Director Of Advancement

Young Scholars Charter School•Philadelphia, PA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

Young Scholars Charter School is a public charter middle school serving roughly 300 scholars in grades 5–8 from 31 zip codes across Philadelphia. For nearly thirty years the school has built a Village of Scholarship around one mission: a personalized education that challenges, engages, and prepares all scholars to passionately pursue their dreams and lead a life of active citizenship. The results are showing. Scholars perform 16–18 points above the MAP national average, math proficiency grew 10% in a single year, teacher retention is near 90%, and Young Scholars is a designated “Beat the Odds” school and recipient of Elevate 215’s 2026 Innovation and Impact Award. The school’s programming has outgrown its space. In Fall 2028, Young Scholars will open a purpose-built campus one mile from its current home, with a full gymnasium, modern library, technology center, auditorium stage, counseling suites, playground, and green space — several of these are spaces the school has never had. The $20.5M project is anchored by a $5M philanthropic campaign. The Director of Advancement will lead it. This is not a standing start. Young Scholars brings nearly three decades of philanthropic support and several million dollars in cumulative giving to this campaign: long-standing, multi-cycle foundation partnerships; an engaged community of founding philanthropists, Board members, alumni families, and longtime individual donors; and a reliable annual fund. The CEO is an active solicitor, and the Board Chair is personally invested. The campaign itself has been designed, with a case for support, a three-part structure spanning legacy, community, and institutional giving, and campaign research support engaged. The Director arrives to lead a plan, not to write one.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive fundraising experience with demonstrated ownership of outcomes; capital or comprehensive campaign experience strongly preferred.
A record of closing five- and six-figure gifts, personally or by preparing leaders and volunteers to solicit them.
Institutional grants experience, and experience managing consultants or vendors against deliverables.
Exceptional project management and outstanding written and verbal communication, with comfort across the full range of donors.
Fluency with donor databases and gift reporting, and high standards for data integrity.
A genuine commitment to educational equity and to the scholars, families and staff of Young Scholars.

Nice To Haves

capital or comprehensive campaign experience strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Own the campaign’s goals, timeline, and results, from the lead-commitment phase that unlocks project financing through building dedication in Fall 2028.
Maintain the prospect pipeline and gift table; ensure every open door leads to a timely, well-prepared ask.
Partner with the CEO and volunteer leaders on top-prospect cultivation and solicitation; personally manage a portfolio of major and mid-level prospects.
Execute the legacy and tribute-naming strategy with sensitivity and discretion, including honoree relationships, naming agreements, and stewardship.
Oversee institutional giving: proposal calendars, submissions, reporting, and funder relationships.
Launch and manage the community campaign, including volunteer recruitment and milestone events.
Build and support the Campaign Advisory Committee with the Board Chair; direct campaign counsel and vendors against clear deliverables.
Own campaign communications and donor recognition; protect and grow the annual fund; ensure clean gift processing, pledge tracking, and reporting for the CEO, Board, and finance committee.