Academies of Math and Science
Director of Philanthrophy
Location: 3002 S Priest Drive, Tempe AZ

Director of Development

The Academies of Math and Science (AMS) is seeking a results-oriented Director of Development to build a philanthropic program to ensure the organization has the resources needed to achieve its mission.

About AMS/AIG

Founded in 2002 with just 30 students, the Academies of Math and Science (AMS) currently serves 9000 K-8 students across 10 charter schools in underserved communities in Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. AMS offers a well-rounded program designed to help struggling students prepare for a successful future in high school, college, and beyond.

Mission: Through a well-rounded education, we transform today’s scholars into tomorrow’s global visionaries.

About the Opportunity

In partnership with the AMS Executive Team, the Director of Development will be responsible for creating and implementing a comprehensive fundraising strategy that will grow philanthropic revenue over the next several years. Serving as the primary fundraiser for AMS, this role will develop a culture of philanthropy by advancing partnerships with corporate and foundation donors, identifying and cultivating prospective individual donors, exploring government funding opportunities, and promoting AMS’s mission in various philanthropic circles. A key initiative for this role will be to build, diversify, and sustain AMS’s donor base.

The right candidate for this position is a well-rounded professional who is committed to the AMS mission and is excited by the opportunity to make a significant contribution to the growth and expansion of the AMS network.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership

• Partner with executive team members and organizational leadership to build and improve the network’s development program.
• Lead a development program including planning, analysis, major donor identification and cultivation, and related activities.
• Work with the AMS Governing Board and all AMS leadership to identify and access fundraising sources for AMS.
• Partner with members of leadership to best understand AMS’s mission and vision, academic program, and community impact to effectively communicate our story to donors and the public.

Fundraising

• Design, implement, and oversee a comprehensive development plan focused on expanding and enhancing institutional and high net worth relationships and building strategic partnerships.
• Develop highly competitive proposals and budgets for government, foundation and corporate support that present a compelling case for support.
• Grow philanthropic relationships with high net worth individual and institutional prospects.
• Identify emerging trends and opportunities in philanthropy relevant to the AMS mission and work.
• Develop a strong donor pipeline that focuses on institutional and high net worth individual donor identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Engage executive team members in key donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship activities.
• Partner with the AMS Marketing Department to create a plan that includes messaging and communication with fundraising and promotes the school’s impact in the community.
• Review the development program and design strategies to set progressive revenue goals, establish meaningful metrics, and evaluate performance.

Key Qualifications

• Passion for AMS’s mission, education, and solving current challenges in the education industry.
• 3+ years of fundraising experience with institutional donors and/or individual donors.
• Ability to strategically link organizational and programmatic initiatives with opportunities for fundraising.
• Ability to create and implement strategies to guide program growth, expand funding sources, leverage existing prospects, and build sustainable organizational partnerships.
• A demonstrated track record of success in identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and securing philanthropic gifts, particularly from institutional funders.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills.
• Experience partnering with a board of directors and senior leadership to develop and advance a culture of philanthropy.
• Knowledge of and ability to oversee research, tracking, and reporting systems, including grant stewardship, compliance, and reporting.
• Highly organized, attentive to detail, and able to anticipate, plan for, and meet deadlines.
• Self-starter with strong execution mindset.

• A bachelor’s degree or higher

Preferred: Bilingual in Spanish, Experience with ELL students, background in mathematics and/or teaching in middle school, experience in Saxon, Open Court, NWEA MAP, Corrective Reading, REWARDS, and also skills in implementing STEM educational programming in a setting that also values strong foundational teaching in core subjects.

ADM