Director of Major Gifts chez Greenwood Project
Greenwood Project · Chicago, États-Unis d'Amérique · Hybrid
- Senior
- Bureau à Chicago
Greenwood Project
The Greenwood Project was founded in 2016 based on two core principles:
“Students can’t be what they can’t see”
and
“There is no lack of talent, only a lack of opportunity.”
GP’s mission is bold, essential and long overdue. We are dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified Black and Latino college students to attain high-trajectory careers in financial services through rigorous training and internships. At Greenwood Project, we don’t just talk about change; we are the catalyst for it, breaking barriers and building a more inclusive and diverse financial industry. Our people are the foundation that allows us to achieve our ambitious goals. Becoming part of the Greenwood Project team means joining a group of driven, passionate and intellectually curious individuals. To work here is to be crucial to the organization’s success.
Director of Major Gifts
Ready to build relationships that fund futures? We're seeking a Director of Major Gifts who thinks like a top-performing sales executive to drive transformational partnerships with high-net-worth individuals and foundations. This role will report to the CEO and is designed for experienced sales and business development professionals who have closed major accounts, exceeded quotas, and built trusted client relationships, and who are excited now to bring that expertise into a mission-driven context. We also welcome seasoned fundraisers with a proven track record of driving major gift strategies and closing significant gifts.
This is a ground-floor opportunity to build and own a major gifts function from the ground up. You'll have the autonomy to design your own prospecting strategies, create cultivation processes, and establish the systems that will scale with our growth.
Every relationship you cultivate and every gift you close directly creates opportunities for Black and Latino scholars to break into finance careers.
This role offers the deal complexity and deal sophistication of high-stakes sales with the mission-driven purpose of creating generational wealth-building opportunities
Why Now?
Greenwood Project is at an inflection point. We've proven our model works and our programs are scaling rapidly. We need someone who can capitalize on this momentum and turn warm relationships into transformational partnerships. With current donor relationships being maintained by our existing team, this person can focus purely on expanding our donor base and building new transformational partnerships. This is your chance to join during our expansion phase, where your efforts will have an outsized impact on both revenue and organizational growth.
Greenwood Project is at an inflection point. We've proven our model works and our programs are scaling rapidly. We need someone who can capitalize on this momentum and turn warm relationships into transformational partnerships. With current donor relationships being maintained by our existing team, this person can focus purely on expanding our donor base and building new transformational partnerships. This is your chance to join during our expansion phase, where your efforts will have an outsized impact on both revenue and organizational growth.
Key Responsibilities
Revenue Leadership: Own and execute a revenue growth strategy that secures $1M+ annually from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners, with an emphasis on closing five- and six-figure deals.
Portfolio Management: Build and execute a cultivation strategy targeting new high-net-worth individuals, family foundations, and institutional funders. Maintain pipeline of 75+ qualified prospects with systematic relationship building and strategic follow-up.
Revenue Hunting: Own end-to-end major gift process from prospect research to cultivation, proposal development, solicitation meetings, and stewardship - driving five and six-figure commitments.
Strategic Partnerships: Collaborate with the CEO and cross-functional teams (Programs, Partnerships, Governing Board, Young Professionals Board) to align donor engagement with organizational priorities.
Sales & Development Operations: Implement and manage the infrastructure that drives success; CRM tracking, reporting, pipeline forecasting, and performance metrics. Maintain pipeline discipline with systematic relationship tracking across all prospect interactions.
Executive Presence: Represent Greenwood Project at high-level meetings and events, delivering compelling pitches that clearly communicate ROI and impact for partners and donors.
Qualifications
Education and Experience
A note to potential candidates: Multiple studies have shown that BIPOC and other candidates from marginalized populations are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every single one of the qualifications in a job description. Greenwood Project is committed to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive organization and finding the best candidate for the job. We would strongly encourage interested individuals to apply, even if they don't believe they meet every one of the qualifications described below.
Required:
· 5–7+ years of experience in high-level sales, business development, or account management with a track record of closing significant accounts or partnerships. OR equivalent experience in major gifts fundraising with a strong record of securing five- and six-figure gifts. We’re especially interested in sales professionals eager to apply their skills in a mission-driven setting
· Excellent relationship management and communication skills
· Self-starter with exceptional organizational discipline and strategic thinking - a prospecting athlete comfortable managing complex, long-cycle relationships
· Proficiency in CRM platforms (HubSpot preferred)
· Deep commitment to Greenwood’s mission of education, access, and workforce development
Preferred:
· Familiarity with Chicago’s philanthropic community is helpful, but we are equally enthusiastic about candidates from sales or business development backgrounds who are excited to apply their expertise in a new and impactful space
· Experience driving revenue through sales, account management, business development, or fundraising, in the education, workforce development, finance, or other growth-oriented sectors
· Knowledge of corporate sponsorships, foundation grants, and donor events is valuable
· Familiarity with the financial services industry is also a strong plus
Benefits
Equal Employment Opportunity Policy
The Greenwood Project is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, religion, ancestry, marital status, familial status, or any other legally protected classification federally or in the State of Illinois. The Greenwood Project does not discriminate in its activities, educational programs, hiring practices, or employment practices as required by Title VI, IX, and Section 504.
Compensation and Benefits
This position is based in Chicago, with a hybrid work environment.
Base Salary: $110,000-125,000
Base Salary: $110,000-125,000
On-Target Earnings (OTE): Approximately $150,000 at 100% of goal, with total compensation potential exceeding $190,000 based on performance
This role offers a comprehensive benefits package that includes access to employee health care, dental and vision coverage, disability insurance, as well as a 401(k) plan and generous paid time off.
Shared Values
- Cultural Competency: All team members strive to build a working knowledge of the historical, social, and economic history of this country with a particular value for diverse identities, ideas, and experiences. As team members, we consistently work to acquire and apply cultural knowledge and adapt to the cultural context of various communities. We are reflective and often think about the impact of our actions, words, and thoughts on various components of their and others’ intersectional lines of identity. We strive to self-monitor our various layers of privilege and push the organization to be the strongest collection of voices possible.
- Influence and Impact: We value learning about the working styles and preferences of others and strive to adapt our approach to maximize the success of everyone on the team.
- Strategic Thinking: We critically analyze inputs and think through the long-term outputs of the organization, working to create systems and structures that are scalable and sustainable.
- Self-Direction: Our team members operate with both initiative and follow-through to ensure that we can operate in ways that build trust in each other.
- Balance: We value in-person collaboration and independent, flexible work. That is why we have a hybrid schedule, with most associates finding a balance between office and home.
- Growth: We want your career to be satisfying for the long term. If you want to try a new project or attend a meeting with another group, we welcome it. We want you to learn, stretch and grow as much as you want.
If you thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and are eager to be part of a team dedicated to creating opportunities for qualified college students while driving meaningful change, we encourage you to apply for this role at Greenwood Project.
