Leader, External Relations
Thanks for your interest in Success Academy! Running the largest, fastest-growing, and highest-performing network of public charter schools in New York City takes a village - families, children, teachers, staff and faculty, advocates, and supporters alike. We would love to welcome you to our community! We work tirelessly every day to ensure each child in NYC has access to a fun, rigorous, whole-child education regardless of zip code or economic status. When you join SA, you play a part in giving every student who walks through the doors of one of our 57 schools in NYC a fair shot at reaching his or her potential.
Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer and serving as a leader within the Advancement department, the Leader, External Relations is a seasoned fundraising professional with a collaborative spirit and the creative energy to lead the External Relations team (which includes Events, Stewardship/Communications, and Advancement Services functions) that support and enable fundraising success.This position also manages a portfolio of major gift donors and prospects.
The incumbent shall possess the acumen necessary to produce innovative results that align with an agile and effective fundraising program, scaled to the needs of Success Academy and scalable for the future. They will be an inspirational and highly effective leader, communicator/steward, storyteller, and ambassador, capable of articulating SA’s mission, vision and impact to individual and institutional donors and key volunteers. The Leader of External Relations will inspire others to invest in the future of Success Academy and its scholars (including as an effective solicitor), and they will lead efforts to effectively steward existing supporters.
The Leader of External Relations is a proactive, confident self-starter that thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment that values results. Success in this role will require the following qualities:
Self-motivated, self-sufficient, and driven to lead and collaborate with others to achieve success.
Detail-oriented and analytical;
Strategic, proactive, and forward thinking;
Persuasive, outgoing, and confident with exceptional communication skills.
Possesses the highest standards of personal and professional integrity; and
Adheres to and promotes SA’s mission, culture, strategic priorities, and standards of excellence.
Leadership, Strategy and Management
Is a strategic thought partner with the CAO and leader within the department, collaborates and coordinates closely with the CAO and the Head of Development to develop/implement annual and long-range plans to increase philanthropic revenue in support of general operations, programmatic, and capital priorities.
Develops and maintains a deep and thorough understanding of the scope, history, current initiatives, and goals of Success Academy, including its most generous benefactors.
Develops and executes quarterly and annual plans for best-in-class stewardship and communications, events, and advancement services that are coordinated and supportive of fundraising goals and donor retention (and growth).
Works across the Network and with key teams/functions to marshal the resources necessary to execute effective external relations programs and activities, including but not limited to the Creative Agency, Marketing/Communications, Finance, IT, and Schooling, among others to ensure a coordinated, priority-driven, and collaborative approach to engaging and retaining donors.
Leads and manages the performance of a (currently) six-member team committed to effective external relations and service delivery, fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
Fundraising
Manages a portfolio of assigned donors and prospects (capable of major or principal-level gifts) for purposes of cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in support of annual and multi-year revenue targets.
Serves as a de facto member of the Development team with respect to portfolio management, moves management, and other coordination and collaboration for fundraising success.
Hosts/co-hosts meetings, briefings, and school tours for purposes of donor cultivation and/or stewardship, which may include staffing the CEO or other executives, including the preparation/review of briefing materials/collateral.
Documents significant donor interactions in Raiser’s Edge database and actively participates in annual revenue forecasting of future gift opportunities.
Works collaboratively with Head of Development and others to plan and execute effective grassroots (digital) campaigns and appeals that meet/exceed revenue targets for those donor segments.
Stewardship & Communications
Defines and executes effective communications/stewardship plans and tactics for growing and sustaining the organization’s base of philanthropic support.
Provides strategic direction and recommendations for best-in-class donor stewardship to the CEO, CAO, and other gift officers.
Oversees bespoke VIP communications program in concert with CEO & CAO and donor relationship managers.
Authors, co-authors, and/or edits funding proposals, cases for support, presentations/decks, scripted remarks/talking points, impact reports, stewardship touchpoints, digital newsletters, emails, and other correspondence for both mass audiences, as well as individual recipients.
Stays abreast of trends and best practices in donor stewardship and communications, including creative and compelling collateral, annual fund, digital appeals, segmented communications, donor analytics, and use of emerging technologies.
Works with Advancement team and Creative Agency to develop and/or reimagine donor collateral, including print, digital, video, and other types of assets.
Events
Takes the lead in the ideation and strategy for the development and planning of creative and emotive Development events and experiences that deepen donors’ connections with Success Academy’s mission and inspire increased giving and greater impact – including collaboration with Creative Agency, CEO, CAO, Head of Development, and others.
Oversees Events team responsible for the planning and flawless execution of marquee fundraising events like the Spring Benefit that meet or exceed revenue goals and other established KPIs for donor engagement/experience, as well as other donor cultivation/stewardship events throughout the year.
