Sr. Director of Development
About The Position
Greater Than is seeking a passionate, mission-driven fundraiser to serve as Senior Director of Development for our Portland-based team. This role is at the heart of how we sustain and grow our work: leading the full advancement function to ensure Greater Than has the resources needed to support our commitment to providing equitable education for all Greater Than students in Reynolds and Hillsboro School Districts as they navigate their paths through school, college, and career. You will manage a portfolio of 75 or more major gift prospects and donors, build and execute advancement strategy in close partnership with our President and CEO, and lead a team dedicated to growing the relationships that make our mission possible. If you believe equitable education is a right — and that fundraising done well is an act of community trust — this role was made for you. The Senior Director of Development leads Greater Than's full advancement function, reporting directly to the President & CEO. This is a critical role responsible for growing unrestricted funding, diversifying our donor base, and building the long-term financial sustainability of the organization. The Senior Director oversees major gifts, foundation relations, annual appeals, communications, events, and other advancement functions. Depending on demonstrated organizational leadership and strategic contribution, this position may serve as a member of Greater Than's Leadership Team.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or 7 years of equivalent experience.
- Successful experience providing Advancement Leadership and Major Gift Leadership and implementation.
- Demonstrable experience securing individual major gifts in a comparable organization.
- A demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Background and driving check required.
Nice To Haves
- Strategic and innovative thinker with vision for organizational growth.
- Goal-oriented with a proactive, organized, and creative approach to problem-solving.
- Ability to thrive in a small, fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
- Formal supervisory experience preferred.
- Bilingual in Spanish preferred but not required.
Responsibilities
- Work closely with the President/CEO to set and execute short- and long-term Advancement priorities, goals, strategies, and messaging aligned with Greater Than's mission and strategic plan.
- When designated by the President & CEO, serve as a member of Greater Than's Leadership Team, contributing to organizational strategy, cross-functional planning, culture-building, and decision-making.
- Lead and manage the Advancement Team's day-to-day operations, including project management, staff support, gift processing, acknowledgements, and database integrity; use data and analytics to drive strategy, segmentation, pipeline growth, and performance evaluation.
- Oversee or assign oversight of development- and marketing-related contractors, ensuring scopes, deliverables, and timelines support Advancement objectives and brand alignment.
- Partner with the CEO and Finance to ensure revenue is accurately projected, tracked, and reported, including monthly revenue review and preparing revenue forecasts for the Board Finance Committee and full Board.
- Support Advancement-related Board engagement by partnering with the CEO to prepare materials and present at Board meetings and retreats, and by staffing the Board Advancement Committee.
- Partner with the President/CEO to develop and refine annual and multi-year major gifts strategy to increase giving and organizational sustainability, including planned/estate giving.
- Manage a portfolio of at least 75 primary prospects and donors, leading them through the full gift cycle — qualification, cultivation, solicitation, closure, and stewardship — using calls, email, meetings, and tailored engagement strategies.
- Identify and cultivate new major donor prospects through personal networks and prospect research.
- Plan and implement 3–4 cultivation events per year (e.g., house parties, breakfast events) designed to identify, engage, and move new prospects into the major donor pipeline.
- Develop major gift solicitations and materials, including drafting proposal documents and using major giving fundraising and marketing tools to support asks.
- Grow the donor pipeline, with a particular focus on expanding the $1,000-level pipeline of future major donors and upgrading current donors to higher giving levels.
Benefits
- 100% employee premium paid for medical/alternative medicine/dental/vision insurance
- Employer paid life, long- and short-term disability insurance
- Flexible Spending and Dependent Care Benefit Plans and Employee Assistance Program
- Generous paid time off: 15 days of accrued vacation, 12 days of sick, and 12 flexible holidays. Extended weekend hours between Memorial Day and Labor Day. Paid time off during winter office closure between Christmas Eve and New Year’s day.
- Simple IRA retirement plan with employer matching program
- Monthly cell phone stipend
- 1 month paid sabbatical after 5 years of continuous employment
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
