eventually build a vibrant 100,000-person community including BUILD students, alumni, educators, mentors, and volunteers.

For more information, please visit www.build.org.

OUR CULTURE

BUILD is made up of a diverse, results driven and passionate team who believe in the potential of every student and the power of entrepreneurship to transform the education landscape. We work in a collaborative environment where perseverance and flexibility are encouraged and celebrated. Our culture thrives by embracing diversity, equity and inclusion, including cross-cultural understanding. Kindness, empathy and respect are at the forefront of the way we treat each other, our students, our teachers and our supporters. We believe in the potential of every student and are dedicated to breaking down the educational, economic and social barriers that stand in the way of their long-term success. The remarkable young men and women we serve are central to everything we do. We are intentional about our culture so that we can best support them.

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