Ensures accurate and timely management, tracking and reporting of revenue associated with the Spring Benefit and other fundraising events to meet/exceed goals. Manages event expenditures within budget targets.
Advancement Services
Provides leadership for and direction to the Advancement Services team with the goal of providing effective, efficient, and timely services and operational support to the Development team to enable and support fundraising efforts that meet/exceed goal.
Possesses a deep understanding and is a “super user” of Raiser’s Edge NXT database,, data architecture/hygiene, and endeavors to remain current on same.
Guides and assists Advancement Services team towards continuous improvement in data management, analysis, and reporting in support of fundraising goals, revenue forecasting, performance metrics, and other priorities.
Assists as needed with the management of consultants and key vendor relationships, as well as liaises with relevant Network teams and departments (e.g., IT, Finance, ED&A, Enterprise Services) to facilitate seamless operations.
Ensures that critical policies, procedures, and other standard work are well documented and routinely reviewed/updated (and cross-trained) and that proper controls are in place regarding the handling of checks, credit card information, and other confidential data.
Works with Advancement Services team to implement requisite onboarding (and ongoing) training for all Advancement staff regarding database and other analytical tools and resources (e.g., wealth screening, etc.)
Education (Minimum Needed and Type of Degree Needed):
Minimum Required: Bachelor’s Degree; advanced degree preferred. CFRE or other fundraising credential or certification is beneficial.
Work Experience (Minimum Needed):
A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experience in donor engagement/stewardship, donor communications, advancement services, and major/principal gifts, or similar.
A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible management/leadership experience..
Specialized Knowledge Needed for Performance of Job:
Deep understanding and experience with best practices in bespoke stewardship of major and principal gift donors.
Demonstrated comfort working with high net worth individuals, family foundations, and/or family offices, as well as successful track record of identifying, cultivating, soliciting, closing, and stewarding significant gifts, as well as building/managing donor/customer relationships.
Experience assessing and closing major gift/business opportunities; engaging, cultivating, and stewarding new stakeholders and converting them into strategic partnerships.
Capacity for strategic leadership and vision to work with executive leadership and key volunteers on fundraising priorities and bespoke stewardship activities.
Deep experience in effectively managing a donor/customer portfolio and consistently moving relationships towards desired outcomes and goals.
Effectiveness working independently and across teams, with assiduous attention to sharing information with others.
Skills (e.g. Level of Judgment Required, Ability to Direct, Work Independently, Multi-Task, etc.):
Exceptional writing and presentation skills.
Strong leadership/managerial skills with ability to lead/inspire team to higher levels of performance and impact and manage to high standard of excellence across all work streams and work products.
Proficiency in communicating complex issues with diverse audiences and inspiring their engagement and support.
Exceptional interpersonal communication skills and high level of emotional intelligence.
Highly self-motivated, accountable, and able to make decisions independently.
Ability to think strategically and contextually and to anticipate the needs and expectations of executives.
Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple, concurrent tasks, exhibit flexibility, and meet deadlines.
Ability to analyze and present data effectively, and align efforts with priorities and opportunities.
Acts with tact and discretion, respecting confidentiality and proprietary information.
Special Skills (Technical or Advanced)
Proficiency with MSOffice (and/or Google suite), and Internet is required.
Proficiency with RE NXT or similar CRM system is highly desirable.
Knowledge of relevant prospect research, wealth screening, and philanthropic analytical tools is beneficial.
Other (Communication Skills, Mechanical Aptitude, Math Skills, Learning Skills, or Other Specific Skills Required):
Superb verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Possesses a passion for the mission of SA and engages donors and prospects with the same passion.
Ability to travel locally and nationally as needed, occasionally work after hours and on weekends.
Success Academy Charter Schools is an equal opportunity employer and actively encourages applications from people of all backgrounds. Compensation is competitive and commensurate with experience. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth.
Privacy Policy:
By providing your phone number, you consent to receive text message updates from Success Academy regarding your application. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. View our Privacy Policy.
Current Success Academies Employees:
Please apply through the Internal Job Board via Greenhouse.
You will be asked to log in through your Okta Profile.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We actively seek applications from people of all backgrounds to strengthen our community and the perspectives needed to flourish in a multicultural world. Success Academy offers a full benefits program and opportunities for professional growth. Learn more about our philosophy, benefits, and team at our Working Here page.
Success Academy Charter Schools does not offer employment-based immigration sponsorship.
Create a Job Alert
Interested in building your career at Success Academy Charter Schools? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.
Apply for this job
*
indicates a required field