Ada Developers Academy (Ada) is a non-profit, tuition-free coding school. Our mission is to prepare women and gender expansive adults to be software developers while advocating for inclusive and equitable work environments. We primarily serve and address the needs of Black, Latine, Indigenous Americans, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander, LGBTQIA+, and low-income people. Our tuition-free training program includes a collaborative learning environment, individualized support, and an applied learning internship.

About this position

We seek a Director of Major & Foundation Gifts to join our dynamic team responsible for fundraising in support of Ada’s mission. This role is responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of high-capacity individual donors and prospects, with a focus on securing transformative gifts that advance our mission and help drive significant revenue growth. This highly collaborative and strategic position will join our leadership team and report directly to the CEO.

In close partnership with the Director of Corporate & Workplace Giving, the Director of Major & Foundation Gifts will be responsible for growing and developing all sources of philanthropic giving, including major donors and foundations. The Director will play a key role in expanding the size and geographic base of our major donors, including taking leadership in building emergent regional relationships. Ada’s goal is to secure $3M to $5M from all philanthropic contributions over the next two years. The successful candidate will have experience in relationship management, an understanding of industry trends, expertise in major gifts and foundation giving, and a successful fundraising track record.

This is a full-time (40 hours per week) position, with an annual salary range of $125,000-$135,000 (DOQ) and excellent benefits. While Ada is primarily operating remotely, this position requires up to 35% travel, including in the greater Seattle area and nationwide. This position is open to candidates residing in Washington (preferred), Oregon, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, District of Columbia, Maryland or Virginia. 

Anticipated start date: Early January 2026

Benefits

We offer a competitive benefits package to our valued team members, including: 

• Medical, dental and vision insurance with 100% of employee premiums (and 75% of eligible dependent premiums) paid by Ada
• Generous paid time off including: 4 weeks vacation leave and 2 weeks sick leave accrued annually, 11 paid holidays, and 2 paid week-long agency closures (summer and winter)
• Up to 16 weeks paid parental leave
• Immediate participation and vesting in a 403(b) retirement plan with up to 4% employer match 
• Health Care, Dependent Care and Commuter FSA options 
• 100% employer-sponsored Long-Term Disability and Basic Life insurances
• As a learning organization, we offer up to $1,000 annually for employees to use towards their professional development      

Core responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy, Planning & Execution

• Collaborate with the CEO, development team, and other leaders to develop and implement comprehensive fundraising strategies aligned with both departmental and organizational goals.

• Strategize and oversee individual and foundation giving programs, cultivating donors through relationships, giving campaigns, and events.

• Work to ensure that development efforts meet or succeed department financial goals.

• Lead in the creation and execution of annual donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.

Relationship Management & Fundraising

• Responsible for leading the growth, development, and successful execution of a comprehensive individual and major gift program, building relationships and a pipeline of annual recurring and major donors.

• Manage a portfolio of high-level major and institutional donors through a moves management process that includes cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.

• Qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward contributors to meet or exceed annual revenue goals, while maintaining an excellent reputation in the community and strong relationships with donors.

• Manage a personal portfolio of 100-125 qualified major gift prospects and donors; develop and implement sophisticated, individualized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies for each donor in the portfolio.

• Personally conduct a high volume of meaningful donor interactions, including meetings, presentations, and site visits.

Engagement & Representation

• Represent Ada with foundations, government agencies, and other institutional donors, prospects, and partners.

• Represent Ada as a presenter and facilitator, bringing Ada’s mission and work to life in compelling, tangible ways.

• Work across the organization to secure and prepare Ada program and subject matter experts for relevant engagement events and presentations.

• Collaborate with multiple internal stakeholders on multichannel communications and relationship-building activities for students, alumni, and volunteers.
  

• Other duties as assigned.
  

Essential qualifications

• Enthusiastic support of Ada’s mission and demonstrated embodiment of Ada’s values.

• Minimum 7 years relevant experience, including major donor engagement and fundraising in performance-based or mission-based environments.

• Experience raising $1M+/yr from major gifts

• Demonstrated achievement in fundraising, including direct experience leading significant workplace giving campaigns, corporate sponsorships, and corporate giving.

• Experience successfully collaborating with internal and external stakeholders to produce engagement opportunities and other strategic outcomes.

• Strong project management, prioritization, and decision-making skills.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

At Ada, we hope to be drivers of change, and believe having a team of diverse backgrounds will enable us to strengthen our impact for others. Ada is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities regardless of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service or veteran status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability or special need that requires accommodation, please contact us at people-ops@adadev.org.