Senior Director of Advancement

Fecha de publicación: 6/25/2025
Tipo de puesto: Salario de tiempo completo exento
Ubicación: Con sede en la sede de Project Success en Minneapolis, Minnesota

We are looking for an experienced, senior-level fundraising leader to join our growing team at Project Success as our Senior Director of Advancement. Project Success is a youth development nonprofit organization that helps students connect to their purpose. We work with more than 16,000 6th-12th grade students and their families annually and have more than 225,000 alumni around the world. Learn more at projectsuccess.org.

The Senior Director of Advancement (SDA) will build on a strong foundation shaped by more than 30 years of mission-driven work. They will lead efforts to strengthen our Advancement strategy and team for long-term growth and sustainability. The SDA will lead Project Success fundraising efforts and is responsible for an annual fundraising goal. They work closely with the Executive Director and the Development Committee Chair(s) of the Board of Directors to develop fundraising plans, strategies, and tactics that increase the organization’s philanthropic and in-kind support from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other partners. They will oversee the Advancement team in executing those strategies. A key focus of the role includes cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding donors across all areas of giving, with a particular focus on major and transformational gifts.

This role reports to the Executive Director and serves as a member of the Senior Leadership team. Within the organization, they work closely with the finance & administrative teams, senior management, and program staff. They work closely with the Board of Directors, including the Development Committee, as well as the Engagement & Outreach Committee and other connected groups. Outside of Project Success, they will connect with donors, funders, volunteers, vendors, and contractors.

The SDA provides overall leadership and management of the Advancement Team including:

• Director of Development (2)
• Asociado de Operaciones de Desarrollo
• Events & Special Projects Consultant
• Gerente Senior de Comunicaciones

Our ideal candidate has a successful track record of developing annual organizational fundraising plans, meeting annual goals, personally identifying, cultivating, and soliciting a variety of constituents, and analyzing the effectiveness of fundraising efforts. They are an experienced team leader who can guide a thriving Advancement team, lead at a strategic level, and step in to support execution when needed. They bring excellent organizational, collaboration, and communication skills, and can work effectively with various internal and external partners. They are trustworthy with a high sense of integrity, and have the ability to build and nurture relationships with a wide variety of stakeholders.

Responsabilidades principales del puesto 

Revenue Generation

• In partnership with the Executive Director, lead goal to increase the overall organizational revenue from $4.2M to $6.2M+ in the next 3 fiscal years through funding from corporations, foundations, individuals, government, and events
• Lead annual development plan strategy, with a focus on major and transformational gifts and identifying new sources of revenue
• Lead efforts to deepen existing funder relationships and steward current donors into greater levels of support
• Successfully achieve the specific fundraising goal assigned to the role, per the development plan
• Direct solicitation and stewardship strategies and tactics of the Advancement team, including appeals, grant proposals, events, letters, sponsorship packets, and other development tools

Senior Staff & Board Leadership

• Work closely with the Executive Director, Development Committee, and the Board of Directors to lead the analysis, development, and execution of the annual development plan
• Serve as the staff partner for the Development Committee and the Engagement & Outreach Committee
• Attend Board of Directors and Committee meetings as needed
• Work closely with the Executive Director and other members of the Senior Leadership team to plan and evaluate the financial needs for the future
• Develop portfolio goals for members of the Advancement team
• Support the Executive Director in successfully engaging, educating, and training Senior Leadership and Board Members in donor cultivation and professional fundraising techniques
• Prepare and accompany the Executive Director and Board Chair on solicitations, as needed
• Collaborate with the Senior Communications Manager and other staff to develop and execute a successful external relations and communications strategy that matches the goals identified in the Development plan
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Director of Administration to develop and produce regular development reports for Senior Leadership, Committee, and Board Meetings

Team Management & Infrastructure

• Manage, support, and evaluate the day-to-day operations of the Advancement team, including the direct people management of the staff members
• Oversee the Advancement team in identifying and pursuing grants and gifts
• Manage the Advancement team’s daily operations, budgets, and progress reports
• Manage the process of building the annual report, as well as take leadership over specific elements of the annual audit
• Manage the process of connecting fundraising strategies with brand messaging, ensuring donor campaigns, appeals, grant submissions, events and materials reflect PS’s mission and values
• Provide strategic insight into all donor-facing materials, and strategic support on the full range of external stakeholder communications
• Work with the Advancement team to ensure strong systems for gift tracking and acknowledgement, donor stewardship and cultivation, and donor communications
• Work closely with the Director of Administration to ensure accurate and efficient revenue tracking and reporting, providing details as needed for ongoing financial reports

Otras funciones según se le asignen

Misión, Visión y Valores + Inclusión, Diversidad, Equidad y Accesibilidad

Estamos buscando personas que se apasionen por el éxito de nuestros estudiantes y compartan la misión, la visión y los valores de PS. 

Misión:Proyecto Éxito motiva e inspira a los jóvenes a soñar con el futuro, les ayuda a tomar pasos para llegar allí y les brinda las herramientas que necesitan para alcanzar sus metas. 

