Managing Director of Development (26-27)

Managing Director of Development About Democracy Prep Public Schools Democracy Prep educates responsible citizen-scholars for success in the college of their choice and for lives of active citizenship. In close partnership with families, we empower young people with the skills and values to flourish as community leaders who will strengthen our American democracy and change the world. Democracy Prep Public Schools (DPPS) is a tuition-free, high-performing public charter network operating in New York serving more than 3,000 students PreK–12 across 10 campuses. Having launched the next phase of our 2025 - 2030 Strategic Plan, DPPS is positioned to achieve the strongest results in our history by accelerating academic outcomes, strengthening long-term sustainability, investing in our people, and expanding our impact responsibly. This is a pivotal moment to help shape and fuel the next chapter of Democracy Prep’s growth. About the Opportunity DPPS operates with an annual budget of over $100 million and is entering a pivotal phase of growth, with significant opportunity to build and scale a high-performing development function to support its 2025 - 2030 Strategic Plan. The Managing Director of Development owns Democracy Prep’s philanthropic growth strategy and revenue engine. This leader sets the vision, builds the systems, and drives measurable results across individual, foundation, corporate, and institutional giving. This position operates on our hybrid in-person work model. Reporting to the Chief of Staff and serving the CEO and senior leadership team, the Managing Director leads one of Democracy Prep’s key organizational functions, delivering high-stakes, material impact for the organization. This role shapes funding strategy in direct alignment with Democracy Prep’s strategic priorities, including academic excellence, operational sustainability, programmatic scaling, and regional growth. Who You Are A mission-driven leader with an unwavering commitment to Democracy Prep’s vision of college success and authentic civic engagement for all scholars. A self-aware and reflective leader committed to building and sustaining an equitable culture across all aspects of the organization. A strategic and entrepreneurial fundraiser with experience securing major gifts from individuals, corporations, and foundations. A skilled relationship builder who collaborates effectively across teams, develops long-term internal and external partnerships, and inspires confidence among Board members, donors, and colleagues. A compelling communicator with excellent writing and presentation skills, able to synthesize complex information into clear, persuasive messages tailored to multiple audiences. A sophisticated development professional with deep knowledge of fundraising programs and strategies, adept at navigating complex institutions, identifying donor alignment, and adapting to rapidly evolving environments. A lifelong learner and results-oriented leader who brings creativity, initiative, and rigor to building scalable development programs. Educational background: Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or related advanced study preferred. What You’ll Do Multi-Year Development Strategy & Revenue Ownership Design and lead an ambitious, multi-year development strategy aligned to Democracy Prep’s Strategic Plan, fueling transformational outcomes for students and the adults who serve them. Own and drive multi‑million dollar fundraising targets, including annual and multi-year goals. Build a diversified funding model integrating individual giving, principal gifts, foundations, corporate partnerships, government opportunities, and advocacy initiatives to advance Democracy Prep’s mission and strategic priorities. Identify emerging funding opportunities and proactively build high-capacity donor pipelines. Major & Principal Gifts Leadership Personally manage a focused portfolio of at least 25–40+ high-capacity prospects. Secure six-figure and select seven-