Philanthropy Manager

Description

The Philanthropy Manager will design and implement a comprehensive fundraising and philanthropic strategy to support the mission of Franklin Academy, a leading K-12 public charter school system. This individual will cultivate meaningful relationships with alumni, families, vendors, and partners to drive fundraising efforts, enhance brand loyalty, and promote long-term engagement with the school community. The Philanthropy Manager will play a critical role in advancing the school’s strategic goals through the development of sustainable philanthropic initiatives.

The Philanthropy Manager is responsible for leading fundraising efforts to secure $1M in philanthropic support in the first year (and ultimately increase to $4M annual support over time)

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Fundraising & Development

• Develop, implement, and oversee a strategic fundraising plan, including annual giving, major gifts, planned giving, and capital campaigns.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with potential donors, sponsors, vendors, and corporate partners.
• Create donor recognition and stewardship programs to build long-term donor engagement and loyalty.

Alumni Engagement

• Establish and lead an alumni relations program to foster a strong connection between alumni and the school system.
• Organize events, communications, and initiatives that engage alumni as donors, volunteers, and ambassadors.

Community & Family Engagement

• Build and strengthen relationships with families, encouraging philanthropic involvement through targeted campaigns and events.
• Collaborate with school administrators to identify family needs and align fundraising efforts with those needs.

Brand Development

• Collaborate with the leadership team to create campaigns that drive emotional connections with stakeholders and highlight the impact of donations.
• Represent the school system at community and professional events to promote the brand and fundraising initiatives.
• Manage organization’s online presence.

Grant Writing & Management

• Research and apply for relevant grants to support school programs and operations.
• Maintain compliance with grant reporting requirements and deadlines.

Operational Oversight

• Establish and maintain fundraising policies, procedures, and metrics to evaluate success and inform future strategies.
• Prepare reports on fundraising performance and present them to Governing Board and leadership.
• Manage fundraising databases to track donor history, contributions, and communications.

Requirements

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, or a related field (Master’s preferred).
• Minimum 1–3 years of experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit management.

Skills & Abilities

• Proven track record of meeting and exceeding fundraising goals.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail.
• Knowledge of donor management software (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, etc.) is preferred.
• Ability to inspire and engage a diverse community of stakeholders.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft engaging and compelling content for various communication channels, including newsletters, emails, and social media platforms and resume review

Personal Attributes

• Passion for education and a commitment to the mission of public charter schools.
• Strategic thinker with a results-driven approach.
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and confidentiality.

REPORTS TO 

Executive Director

EVALUATION

The Philanthropy Manager is evaluated annually by the Executive Director. Evaluation is to be based upon fulfillment of duties and responsibilities listed in this job description as determined by observation, review of records and reports, and administrative judgment of the effectiveness and quality of alumni relation opportunities. Additionally, fundraising milestone bonuses will be available after year one.

ADDITIONAL JOB CONSIDERATIONS & FACTORS

Necessary travel throughout the network requires the use of a private vehicle and valid driver’s license. Work outside of regular school hours may be required to fulfill job duties and responsibilities. This includes occasional evening and weekend work for events.

 Full-time employees are eligible for the following benefits:

• Medical, Dental, Prescription drug, and Vision
• Life insurance and Voluntary life insurance
• 401K Plan
• Paid time off (PTO) – vacation, sick, personal
• Fourteen (14) paid holidays per year
• This is a salaried. 12-month position
• Salary Range: $65,000 - $80,000, depending upon experience

Franklin Academy is a Drug-Free Workplace. All candidates are required to pass a mandatory drug screening and background check. 

FRANKLIN ACADEMY IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. It is the policy of Franklin Academy not to discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, sexual orientation or expression, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.

Salary : $65,000 - $80,000