Senior Director, Leadership and Major Gifts

Overview

ABOUT PER SCHOLAS: For 30 years, Per Scholas has been on a mission to drive mobility and opportunity in the technology landscape by unlocking potential, uplifting communities, and meeting the needs of employers through rigorous tech training. We offer no-cost training programs in in-demand tech skills, with national remote training and campuses in 20+ cities. Learn more .

Position title: Senior Director, Leadership and Major Gifts

Location: New York, NY

Reports to: VP of Individual Giving

Per Scholas is seeking a Director of Leadership and Major Gifts to advance transformational philanthropic partnerships at the $100,000+ level, with responsibility for cultivating, soliciting, and closing select seven-figure commitments. This role will manage and coach a small team of Major Gifts Officers to maximize team performance. The position involves managing a portfolio of approximately 50 current donors and prospects and engaging them through 1:1 meetings, campus visits, events, and tailored stewardship.

Travel is required, with focus on high-opportunity East Coast markets.

• Serve as a strategic partner in cultivating and securing leadership gifts of $100,000 and above, including seven-figure commitments, while stewarding and upgrading seven-figure donors to maintain a strong pipeline of future major and leadership gift prospects.
• Manage and steward a portfolio of approximately 50 current major and leadership level donors, while identifying, qualifying, and cultivating 20+ new high-capacity prospects in collaboration with the VP of Individual Giving.
• Design and execute individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies aligned with donor interests and Per Scholas’ long-term growth priorities.
• Advance a disciplined moves management approach that drives accountability, performance, and sustained growth in leadership giving; regularly report on progress and outcomes.
• Represent Per Scholas at key programmatic and fundraising opportunities, including campus visits, graduations, and donor convenings (occasional evenings and travel required).

• Coach, mentor, and develop a small team of Major Gifts Officers, providing ongoing feedback, skills development, and performance support to maximize fundraising results.
• Partner with the VP of Individual Giving to establish team goals, performance expectations, and professional development pathways that foster a high-performing, accountable culture.
• Elevate portfolio strategy and fundraising execution across the team by modeling best practices in donor engagement, moves management, solicitation planning, and reporting.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and scaling of Major Gifts talent as the program expands into new growth markets.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in major or leadership gifts fundraising, with a demonstrated record of securing five- and seven-figure commitments
• Proven success cultivating and sustaining long-term relationships with high-net-worth individuals and philanthropic partners
• Strong executive presence with excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills
• Ability to translate complex strategies, outcomes, and systems-level impact into compelling donor-centered cases for support
• Knowledge of the philanthropic landscape and trends within education, workforce development, or economic mobility
• Strategic, self-directed fundraiser with experience operating in a national organization
• Track record of partnering with senior leaders, program teams, and board members on donor strategy and solicitation
• Demonstrated ability to lead, mentor, and develop a team, fostering a high-performing, collaborative culture
• Proficiency with Salesforce and prospect research tools
• Willingness to travel up to 30% and work occasional evenings or weekends as needed

• Motivated by mission-driven work and long-term systems change
• Energized by building and scaling a leadership giving program in a growth-oriented organization
• Results-oriented, data-informed, and highly organized
• Thoughtful relationship-builder with sound judgment and discretion
• Deep alignment with Per Scholas’ mission and belief in equitable access to high-growth careers

Salary:
The role’s salary range is between $150,000 and $157,000.

If you have any questions about this role, please email our Talent team  look forward to reviewing your application!

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or national origin.

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