As a Development Lead at Primer, your primary responsibilities will include creating and managing a portfolio of major gift donors. This involves identifying potential donors, cultivating relationships, soliciting donations, and managing stewardship and renewal efforts. You will also be tasked with building a mid-level giving program to strengthen our donor pipeline, representing Primer at strategic events, and facilitating stakeholder communications to boost engagement and renewals.

To be a successful Development Lead at Primer, you should have a history of closing five- and ideally six-figure gifts and a proven record of meeting or exceeding fundraising goals. Experience in building relationships that lead to increased donations is crucial, especially within the context of education-related causes. Familiarity with fast-growing organizations and a proactive, hands-on approach to fundraising are also highly preferred.

Primer takes an innovative approach to fundraising by focusing on empowering educators to launch microschools in their communities. The Development Lead will work to create strategic relationships with both traditional and nontraditional donors, putting emphasis on making quality education accessible for all families, regardless of their financial situation. Our aim is to drive substantial donations that have a meaningful impact on improving the K-12 education system.

At Primer, we value experience in fundraising, particularly with education-related initiatives. The ideal Development Lead will have a background in successfully closing major gifts, developing donor relationships, and creating mid-level giving programs. Additionally, experience in fast-growing organizations adds value to candidates, as they likely possess the adaptability and agility necessary for our dynamic environment.

Primer's commitment to making world-class education accessible is what sets us apart in education philanthropy. Our foundation's accomplishments, such as raising seven figures in donations and winning the Yass Prize, highlight our effectiveness. As a Development Lead, you will be part of a movement that challenges the status quo in education, ensuring that every child receives the quality education they deserve, independent of their economic background.

When answering this question, highlight specific examples from your past roles where you successfully closed gifts or developed relationships with major donors. Be sure to include metrics that showcase your impact, such as the amount of money raised, the size of the donor portfolio you managed, and any innovative strategies you employed to engage donors.

In your response, outline your strategy for identifying potential donors, building relationships, and knowing how to tailor your approaches to different donor segments. Discuss how you would utilize data to track donor engagement and follow up effectively to cultivate long-lasting relationships.

Here, emphasize the importance of understanding donor motivations and creating tailored stewardship plans. Explain how you'd facilitate regular communication, provide updates on the foundation's impact, and foster a community feeling among donors to keep them engaged and committed to giving.

In your answer, discuss your organizational skills and any tools or systems you use to effectively manage your time and tasks. Share how you categorize tasks by urgency and importance, ensuring that you maintain strong relationships with all donors while progressing on larger initiatives.

Choose a specific example that illustrates your problem-solving skills. Discuss the challenges you faced, your thought process in tackling the issue, and the ultimate outcome. Highlight any lessons learned and how it has shaped your approach to future fundraising challenges.

Focus on the importance of genuine relationships and understanding donor interests. Discuss your views on personalizing communication and how building trust and transparency can lead to more meaningful connections with donors.

Explain how you would prepare for events by understanding the audience and tailoring your message to resonate with them. Emphasize the importance of being an effective storyteller to articulate Primer's mission and impact while creating a lasting, positive impression.

In your response, outline a vision for the program, mentioning the key components such as targeted outreach strategies, tiered giving levels, and specific recognition for the donors within the program. Discuss how you would make it appealing to engage and retain mid-level donors.

Share specific resources you use, such as industry publications, webinars, or networks. Explain how you apply this knowledge to improve your fundraising strategies and how staying informed enables you to innovate and adapt in the evolving landscape of philanthropy.

Your answer should reflect a deep understanding of Primer's mission and values. Discuss your alignment with their goal of equitable education and how your skills and experiences can contribute to their vision. Highlight your passion for education and commitment to making a difference.