About Citizen Schools
Citizen Schools partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for low-income children across the country. We mobilize a second shift of afternoon educators, who provide academic support, leadership development, and "apprenticeships"—hands-on projects taught by volunteers from business and civic organizations. At Citizen Schools, students develop the skills, knowledge and beliefs they need to succeed in middle school, advance towards college, and become leaders in their careers and communities.
Citizen Schools’ approach is innovative, rigorous, and evidence-based. Recent research has reported that high attendance and academic success in middle school are critical indicators of high-school graduation and college completion. We work intensively with students to develop their academic and leadership skills, and forge strong partnerships with students’ families, classroom teachers, corporations, and community organizations to create a network of supportive adults in each student’s life. Citizen Schools offers an array of hands-on learning opportunities that make learning relevant, and introduces students to diverse colleges and careers through trips and projects that connect current learning with future opportunities.
Building on fifteen years of programming innovation and results, Citizen Schools is in the midst of a strategic growth plan to scale up its programs to serve almost 7,000 students. We currently operate 37 campuses in eight states (New Jersey, California, Massachusetts, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas and Illinois), serving approximately 4,400 students and engaging 3,400 Citizen Teachers.
Citizen Schools has been recognized as a national model program by the U.S. Department of Education, has been named a national winner of Fast Company Magazine’s Social Capitalist Award in 2004, 2006, 2007 and 2008, and has been chosen by the Skoll Foundation as a winner of the Skoll Social Entrepreneurship Award.
About the position
Citizen Schools New Jersey seeks an entrepreneurial and results-driven Development Director to partner with the Executive Director to create and implement a development strategy to support and sustain Citizen Schools’ growing New Jersey operations.
The ideal candidate will be a tenacious, mission-driven professional with a demonstrated background in both relationship management and project management. The Development Director will be responsible for driving the resource generation required to further scale Citizen Schools’ innovative and proven program model throughout New Jersey. S/he will have primary responsibility for implementing plans, building the systems/infrastructure, and leading the state fundraising efforts.
The region’s growth will be accomplished through the solicitation of major gifts, corporate and foundation support, special events, public sector grants, and grassroots fundraising. S/he will have leadership responsibility for each fundraising segment, will engage Citizen Schools’ staff in reaching goals, and will be charged with creating the development structures required to succeed.
This is a full-time position reporting directly to the Executive Director, New Jersey with management responsibility. The position is based at our Newark, NJ state office.
Responsibilities Include:
Relationship Management (~50% of time)
· Manage/organize the overall development strategy, with clear delineation of Lead Relationship Managers and cultivation plans for each prospect to achieve the New Jersey revenue goal (currently $2.35M).
· Lead engagement strategies for new funding sources, as well as identify prospective funders and capacity, and ensure that Citizen Schools is positioned ahead of major funding changes or trends.
· Arrange and attend events, conferences, and meetings to generate new leads.
· Cultivate key funder relationships (primarily foundation and individual relationships, with some corporate and public as well), and ensure effective communication, involvement, and appreciation for each funder.
· Identify and implement strategies to strengthen, grow, and leverage each relationship, including connecting to other prospects and supporting sites in multiple states. Strategies also include leading individual donor campaigns (Sponsor A Team, Citizens 4 Citizen Schools, and annual appeal)
Fundraising Strategy and Implementation (~50% of time)
· Expand Citizen Schools’ donor base by crafting and implementing a comprehensive development strategy to raise funds from individual, corporate, and foundation donors, as well as government grants.
· Partner with the Executive Director and Director of Civic Engagement in the cultivation and fundraising strategy – managing/organizing the overall development strategy and ensuring clear communication about which investors/prospects are part of the ED, DD or DCE portfolio as the team works together to meet the annual revenue goal.
· Work collaboratively and flexibly with the state leadership team as new sites are being developed (i.e. engaging in annual and long-term strategy and growth planning processes).
· Work collaboratively with the national development team to align fundraising efforts with overall strategic plan and organizational goals, engaging the national leadership team as necessary to secure lead investors with commitments of $100,000 or more.
· Manage the Salesforce database of key influencers, contacts, and investors for the state. Maintain a best-in-class donor management system, with support from the Special Assistant, as well as regular communications with the New Jersey state team, Board of Advisors and national development staff.
Qualifications:
All candidates should have demonstrated leadership skills, a passion for education and community, and effective collaboration and communication skills. The ideal candidate will possess an impressive track record of building and maintaining strategic relationships, and will be as good at project management as s/he is at relationship management. Other qualifications include:
· A proven track record spanning 4+ years in fundraising, relationship management, or business development, preferably in an educational or nonprofit setting.
· Comfort operating in an entrepreneurial, resource-limited environment. Energized by the opportunity to build the local presence of a strong, nationally branded leader in education and out-of-school-time learning.
· Extraordinary communication skills, with the ability to tell the Citizen Schools “story,” and convey clearly the value proposition of Citizen Schools, to a wide variety of individual and institutional audiences.
· Maturity to work with highly visible civic, philanthropic, and business leaders nationally.
· Results-driven; excellent time and project management skills.
· Ability to effectively collaborate with, motivate and inspire Citizen Schools staff locally and nationally that are not direct reports, but are vital to the success of building a sustainable state model.
· Effective manager with a strong team orientation, ability to provide and accept feedback, and ability to work in collaboration with diverse groups of people.
· Ability to manage the New Jersey team’s development efforts, and specific development team members as the team grows.
· Highly developed interpersonal skills, excellent oral presentation and written skills – especially correspondence with donors and prospects.
· Ability to model Citizen Schools’ core values: Pride, Joy, Respect, Courage, Teamwork, Perseverance, and Vision.
· Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree preferred
How to Apply
Please apply online using the application linked on this page, and be sure to include the following two documents:
- Resume
- Cover letter indicating your interest in and qualifications for this position
Compensation:
Salary is commensurate with experience. A full benefits package is also provided, including medical & dental insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, three weeks’ vacation, and numerous professional development opportunities.
Citizen Schools is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, cultural heritage, ancestry, political belief, age, marital status, pregnancy, physical or mental disability or veteran status
