Director, Development

aiEDU.org • Full-time • Remote, or San Francisco, California, United States • $155,000 - $175,000 / year • 6d ago

About aiEDU

The AI Education Project (aiEDU) is a growing 501(c)(3) non-profit that creates equitable educational experiences to excite and empower learners everywhere with AI literacy. We educate students—especially those disproportionately impacted by artificial intelligence and automation—with the conceptual knowledge and skills they need to thrive as future workers, creators, consumers, and citizens. Join us to make a difference in education and help shape a brighter future for today's and tomorrow's learners.

About the Role

As the Director, Development at The AI Education Project (aiEDU), you will help to lead and execute a comprehensive development strategy that aligns with our organizational goals and drives fundraising growth.

The ideal candidate will be responsible for setting annual fundraising targets, diversifying revenue streams beyond grants, and building a robust funder pipeline through research and relationship management.

This role involves crafting tailored messaging for potential funders, leading grant writing efforts, and managing corporate and foundation partnerships. Additionally, you will oversee fundraising events and campaigns, leverage thought leadership to attract new funders, and ensure meticulous tracking of donor interactions using CRM systems. If you're passionate about innovative fundraising strategies and advancing AI education, we invite you to join our team and make a meaningful impact.

⭐ Role Details

Location: This full-time, exempt position can be done on a flexible schedule remotely from home but we do prefer SF/Bay Area based candidates due to executive leadership presence.
Travel: 30-40%
Compensation: The baseline compensation for this role is $155,000 - $175,000
Benefits: We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including full health, dental, and vision for you and any dependents, plus life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance, flexible work hours and location, flexible paid time off, paid parental leave, a generous annual stipend for home office expenses and professional development, and a 401k match of 4% vested immediately. For more details regarding our benefits, visit: aiedu.org/careers
Start date: We’d like a candidate to start as soon as possible after receiving an offer, though there is some flexibility.

✅ Your Responsibilities:

Fundraising Strategy 35%

Identify and develop new revenue streams beyond grants (e.g., corporate partnerships, earned revenue models, major gifts)
Keep up with trends in philanthropy, education, and nonprofit funding to inform strategy
Plan overall development strategy based in pipeline and projections to meet fundraising goal and manage progress to goal updates
Work with executive leadership team to set annual fundraising goals and ensure alignment with overall organizational strategy

Funder Pipeline Development & Management 30%

Build and manage overall universe of funders and ensure aiEDU is consistently engaging with high quality touch points aligned to each funders’ priorities
Conduct research into funders and identify ways to tailor messaging and pitches for their respective focus areas
Draft communications to potential and current funders (e.g. email outreach, monthly/quarter funder updates, funder briefing calls, and other touch points)
Develop personalized stewardship plans for funders to deepen engagement over time
Organize funder convenings, roundtables, or special engagement opportunities

Public & Thought Leadership in Fundraising 20%

Position aiEDU as a trusted advisor and thought leader in the philanthropy space, through participation in briefings, speaking opportunities, and other external convenings.

Fundraising Data & Systems Management 15%

Track all funder interactions and gifts using a CRM (Airtable)
Ensure proper documentation of pledges, grant agreements, and reporting deadlines
Develop dashboards and metrics to evaluate fundraising performance over time

🚀 About You

Before reading, please remember that there is no such thing as a "perfect" candidate. If you are on the fence about applying because you are unsure whether you are qualified, we would strongly encourage you to apply. Share your relevant experiences in a thoughtful cover letter!

You might be a great match for this role if you:is

8+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or donor relations, preferably within the nonprofit or education sector.
Proven ability to communicate a clear and compelling story; exceptional writing skills
Proven track record of successfully meeting fundraising goals and developing diverse revenue streams.
Strong understanding of current trends in philanthropy, nonprofit funding, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Expertise in grant writing, including research, proposal development, and submission.
Experience in managing corporate and foundation partnerships
Ability to build and manage an effective funder pipeline, ensuring high-quality, strategic engagement with donors.
Proficiency in using CRM systems (we currently use Airtable) for donor tracking and reporting.
Familiarity with metrics and data analysis to assess fundraising performance and inform strategy.
Ability to develop personalized stewardship plans for individual funders, building long-term relationships.
Comfort with public speaking and representing the organization at events, panels, and other speaking engagements.
Passion for AI education and commitment to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nonprofit sector.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The AI Education Project is an equal opportunity employer. We believe that building and empowering a diverse team is a strategic imperative in our work, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. This policy applies with regard to all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, eligibility for benefits and termination. In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification