VP, Director of Development – Cleveland

Position: VP, Director of Development – Cleveland

Location: Cleveland

Type: Full-time, exempt

Who We Are

Partnership Schools is accepting applications for the role of VP, Director of Development – Cleveland in Cleveland, OH. The ideal candidate brings zeal, creativity, imagination, positivity, and passion to their work and is ready to dive into a fast-paced and exciting entrepreneurial environment. 

Since 2013, the Partnership has been a pioneering school management organization shaping the next generation of urban Catholic schooling. From 2013 through 2024, the Archdiocese of New York granted operational management of seven long-standing Pre-K to 8th-grade schools in the South Bronx and Harlem to the Partnership, and during that time the schools experienced substantial math and reading achievement gains and increased enrollment significantly. In 2020, the Partnership was invited to expand to the Diocese of Cleveland, where it manages five schools in the heart of the city providing students in historically underserved neighborhoods with the academic preparation, faith formation, values, and skills they need to thrive. The Partnership currently serves about 1,000 students in Cleveland, nearly all of whom live in poverty.  In July 2026, the Partnership expanded its mission to Toledo, Ohio, adding two schools to its network and extending its commitment to strengthening urban Catholic education in new communities. As the Partnership begins the 2026-2027 school year, it continues to build on its proven model of academic excellence, faith-based formation, and transformative support for students and families.

The historic success of urban Catholic schools stems not only from a rigorous tradition of academic excellence but also from an emphasis on developing self-worth, moral character, a love of learning, and a sense of civic responsibility—all part of our long-standing commitment to educating the whole child. Partnership Schools is unique in knitting this tradition together with lessons from high-achieving public, charter, and independent schools, in the service of our students.

At the Partnership, we believe all children can achieve at the highest levels. If you are interested in serving as a pioneer in education and share an unwavering commitment to raising student achievement and an appreciation and respect for Catholic culture, identity, and values, we want to hear from you!

What You’ll Do

Partnership Schools is at a pivotal moment in our trajectory. In our first decade, Partnership Schools successfully pioneered a groundbreaking approach for the independent management of urban Catholic schools, one needed now more than ever. As Catholic schools nationally have faced enrollment, academic, and financial crises that resulted in waves of closures, the schools in the Partnership increased enrollment, produced academic growth, and raised more money than ever. Because our effective model serves as a proof-point of what is possible, Partnership Schools is accelerating our growth and tenaciously expanding philanthropy to increase the number of students served and bolster the organization’s national impact on the school choice movement.

Partnership Schools seeks an entrepreneurial and experienced VP, Director of Development – Cleveland to help catalyze the organization’s continued growth and advancement. They will join a growing, motivated, and collaborative team—comprising both on-the-ground leadership in Cleveland and Toledo, and geographically dispersed talent based on the organization’s talent-first mindset. 

The VP, Director of Development – Cleveland plays a critical role in advancing the fundraising efforts of Partnership Schools. This is an ideal opportunity for an experienced fundraiser and highly organized, detail-oriented leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment, with a proven track record of managing teams, driving fundraising revenue, building strong relationships, and balancing multiple priorities with sound judgment, discretion, and professionalism.

Key responsibilities:

• Lead the development strategy for the Cleveland region, working in partnership with the national Development team and Executive Director to establish multi-year fundraising priorities, annual revenue goals, and strategies for achieving them. 

• Develop and expand Cleveland’s philanthropic network, identifying new individual, foundation, corporate, and civic funding opportunities and cultivating relationships that increase Partnership Schools’ visibility and philanthropic support in the region. 

• Manage and deepen relationships with key Cleveland stakeholders, including board members, principal donors, advisory council members, foundation and institutional leaders, and other community partners. 

• Lead the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of major and principal donors, developing tailored engagement strategies and personally leading high-level donor meetings and solicitations in partnership with the Executive Director and national Development team. 

• Oversee the Cleveland donor pipeline, using prospect research, donor intelligence, giving history, and fundraising data to identify opportunities, prioritize prospects, and inform cultivation and solicitation strategies. 

• Direct Cleveland fundraising events and donor engagement activities, including cultivation events, school tours, and community gatherings, ensuring each experience advances donor relationships and philanthropic goals. 

• Serve as a senior representative of Partnership Schools in the Cleveland community, building relationships with philanthropic, civic, corporate, and community leaders and serving as an ambassador for the organization’s mission and impact. 

• Lead regional annual giving and campaign initiatives, including Giving Tuesday, direct mail, and other fundraising campaigns, establishing local goals, developing strategy and messaging, and mobilizing donors, board members, and advisory council members. 

• Lead the Cleveland Angel Scholarship Fund/SGO fundraising effort, partnering with national Development leadership to establish annual goals, educate donors and community partners about the tax-credit opportunity, and secure increased participation and support. 

• Oversee the development and execution of donor-facing materials, including donor briefs, proposals, presentations, appeals, invitations, and stewardship communications, ensuring messaging is compelling, consistent, and aligned with organizational priorities. 

• Partner closely with Cleveland school and regional leadership to translate local programmatic priorities, student outcomes, and community impact into compelling fundraising narratives and donor opportunities. 

• Develop and pitch innovative ideas that cultivate powerful community partnerships, create new fundraising opportunities, and advance the organization’s mission.

• Monitor regional fundraising performance and pipeline activity, reviewing dashboards, reports, and segmentation data to assess progress toward goals and adjust strategy and priorities as needed. 

• Collaborate with the national Development team to align Cleveland fundraising efforts with broader organizational priorities, leverage shared resources and expertise, and identify opportunities for cross-regional growth and impact.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor's degree or higher

• 8+ years of proven experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or related roles; proven track record of success in securing major gifts and grants is a plus

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build authentic relationships with diverse stakeholders and effectively convey our mission and impact

• Experience cultivating and soliciting major individual and foundation donors

• Strategic thinking and analytical abilities, with the capacity to develop and implement data-driven fundraising strategies and evaluate their effectiveness

• A strong handle on trends and best practices in fundraising, philanthropy, and nonprofit management to continuously improve our approach and results

Why You’ll Be a Fit

• You are deeply committed to the mission of Partnership Schools and to the education of students in underserved communities—and will inspire others to support our efforts

• You are interested in learning about preK-8 education, Catholic education, school choice, and/or social justice

• You’re open-minded, intellectually curious, and eager to learn something new each day!

• You naturally bring a positive, high-energy, and collaborative approach to your work; and

• You are comfortable being part of a team that is “forming, storming, and norming” as it builds on current ways of working to continually improve systems, tools, and approaches—and would welcome the chance to shape the future with us.

What We Offer

Salary ranges from $125,000 to $145,000, commensurate with experience. The Partnership offers a competitive benefits package and is an equal opportunity organization that values diversity.