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ACE Scholarships

Vice President of Development Operations

ACE Scholarships, Denver, Colorado, United States, 80285


Description Position:

Vice President of Development Operations About ACE Scholarships ACE is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, founded in 2000 in Denver, Colorado, to provide low-income children with equal access to quality K-12 private schools through partial scholarship support. Over the past 22 years, ACE has provided more than 80,000 scholarships worth over $212 million. This school year, ACE is serving approximately 14,000+ children in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, and is actively pursuing other expansion opportunities with the support of a national funding partner. In 2023, ACE Scholarships has expanded its program offerings by administrating Educational Savings Account programs for state governments. For more information visit the ACE website at

www.acescholarships.org . Our Mission

is to provide children of lower-income families with scholarships to private schools in grades K-12, and to advocate for expanded school choice. Our Values: ACE Founding Principles:

Our founding principles are the foundation of ACE and our North Star. We honor ACE’s founders by remaining committed to these principles, and we passionately advocate for the Mission and Vision these principles support. Accountability:

We embrace personal responsibility by taking ownership of our work and focusing on results. We expect both to give and to receive honest feedback. Innovation:

We know ideas matter. We prefer the risks and rewards the come with creativity, to the certainty that attends stagnation. Adaptability:

We position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities, embracing strategic and operational change when it makes our work more impactful. Optimism:

We believe our best days are ahead, and we embrace a forward-thinking mindset. We will make mistakes, but we will remain cheerful in the face of adversity and give people the benefit of the doubt. Kindness:

We value everyone on our team, respect differences and trust one another. This requires courage and strength, as it involves celebrating and giving our undivided attention to others. Our Founding Principles: 1) The American public education system is flawed 2) Free enterprise and democracy work 3) Parents know the best education environment for their kids 4) Private schools offer great value and have open seats 5) All people are created equal and deserve an equal chance to pursue the American Dream Position Overview The Vice President of Development Operations is responsible for managing the ACE development team and improving its ability to hit fundraising goals. This role will oversee the front-line major gift officers responsible for fundraising in ACE’s 12 states, the development operations team, the prospecting pipeline, annual giving, stewardship, and foundation relations team. This role will help the team reach its goals through fundraising goal-setting, accountability, and fundraising analysis. This person will manage the stewardship of ACE’s donors and build the capabilities to identify and pursue new donors. The VP will report directly to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) and will collaborate with other departments and senior leadership to provide the resources the team needs and to help set strategic goals for the organization. Primary Job Roles and Responsibilities Leadership and Talent Management Lead, mentor, and manage a team of national fundraisers, development operations team members, and foundation/grant relations team members; providing guidance, support, and professional development and training opportunities. Remove barriers and provide necessary resources for the team to meet fundraising goals. Foster a collaborative and high-performance culture within the development team. Set clear performance goals and metrics for the team, ensuring accountability and consistent progress. Oversee the onboarding and training of fundraising personnel. Strong collaboration with the marketing, planned giving, and events teams. Research and Reporting Monitor and analyze fundraising performance metrics to identify areas of improvement and hold team members accountable for fundraising goals. Generate fundraising reports and analyze key performance indicators to advise leadership on the execution of the development strategy. Build and manage the development team’s budget Study ongoing trends in the education space, and through new donor prospects, identify new markets and opportunities to expand ACE’s footprint. Strategic Leadership In partnership with the Chief Development Officer, develop and implement effective fundraising strategies and tactics to hit organizational goals. Provide input on which strategies to invest more into and which ones to cut. Fundraising and Stewardship Building out robust prospecting research and pipelines to feed to the major gift and foundations team. Manage the execution of direct response programs for prospecting and donor retention. Improve the donor stewardship process. Process Improvement and Rigor Drive rigor and efficiency into the fundraising process, ensuring best practices and data-driven decision-making. Oversee the development and maintenance of fundraising systems, tools, and technologies to streamline operations. Monitor and analyze fundraising performance, using insights to refine strategies and improve outcomes. Financial Management and Reporting Develop and manage the Development department's budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources. Provide regular reports to the CDO and other executives on fundraising progress, challenges, and opportunities. Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, ethical standards, and best practices in fundraising. Knowledge, Skills, and Experience Required Include: Bachelor's degree required, Master’s degree preferred in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, Communications or related field. Minimum of 10 years of professional experience in fundraising, development, or a related field, with at least 5 years in a leadership role. Proven track record of successful fundraising and team management in a non-profit setting. Proficiency in fundraising software (Blackbaud Raisers Edge preferred), CRM systems, and data analysis tools. Strong problem-solving skills and independent self-direction coupled with an aptitude for team collaboration and open communication. Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple concurrent projects. Ability to work as a team player, demonstrate personal initiative and inspire colleagues. Ability to operate in a fast-paced environment with changing priorities. High-level of professionalism, integrity and commitment to quality Ability to work under pressure, organize work assignments, set priorities and meet deadlines. Excellent leadership, organizational, communication, and planning skills. Knowledge of and passion for school choice and ACE Scholarship’s mission. Demonstrated careful attention to detail. Enthusiastic self-starter with the ability to identify problems and develop/implement solutions. Strong analytical and decision-making skills. Demonstrated critical and strategic thinking. Measurements of Success Mission-centered, strategic execution of the above job roles and responsibilities. Ability to work closely with members of the ACE staff and leadership teams, board members, third-party vendors and partners, and other key stakeholders to achieve strategic objectives. Strong work ethic, cheerfulness, and overall professionalism. Effective and constant communication with teammates, as well as with key stakeholders. As a leader, consistently demonstrated ACE values Meet/exceed corporate fundraising goal(s). Other Skill Areas Mission-Centered . Strong belief in ACE Scholarships’ mission and values, and with a desire to serve and better the communities in which we operate. Results driven.

Demonstrated ability to deliver results. Priority Setting.

Spends time and the time of others on what’s important; focuses on the critical and crucial; can quickly sense what will help or hinder the accomplishment of a goal. Interpersonal Skill.

Is warm and easy to approach; builds constructive and effective relationships; uses tact and sensitivity to diffuse tense situations; has a style and charm that immediately puts others at ease. Innovation Management . Anticipates future scenarios and trends accurately; brings creative ideas to market through both formal and informal channels. Location, travel, and Reporting The position will be based in Denver, CO, primarily working in office (~80%) with some hybrid flexibility (~20%). Light travel may be required (5-10%) Reports to the Chief Development Officer (CDO) will manage 9+ direct reports FLSA Status Exempt

Compensation A competitive annual salary of $130,000 - $150,000 and eligible for annual performance bonuses, plus benefits package, which includes but is not limited to: Medical Insurance (with generous employer contribution) Dental Insurance (with generous employer contribution) Vision Insurance Voluntary Life Insurance HSA, FSA, Limited FSA, and Dependent Care FSA pre-tax spending accounts Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Free, Employer-paid Short-term, Long-term, and AD&D insurance. 401(k) with 6% employer match with immediate vesting. Monthly cellphone stipend Scholarships for employee’s whose children are actively enrolled in a private school ($2,500/child, up to $5,000/year). Employer paid parking Onsite amenities include: gym, café, and building security In office coffee, snack bar, and walking treadmill

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