Director of Development

The Concord Consortium, a nationally recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit at the forefront of STEM education and learning innovation, is seeking an entrepreneurial, strategic, collaborative, and deeply motivated Director of Development to serve as the organization’s first-ever senior development director.

Since 1994, the Concord Consortium has designed and implemented pioneering learning technologies that open up powerful new pathways in science, technology, math, and engineering (STEM) education. Our projects – often funded by the National Science Foundation and U.S. Department of Education – have transformed the way students and teachers interact with data, models, and complex phenomena. We now stand at a pivotal moment: as federal grant funding becomes more competitive and uncertain, we are charting a bold new path toward diversified, sustainable revenue.

Developing open-source digital learning tools grounded in cutting-edge educational research, the Concord Consortium is deeply committed to ensuring and expanding student and educator access to high-quality STEM materials. From virtual labs for biology, chemistry, and physics to intelligent tutoring systems and interactive models that simulate climate change, Earth systems, genetic inheritance, and more, our work has reached millions of students and educators globally.

As our Director of Development, you will build a development program from the ground up, working closely with the President and CEO, senior leadership, and the Board of Directors to create and execute a strategy that expands the organization’s reach and deepens its impact. While you begin as a solo leader, you’ll be backed by a history of excellence, a highly respected team, and the organizational will to grow a high-performing fundraising department over time. You will balance foundation, corporate, and individual (including high net worth) revenue-building opportunities, targeting both immediate revenue needs and long-term sustainability.

This role is ideal for the entrepreneurial fundraising leader who is skilled in institutional and individual giving and committed to a mission-driven organization. The ideal candidate will be ready to roll up their sleeves, test ideas, shape infrastructure, and help articulate a powerful case for support in the evolving world of STEM equity, innovation, and access.

Key Responsibilities and Functions

Set Strategy and Build Infrastructure

• Lead the design and execution of a multi-year fundraising strategy focused on foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual giving.
• Translate vision into action by building the structures, tools, and habits needed to scale a successful development program.
• Serve as a thought partner to the President and CEO and leadership staff, informing strategic decisions, messaging, and organizational positioning to maximize fundraising potential.
• Collaborate with the President and CEO, Director of Finance, and the Board of Directors to define fundraising expectations, provide training and support, and deepen engagement in major donor and prospect cultivation.

Lead Corporate and Foundation Fundraising

• Take the lead, and work with colleagues, in identifying, cultivating, securing, stewarding, and reporting on major grants and sponsorship opportunities from national foundations and corporate partners, especially in the STEM, education, and technology sectors.
• Initiate and lead in crafting compelling proposals, letters of inquiry, pitch decks, and reports tailored to specific funder priorities and aligned with Concord’s strengths.
• Build effective relationships with program officers, CSR leaders, and key institutional contacts, and act as a trusted and knowledgeable ambassador of our mission.
• Annually target and close mid to high six-figure gifts, and work to build revenue streams and gifts of $1 million and above.

Develop and Implement an Individual Giving Strategy

• Collaborate with leadership, staff, and particularly the Director of Communications, to build a strategy to engage Concord’s 50,000+ e-news subscribers, nurturing them into a vibrant community of donors and advocates.
• Launch and test campaigns, stewardship tools, and messaging that help convert passive interest into active financial support.
• Support the development of major donor strategies and event-based or peer-to-peer initiatives as appropriate.

Establish and Integrate Internal Fundraising Systems and CRM

• Lead the implementation of a new donor CRM system, coordinating and partnering with tech-savvy colleagues, ensuring seamless tracking, reporting, and segmentation capabilities.
• Develop calendar-based planning tools, metrics dashboards, and best practices for internal development workflows.
• Champion a culture of data-informed development, with strong recordkeeping across the organization, and clear benchmarks and feedback loops between leadership and the organization.

Represent Concord and Build External Relationships

• Serve as a visible and effective external representative of the organization with donors, partners, and stakeholders.
• Track and leverage industry insights and current events to enhance development efforts.
• Attend select national or regional conferences (virtual or in person) to expand the organization’s visibility and network in strategic sectors.
• Work closely with Principal Investigators and the Director of Communications to align fundraising outreach with broader public engagement and impact storytelling.

Desired Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for a seasoned, proactive leader, ideally meeting the following experience and qualities:

• 10+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including a demonstrable track record of success in securing grants and sponsorships through foundation and corporate fundraising at the six- and seven-figure levels.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with experience building or scaling development departments.
• Significant experience in CRM optimization with comfort using data to guide action and decision-making.
• Exceptional storytelling, writing, and presentation skills with the ability to tailor messages to individual, foundation, and corporate audiences.
• Adept at working independently in a remote-first organization, with strong project management skills and a bias toward action.
• Mission alignment with STEM education, innovation, and access – and a passion for shaping a more equitable future through learning.
• Knowledge of the STEM funding world.

Work Environment & Compensation

• The Concord Consortium is a well-established, mission-driven nonprofit, with a welcoming and inclusive environment. We have a very collaborative environment and demand excellence in all aspects of our organization.
• Salary range: $125,000–$145,000, based on experience and qualifications.
• A generous benefits package, including health insurance, 403(b) contributions, paid vacation and sick leave.
• A remote-first work culture, with weekly in-person meetings (depending on location) and additional travel requirements, possibly up to 20% time, to meet and build funding relationships.

How to Apply

Please send a resume and brief cover letter describing your interest and relevant experience to hrjr+dod@concord.org. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with early applications encouraged. Ideally, the position will be filled by mid-August.

The Concord Consortium is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating a workplace that values diversity and fosters inclusion. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind and provide equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, ancestry, disability, genetic information, military or veteran status, medical condition, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and experiences, and we strive to create a supportive, respectful environment where everyone can thrive.