Visión:Todo niño que ingrese a la escuela secundaria se graduará de la escuela secundaria con un plan para su futuro y tendrá las habilidades y la confianza que lo acompañarán durante el resto de su vida. 

Valores: 

¡Los niños primero!	Confiabilidad, seguridad y confianza
Un entorno sin prejuicios	Voluntad de crecer y cambiar
El amor es la clave	Desarrollar relaciones saludables
Comunicación clara y abierta	Mantener la excelencia

Compromiso con la Inclusión, la Diversidad, la Equidad y la Accesibilidad (IDEA):  
Proyecto Éxito se esfuerza por conectar a los estudiantes con su propósito mediante la creación de programas que realmente beneficien a nuestros estudiantes y familias. Visualizamos un Proyecto Éxito donde la inclusión, la diversidad, la equidad y la accesibilidad estén plenamente integradas en todo lo que hacemos. Somos una organización que se preocupa profundamente por los estudiantes, las familias y la comunidad, comparte nuestros valores y está comprometida con la lucha continua contra el racismo y los principios de IDEA. 

Our Ideal Candidate

The Senior Director of Advancement must have a deep connection to Project Success’s mission as well as share our commitment to I.D.E.A. They must be a strategic leader with proven experience in nonprofit fundraising, both in leading a team to achieve goals as well as managing a portfolio of their own.

While no individual candidate will possess all the elements below, the ideal candidate for this position will be able to demonstrate many of the following knowledge, skills, and abilities.

• Experienced Fundraiser: 10+ years of nonprofit development experience including any combination of working with individual donors, organizational giving, annual funds, campaigns, grants, and events experience.

• Knowledge & Networking: An active member of the broader fundraising community, staying engaged with current trends and best practices. Continuously builds networks and knowledge in the field to build informed and stronger strategy.

• Strategy & Execution: Strong decision-making skills and ability to effectively set and implement plans to achieve fundraising goals. The ability to inspire the Advancement team while simultaneously managing a portfolio of donors.

• Youth Development: Knowledgeable and actively engaged in the education and/or youth development spaces. Understands the factors that affect those areas and how that impacts our work.

• Team Leadership: Inspires and activates staff to achieve their goals, both individually and as part of the Advancement team.

• Senior Leadership: Experience as a Senior Leader at a nonprofit organization, with previous responsibilities and engagement with a Board of Directors.

• Relationship Building: Excited and engaged relationship-builder who easily connects and builds trust with everyone they interact with. Builds strong bonds with new connections to the organization and are actively present at community events to expand their network.

• System Builder: Experience building a successful development program that allows for substantial organizational growth.

• Data-driven: Brings a data-driven approach to development, including identifying prospects, tracking progress towards goals, and effectively utilizing our development software systems (including Raiser’s Edge/RENXT).

Educación, experiencia y habilidades

Tenga en cuenta que, si bien las siguientes cualificaciones son las preferidas para este puesto, no esperamos que una sola persona las posea todas. Recomendamos encarecidamente a personas con una amplia gama de formación, experiencia y habilidades que se postulen.

• Bachelor’s degree required
• 10+ years of nonprofit development experience (including any combination of working with individual donors, organizational giving, government grants, annual funds, campaigns, and/or events experience)
• 5+ years of direct people management experience
• Graduate degree preferred in a fundraising, nonprofit, or finance related field (or a combination of training, education, and experiences that provides similar knowledge, skills, and abilities)
• Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) or Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation preferred

Requisitos del puesto

• Debe tener una licencia de conducir válida y seguro de automóvil.
• Capacidad para sentarse y/o permanecer de pie durante períodos prolongados, incluido el movimiento hacia arriba y hacia abajo por escaleras y en todo el entorno de oficina y en eventos.
• Debe poder levantar hasta 25 libras a veces y 50 libras en ocasiones.

Detalles del puesto

This position is a full-time salaried exempt position. This role will be hybrid, with aspects of the role required to be completed at the Project Success office in Minneapolis, remotely, and in meetings with partners & donors. The work schedule will vary depending on the needs of the position and will include evening and weekend hours for events and meetings. Travel will be up to 20%, primarily local. More details about the work schedule will be discussed during the interview process.

El paquete de compensación incluye lo siguiente:

• $105K – $125K starting annual salary
  • Starting salary is dependent on job-related knowledge, skills, and experience
• Generous Paid Time Off Package including vacation, sick time, and holidays
• Excellent Benefits Package for employees, where PS pays 100% of the monthly premium
• Plan de jubilación IRA SIMPLE con una contribución equivalente de hasta 3%
• Estacionamiento gratuito en la oficina de PS

Para aplicar

Envíe por correo electrónico lo siguiente a aplicar@projectsuccess.org with a subject line including the name of the position, directed to Adrienne Diercks, Executive Director:

• Reanudar
• Carta de presentación
• 3 Professional References
• Dónde escuchaste sobre nosotros y/o encontraste la publicación de trabajo

To learn more about Project Success, please visit: https://www.projectsuccess.org/join-our-team/

Applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis. All inquiries will remain confidential.