Vice President of Development

Overview Reports To: Chief Executive Officer. Supervises: Development Team, comprising 4 team members at the Director and Manager levels. Work Type: Full-time, year‑round.

Work Location: Hybrid (remote, Downtown LA office, Partnership schools). Start Date: Summer 2026. About the Position The Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is looking for a strategic, collaborative, and proactive new Vice President of Development.

The VP will drive the Partnership’s philanthropic revenue strategy, manage a staff of four development professionals, and build a culture of philanthropy across the organization. Position Responsibilities Fundraising Strategy & Culture Design and execute a multi‑year fundraising strategy aligned with the organizational vision, including annual targets and gift table plans. Personally manage and grow a portfolio of top prospects and donors, including individuals, foundations, and corporations, with a focus on high‑net‑worth individuals and multi‑year transformational gifts.

Oversee development of compelling cases for support, tailored donor communications, and stewardship strategies to secure flexible, unrestricted funding. Expand and refine prospect pipeline, integrating historical context and new identification strategies to diversify and grow the donor base. Serve as a trusted advisor and collaborative thought partner to the CEO and Board of Directors, sharing responsibility on fundraising strategy execution.

Regularly brief the CEO and Executive Team on revenue performance, emerging opportunities, and fundraising risks. Serve as a dynamic external face for the Partnership, representing the organization at major events, donor meetings, and public forums. In collaboration with the communications team, elevate the voices and stories of students, families, and school communities in donor‑facing communications.

Build and embed a collaborative, organization‑wide fundraising culture, engaging board members, executive leadership, and program teams as active fundraising partners. Internal Capacity‑Building & Systems Management Equip internal stakeholders with tools, training, and messaging to confidently support donor cultivation and stewardship efforts. Champion the Partnership’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging in all team and external fundraising activities.

Strengthen internal systems and processes for prospect management, donor tracking, stewardship, and revenue reporting to ensure accountability and data‑driven decision‑making. Oversee the use and optimization of CRM tools (e.g., Raiser’s Edge) to support robust pipeline development and "pipeline health" dashboards. Ensure operational excellence and sustainability in all fundraising activities, positioning the organization for long‑term financial resilience.

Leadership & Team Management Lead, build, inspire, and support a high‑performing Development Team that grows an increasingly larger and diverse base of support. Mentor team members through individualized coaching, instilling a growth mindset and community‑building, dedicating 25% or more of time to management. Model effective cross‑functional collaboration, project management, and alignment to organizational values and priorities.

Provide thought partnership and collaboration with the Executive Team, Board of Directors, and other team members. Major Objectives Build strong, collaborative, and trusting relationships with the CEO, Executive Team, Board of Directors, school leadership, teachers, students, community partners, donors, volunteers, and external stakeholders. Plan, develop, and implement a strategic development plan that prioritizes the Partnership’s funding needs and raises up to $8 million annually.

Strengthen internal and Board fundraising capacity, improving systems for stewardship and donor tracking, and increasing donor pipeline and cultivation strategies. Roll out a fundraising‑aligned communications strategy that centers equity, elevates the partnership’s narrative, and deepens connection to impact across donor and community audiences. Close the current gap to the year’s goal with several funding wins while adopting a more ambitious approach to overall fundraising efforts.

Requirements & Qualifications A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible development leadership experience with multi‑year funding and diversified, unrestricted revenue streams. Proven experience in raising and leading teams to secure significant major gifts at the six‑ and seven‑figure level, including events and campaigns. Proven ability to hire, manage, motivate, and retain a diverse team of professionals that exceed annual goals in a transparent and inclusive manner.

Deep expertise in cultivating high‑level donor and foundation relationships, including grant writing and stewardship of major institutional funders. Experience as a proactive, goal‑oriented, data‑informed development leader with successful long‑term relationships with senior administrators, community leaders, boards, volunteers, and donors. Excellent inspiring and persuasive interpersonal and communication skills with a history of serving as an external ambassador to diverse audiences.

Strong emotional intelligence and people‑centered leadership skills, fostering a culture of care and problem‑solving with empathy. Ability to cast a clear and mission‑aligned strategy and vision, engaging others through goal‑setting and progress monitoring. Strong project and priority management skills in a fast‑paced environment.

Familiarity with CRM platforms (Raiser’s Edge preferred). K‑12 public education experience valued but not required. A deep belief in the power of our communities, the Partnership’s mission, approach, and core values.

A commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environment for all team members. A willingness to learn, grow, and model the Partnership competencies: Anti‑racism, root cause analysis, long‑term thinking, teaming and collaboration, psychological safety, and learning and growth. Compensation & Benefits The starting salary for this position is $213,134.

Salaries are determined by a formula, not negotiated, and drawn from a transparent compensation model. The Partnership offers a robust benefits package, including employer‑paid health, dental, and vision insurance for employees and dependents; a 403(b) retirement program with employee match and vesting; parental and sabbatical leaves; a professional development allowance; and generous paid time off. Equal Opportunity Employer Partnership for Los Angeles Schools is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to and actively pursues diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace.

The Partnership prohibits discrimination based on race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital status, citizenship, age, military status, disability, and other protected characteristics, and applies this policy to all employment practices. #J-18808-Ljbffr