Regional Director of Philanthropy - San Antonio (25-26)
School Year: 2025-2026
Location: San Antonio Regional Office
Region: San Antonio, TX
Category: Headquarters
Job Type: Full-Time
Share:
share to e-mail
Description
Regional Director of Philanthropy
Position overview:
The Regional Director of Philanthropy (RDP) is a strategic relationship builder and frontline fundraiser responsible for cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding a portfolio of major donors and prospects in support of IDEA Public Schools’ mission and regional priorities. As the lead fundraiser for their region, the RDP serves as a critical connector between IDEA and the philanthropic community, ensuring that high-impact partnerships are built, sustained, and aligned with IDEA’s long-term goals.
The ideal candidate is passionate about educational equity and adept at leading strategic conversations with key community leaders to strengthen and expand philanthropic engagement across the region.
The RDP thrives in a matrixed organization and brings both strategic planning and strong execution skills to the role. Reporting to the Managing Director of Development, the RDP partners closely with the region’s Executive Director and Advancement leadership team. This role is supported by IDEA’s centralized Advancement Operations, Grant Services, and Prospect Strategy teams—enabling a focused, data-informed, and metrics-driven approach to major gift fundraising.
Location: This is a full-time, hybrid position based in the San Antonio region. Preference will be given to candidates who live in the region, or who are willing to relocate.
Travel Expectation: The ideal candidate is expected to meet with donors, prospects, and community leaders within the regional area and will travel to in-person meetings at the external stakeholders’ preference. Approximately, 10% annual travel outside of the region is expected.
What You’ll Do – Accountabilities
Essential Duties:
Fundraising Strategy and Major Gifts Portfolio Management
· Build and manage a portfolio of 75–125 active donors and prospects with a giving capacity of $10,000+, including personally managing high-profile donors and serving as their primary point of contact.
· Execute 35–60 individualized solicitations annually and achieve a minimum of $500,000 in new contributed revenue, with an emphasis on identifying and upgrading donors to strengthen long-term sustainability.
· Conduct consistent, strategic cultivation and stewardship (100+ personalized engagements/year) to advance donor relationships and grow a healthy, renewable pipeline.
· Lead stewardship and regional reporting for IDEA’s largest institutional funders and philanthropic partners, ensuring accountability and deepening investment.
· Collaborate with the Advancement Grant Services team when foundations are in the portfolio—helping shape strategy while the grant team manages proposals and reporting.
· Partner with Director of Prospect Strategy and Research to assess portfolio strength, set annual goals, and refine engagement strategies based on donor capacity and alignment.
· Use Salesforce to log donor interactions, track pipeline progress, and support data-informed fundraising decisions.
External Engagement and Regional Representation
- Lead regional community engagement efforts that align IDEA’s mission with local organizations, especially those focused on educational equity and economic mobility—ensuring that philanthropic partnerships support long-term regional impact.
- Serve as a compelling ambassador for IDEA—synthesizing data, student outcomes, and stories to communicate IDEA’s vision and progress to donors, community leaders, and prospective partners.
- Effectively articulate IDEA’s mission, programs, and results to a wide range of constituents, tailoring messages to resonate with diverse audiences.
- Collaborate with the Communications team and Advancement leadership to raise IDEA’s visibility, prepare Executive Directors and donors for public engagement, and amplify key regional events or announcements.
Regional Board Management
- Lead recruitment, engagement, and stewardship of the Regional Advisory Board (RAB), ensuring members reflect the diversity and values of the community.
· Develop annual service plans for board members and drive accountability for engagement, advocacy, and giving.
· Plan and execute a minimum of three high-impact board meetings annually in collaboration with regional and Advancement staff
Engage and Collaborate with IDEA Regional Team leadership to ensure the assigned region of support meets shared driving goals
· Participate in regional operating mechanisms, as determined in partnership with the Executive Director and MD Development, and actively engage in problem-solving and the implementation of key regional initiatives to advance ambitious goals
· Attend a set check-in with IDEA Executive Director for assigned region to share progress to goals and pending regional projects
What You Bring – Competencies
Required experience and skills:
- Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or CFRE/CFRM preferred
- 6 years of experience in a development, fundraising or similar role with demonstrated ability to close major gifts
- Knowledge of the region's philanthropic landscape including various philanthropic organizations and business development organizations
- Exceptional communication, presentation, and storytelling skills; ability to synthesize complex ideas into compelling messaging
- Demonstrated ability to manage donor portfolios using a CRM; Salesforce preferred
- Collaborative mindset with a comfort level working in a matrixed organization and across functional teams
- Strong personal alignment with IDEA’s mission and belief in the potential of all children to succeed in college and life
- Ability to engage and collaborate across assigned region
- Ability to identify gaps and adjust course while working with urgency and purpose to secure resources that drive student outcomes
- Ability to navigate difficult conversations and provide candid feedback in service of regional priorities
- Willingness to collaborate for the betterment of students and staff by influencing and motivating others, engaging in respectful disagreement, and leading with both empathy and accountability
- Holds self and others accountable with empathy, focusing on solutions rather than blame
- Willingness to work a flexible schedule, including occasional evenings and weekends during peak fundraising periods; must be comfortable working independently while traveling locally using a personal vehicle
- We recognize ourselves as regional leaders and members of the regional team, no matter whether we are matrixed managed or not
What We Offer:
Compensation & Benefits:
Salaries for people entering this role typically fall between $98,200 and $115,900, commensurate with relevant experience and qualifications and in alignment with internal equity. This role is also eligible for performance pay based on organizational performance and goal attainment.
Additionally, we offer medical, dental, and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options, generous vacation time, referral bonuses, professional development, and a 403(b) plan. You can find more information about our benefits at https://ideapublicschools.org/careers/benefits/.
* IDEA may offer a relocation stipend to defray the cost of moving for this role, if applicable.
Application process:
Submit your application online through Jobvite. Please note that applications will be reviewed on an ongoing basis until the position is filled. Applicants are encouraged to apply as early as possible.
Learn more about IDEA
At IDEA the Staff Culture and Belonging Team uses our Core Values to promote human connection and a culture of integrity, respect, and belonging for all Team and Family members. Learn more about our Commitment to Core Values here: https://ideapublicschools.org/our-story/#core-values
