Development Consultant

Job Title Name: Development Consultant

Location: Hoboken, NJ

Work Location: Hybrid/Flexible

Rate: $60,000 - $80,000

Term: 1 year, 2 or 3 days/week (ideally 3). Potential potential for annual renewal.

Organization Overview

Founded in 1997, Hoboken Charter School (HCS), a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is a K-12 public charter school located in Hoboken, New Jersey. HCS’s community is committed to social justice and service-learning grounded in learner-centered practices. HCS seeks personal, civic, academic and artistic growth for all of its members. Through an individualized and shared journey, students come to know who they are and how they can change the world.

The mission of Hoboken Charter School reflects the belief that a successful educational experience can only take place when attention is given to the development of the whole child. We envision a community composed of learners of all ages that fosters a spirit of supportive interdependence, where individuals can grow in a nurturing, compassionate environment that reflects the history and diversity of the larger Hoboken community.

Historically, the Friends of Hoboken Charter School, a parent-run and -led 501(c)(3) non-profit organization has facilitated community building and fundraising efforts on behalf of HCS. During the 2024-2025 school year, the HCS Board of Trustees made a strategic commitment to enhance the school’s operational efficiency, hiring a Chief Operating Officer, and beginning to develop a formal Development program within HCS, empowering the Friends of HCS to focus on community building and engagement. As a result, HCS is looking to hire a Development Director who will build and lead the revenue strategy and fundraising efforts to meet and surpass FY26’s annual revenue goal of approximately $180,000, while working to exponentially increase and diversify revenue year-over-year moving forward.

Position Overview

As a key member of HCS’s administrative team, the Consultant will partner with leadership to set organizational priorities to increase its impact, and will partner closely with HCS’s engaged Board of Trustees, the Board’s Development Committee, and the Friends of HCS Officers. The Consultant will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer (COO).

The Consultant will be responsible for building and managing the planning and implementation of a growing fundraising program focused on significantly increasing the size and scope of HCS’s portfolio of funders. They will develop and implement strategies that are informed by ambitious revenue goals, and devise, track, and analyze results to inform future efforts. They will be expected to understand the needs and interests of donors and prospects, think strategically, make recommendations, offer creative solutions, effectively build relationships, communicate and collaborate with supporters and colleagues, and devise and manage systems to continually grow and improve HCS’s donor experience.

Additionally, the Consultant will manage a portfolio of donors across funding streams, will lead HCS’s event strategy, including one large annual gala in partnership with the Friends of HCS, and will support the effective deployment of the Executive Director (ED) and Board of Directors to broaden the depth and breadth of the organization’s donor base. Responsibilities and Functions

Development Strategy

• Implement and manage the execution of HCS’s FY26 Development Plan to meet and/or exceed annual revenue goal
• Based on lessons learned, enhance the annual Development Plan, share recommendations with the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, and Board, and lead the school in execution
• Partner with the ED, COO and Board Development Committee Chair to align annual development vision and goals with the organization’s strategic priorities and needs

Fundraising, Events and Communications Execution

• Actively work with the ED, COO and Board to execute the approved development strategy
• Cultivate new prospects and effectively steward current supporters to secure first-time, renewed and increased gifts from individuals, including major donors, foundations, and corporate partners
• Develop and execute a strategy to re-engage lapsed donors, particularly alumni parents, and engage alumni students for the first time as prospective new donors
• Build and oversee an Institutional Giving program, writing and/or reviewing proposals and reports in partnership with the ED, Principals and Faculty, and managing the moves management process
• Plan and lead the annual execution of donor communications, both print and digital, focused on fundraising and stewardship, including annual appeals, newsletters, social media, website, etc.
• Develop and execute cultivation, fundraising, stewardship and volunteer events
• Grow annual gala to increase net revenue and further build donor pipeline
• Manage the annual budget setting process in partnership with the ED and COO, developing budgeted and stretch goals, and manage the department’s budget
• Based on the approved budgeted and stretch revenue goals, set clear annual performance goals for actions and revenue, and develop tracking procedures to monitor and adjust to surpass goals
• Monitor and report key fundraising deliverables and performance measures to ED and Board
• Partner with HCS administrators and faculty to ensure the accurate, timely, high-quality reporting of HCS program and other data to donors
• Develop, adopt, and enhance critical development operations, including systems and procedures, to support and institutionalize development at the school

Organizational Leadership

• Work in concert with the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer, Board of Trustees, and its Development Committee to deepen the Board's fundraising and community-building role
• Oversee all department activities related to ongoing day-to-day fundraising operations efforts including, but not limited to, gift processing, record keeping, and reporting
• Partner with the Friends of HCS Officer and volunteers to facilitate fundraising education, fundraising efforts, and critical community building activities that foster belonging
• Be an active participant and contributor on HCS’s administrative team, and build meaningful relationships with staff and faculty organization-wide

Qualifications

• A minimum of five years of professional experience and a successful track record in non-profit fundraising, successful experience growing a major gifts portfolio, and executing moves management processes
• Excellent project management skills, and ability to conceptualize, execute and track to achieve goals
• Experience collaborating with a Board of Trustees or other VIP stakeholders (HNWIs, Honorees, etc.)
• Data-driven with the ability to achieve results, working against tight deadlines with competing interests
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent organizational and time management skills, strong attention to detail, and ability to multi-task
• Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial in resource-constrained environments
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and always exhibit a high level of discretion, diplomacy, and integrity
• Proficiency with and knowledge of Google Suite, MS Office required
• Proficiency with and knowledge of CRMs strongly preferred
• Proficiency with data collection, management, and analysis
• A collaborative team-player, who is committed to excellence and open-minded, demonstrates a growth-mindset, thinks creatively to solve problems, and works with a sense of humor and humility
• Experience within schools, or educational organizations is a plus

Compensation and Benefits

• Hybrid work schedule
• Required to work occasional evenings and weekends based on events and activities

How to Apply

Email resume, cover letter and three current references to: Developmentresumes@hobokencs.net

Equal Employment Opportunity

Hoboken Charter School is an equal opportunity employer and doesn’t discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, creed, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, or military status, in any of its activities or operations.