Director of Development and Communications

Director of Development and Communications

The Director of Development and Communications of Mainspring Schools will combine strategic fundraising with brand storytelling.

Position Overview

• Job Title: Director of Development & Communications
• Reports To: Executive Director
• Employment Type: Full-time
• FLSA Status: Exempt
• Compensation: Starting at $100,000- $120,000 (Commensurate with experience)

The Director of Development and Communications of Mainspring Schools is a dynamic, hands-on professional who is responsible for fundraising, marketing, and public relations. This role secures the financial resources needed to run our programs while building a strong, brand identity. The ideal candidate is a strategic "doer" who can seamlessly pivot from high-level donor cultivation to direct content creation, ensuring all efforts honor the privacy, dignity, and resilience of our students and families. They will play a key leadership role in advancing Mainspring Schools' mission through strategic fundraising, donor cultivation and compelling storytelling. This person will be responsible for raising a portion of the total revenue budget annually from diverse sources and contributing to a strong culture of gratitude, connection, excellence and integrity.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and execute the annual fundraising strategy, including major gifts, annual appeals, and corporate sponsorships.
• Research, write, submit, and track all foundation and corporate grant proposals and impact reports, along with contract grant writer as needed.
• Directly manage a portfolio of donors, alongside ED; plan and execute intimate donor cultivation events.
• Responsible for managing and updating the organization's CRM system, including data entry, gift processing and donor acknowledgement letters.
• Track performance metrics for fundraising ROI and digital communication engagement.
• Act as the primary writer and designer for the annual report, newsletters, digital campaigns, and marketing collateral.
• Maintain and update the school website, execute email marketing campaigns, and manage social media platforms.
• Implement messaging guidelines that protect the privacy of children and families.
• Partner with the Executive Director to implement and strengthen the annual fundraising strategy to achieve a revenue budget of approximately $4+ million.
• Act as a trusted and strategic partner, positioned to provide continuity and leadership in support of the department's long term success.
• Cultivate, steward, and expand a portfolio of individual, foundation, and corporate donors, with an emphasis on building long-term relationships and multi-year commitments.
• Support the execution of fundraising events, campaigns and donor engagement experiences throughout the year.
• Manage development systems and processes to ensure timely donor acknowledgement, data integrity, and meaningful stewardships.
• Work closely with program staff to identify and share compelling stories that inspire donors while maintaining confidentiality and dignity.
• Maintain an understanding of national and local fundraising trends and help identify new funding opportunities and innovations.