Managing Director of Development

About Ascend

Ascend is Brooklyn’s premier K–12 public charter network, committed to graduating high-achieving students who have access to boundless choice in their futures—not only through college acceptance, but through meaningful preparation for career readiness and thriving adult lives.

Across our schools, we pair rigorous academics with strong systems, supportive adult culture, and a deep belief in students’ brilliance and potential. Our work is grounded in the understanding that preparing students for long-term success requires excellence in instruction, intentional culture-building, and disciplined execution at every level of the organization.

At Ascend, adults are held to high standards because our students deserve nothing less. How we teach, lead, collaborate, and make decisions every day directly shapes the opportunities our students will have tomorrow.

Join us in shaping learning environments where curiosity is nurtured, excellence is the norm, and every student is prepared for a lifetime of boundless choice.

About the Role

Ascend seeks an ambitious, high-judgment, entrepreneurial Managing Director of Development to build and accelerate the organization’s philanthropic growth strategy.

This is a high-impact leadership role for a strategic fundraiser with exceptional instincts, executive presence, and a relentless bias toward action. The ideal candidate understands how to identify opportunities, navigate the philanthropic landscape, build strategic pathways to decision-makers, and convert relationships into meaningful investment.

This is a build role for a leader energized by creating momentum, shaping strategy, and driving growth.

The Managing Director will serve as the front-end engine of Ascend’s fundraising efforts, proactively identifying aligned philanthropic opportunities, developing access strategies, cultivating strategic relationships, and positioning executive leadership for high-value fundraising conversations.

Success in this role requires someone who sees around corners, connects dots quickly, and operates with independence and urgency. This person does not wait to be told where opportunity exists; they find it, shape the strategy, and create momentum.

The CEO should be entering conversations that are intentionally built, strategically positioned, and ready to advance philanthropic investment.

Key Responsibilities

Philanthropic Growth Strategy

• Build and drive Ascend’s proactive fundraising growth strategy in alignment with organizational priorities and long-term expansion goals
• Develop and maintain a robust philanthropic pipeline designed to drive meaningful revenue growth
• Continuously assess the NYC and national philanthropic landscape to identify high-potential institutional, foundation, corporate, and individual funding opportunities
• Monitor funder priorities, investment trends, and emerging opportunities to proactively position Ascend for partnership
• Translate Ascend’s strategic priorities into compelling philanthropic investment opportunities that resonate with sophisticated funders

Prospect Development & Strategic Access

• Identify, prioritize, and develop high-value prospect pipelines across institutional and individual philanthropy
• Conduct sophisticated prospect research that identifies not only opportunity, but also access, relationship pathways, shared networks, and strategic connection points
• Build targeted engagement strategies to activate prospective relationships through trustees, executives, community champions, and external networks
• Independently create pathways to executive engagement by securing high-quality donor meetings and cultivation opportunities

Executive Fundraising Partnership

• Serve as a strategic fundraising thought partner to the CEO and executive leadership team
• Ensure executive engagement is focused, intentional, and positioned for impact
• Develop executive briefing materials, relationship context, strategic talking points, and cultivation plans ahead of donor engagement
• Partner with executive leadership to shape donor strategy, cultivation sequencing, and investment conversations that accelerate philanthropic growth

Fundraising Execution & Infrastructure

• Build disciplined prospect management systems, pipeline reporting, fundraising operating rhythms, and accountability structures
• Own visibility into relationship progression, opportunity tracking, and fundraising performance
• Lead institutional fundraising strategy for priority opportunities, including foundation cultivation, proposal development, and stewardship
• Partner cross-functionally to ensure donor narratives are grounded in organizational impact, strategic priorities, and compelling storytelling

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred
• 8–12 years of experience in fundraising, development, advancement, institutional philanthropy, or major gifts leadership
• Demonstrated success securing philanthropic investment and building donor pipelines that drive measurable growth
• Strong familiarity with NYC philanthropy, education funding, nonprofit advancement, or adjacent funding ecosystems strongly preferred
• Proven ability to partner effectively with senior executives, trustees, and external stakeholders
• Exceptional strategic thinking, communication, relationship management, and analytical skills
• Strong executive presence, sound judgment, and the ability to operate independently in fast-paced, high-expectation environments

Compensation

Compensation starts at $140,888 and is determined using Ascend’s equitable compensation scale based on experience and education.

This is a full-time, exempt position that offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits

Location & Work Arrangement

Based in our Brooklyn, NY office, we operate on a hybrid work schedule requiring in-office presence at least three days per week.

Benefits

This full-time, exempt position offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer matching
• Generous paid time off and additional employee benefits