Application Instructions
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Number of Positions: 1
Position Overview
City Year is a trailblazing, youth-powered organization committed to expanding educational equity by supporting students furthest from opportunity and developing the next generation of diverse leaders through national service. Each year, we deploy more than 2,000 AmeriCorps members in systemically under-resourced schools to serve as student success coaches—providing academic, social-emotional, and attendance-based interventions. City Year is active in 29 U.S. cities and has two international affiliates, supported by a $190M operating budget and a nationwide network of dedicated staff and champions.
In New York and New England, City Year partners with schools and districts across New York State. Through these partnerships, City Year AmeriCorps members and its ambitions plan to grow its credit for service partnerships and Student Success Coach Learning Network, City Year aims to serve students and help strengthen school communities, while also developing the leadership pipeline of future educators and change-makers.
POSITION OVERVIEW
City Year is seeking a Vice President, Development - Major Gifts, New York to lead, grow, and sustain philanthropic partnerships across the region, with a particular focus on major gifts, new donor acquisition, and strategic regional positioning. The VP will serve as the chief architect and driver of a multi-year growth plan focused on individual, family, and institutional giving, while expanding top-of-funnel business development efforts and strengthening City Year’s regional brand and visibility.
This leader will work closely with the national Revenue & Growth team, local Executive Directors, Site Boards, national foundation and corporate teams, and broader leadership to increase philanthropic investment in City Year’s work.
This is an exciting opportunity for a proven fundraiser and people leader to drive sustainable revenue growth in one of City Year’s most dynamic regions, with a focus on both deepening current partnerships and catalyzing new ones through strategic engagement, digital storytelling, and high-touch cultivation experiences.
Job Description
Lead and Grow Philanthropic Revenue – 70%
- Serve as the lead strategist and relationship manager for a portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and family foundations with the capacity to make transformational or “big bet” six- and seven-figure investments
- Partner with the Executive Directors and local Boards to develop and execute a multi-year fundraising plan with a focus on long-term revenue growth, major gifts, and new donor acquisition
- Identify and engage prospective supporters by building a robust top-of-funnel pipeline, leveraging regional networks, corporate champions, and cross-sector partnerships
- Conceptualize and execute intimate cultivation and thought leadership events to introduce new prospects to City Year’s work and deepen engagement with existing supporters
- Collaborate with national major gifts, communications, foundation, and corporate teams to position New York and New England as a strategic priority region within City Year’s national portfolio
- Advance City Year’s digital storytelling and thought leadership presence in the region, partnering with Communications to craft tailored, compelling content that inspires philanthropic engagement
Strengthen Internal Strategy, Capacity, and Systems – 15%
- Partner with City Year’s national Individual Giving and Development teams to ensure local strategies are aligned with broader organizational goals
- Support, coach, and advise local development staff and site leadership on fundraising best practices, moves management, and donor engagement
- Ensure systems, workflows, and tools (Salesforce, dashboards, calendars) are optimized to support donor cultivation, stewardship, and forecasting
Drive Donor Stewardship, Visibility, and Regional Engagement – 15%
- Design and lead a year-round regional stewardship and engagement strategy, tied to local impact moments and national campaigns.
- Represent City Year at regional convenings, donor events, and other external opportunities to elevate visibility and build strategic partnerships.
- Work with Marketing and Communications to tailor City Year’s national messaging for local audiences and deploy regionally relevant content and storytelling tools.
OUR IDEAL CANDIDATE
You are a mission-driven, entrepreneurial leader with a deep understanding of philanthropy, fundraising, and strategic business development. You thrive at the intersection of vision and execution—identifying opportunities, building authentic relationships, and converting interest into impact.
You bring a strong track record of securing major gifts, cultivating new supporters, and growing revenue in dynamic, high-capacity markets. You’re a creative storyteller and a relationship-builder at heart—with the presence and communication skills to inspire stakeholders from boardrooms to classrooms.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 8+ years of relevant experience, with a strong record in fundraising, business development, or nonprofit leadership
- Demonstrated success securing major gifts at the $100K+ level and managing a portfolio of high-net-worth individuals and/or institutional donors
- Proven ability to identify and engage new donors, design compelling cultivation experiences, and grow a top-of-funnel pipeline
- Familiarity with philanthropic networks in New York and New England, with strong regional relationships preferred
- Experience working within complex or matrixed national organizations
- Excellent communication, strategy, and project management skills
- Experience using Salesforce or similar CRM platforms to manage pipeline, forecasting, and donor insights
- Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and an asset-based approach to fundraising and community engagement
- Willingness to travel across New York and New England and to national convenings (~30%).
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This is a hybrid position based in New York, NY, with in-person donor and event engagement across the region
- City Year offers a competitive benefits package including paid vacation, parental leave, health coverage, 401(k) with employer match, and professional development support.
- Compensation: The anticipated hiring range for this position is $170,000–$190,000 annually, with final compensation based on relevant experience, qualifications, and internal equity.
Benefits
Full-time employees will be eligible for all benefits including vacation, sick days and organization holidays. You may participate in all benefit programs that City Year establishes and makes available to eligible employees, under (and subject to all provisions of) the plan documents that govern those programs. Currently, City Year offers medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death and dismemberment and disability coverage, Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and other benefits including 401(k) plan(s) pursuant to the terms and conditions of company policy and the 401(k) plan document. For more information, click here.
Employment at City Year is at-will.
City Year does not sponsor work authorization visas.
