College Track

Compensation

Full Description

Vice President of Principal Gifts About College Track College Track is a comprehensive college completion program. Our students benefit from a 10-year integrated program that helps them overcome obstacles on the path to a bachelor's degree and a meaningful career. We offer academic, financial, and personalized support over 10 years to help students persist through college and graduate. What began in 1997 with 25 students in East Palo Alto has grown into a national movement of more than 5,400 scholars and alumni who are driving change in their families, campuses, workplaces, and communities. Today, we operate 13 centers rooted in communities across California, Colorado, Louisiana, and the D.C. Metro Area, with our newest site opening in Baltimore, thanks to a bold partnership with the Baltimore Ravens, M&T Bank, and Baltimore City Public Schools. Our Impact Our scholars are leaders on more than 300 college campuses nationwide, including at partner institutions like Middlebury College, Tulane University, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. They graduate at rates that are three times the national average for first-generation students, proving what's possible when talent meets opportunity. One year after college, 80 percent of our alumni are employed, and by age 30, they earn an average of $89,823—outpacing the national median and demonstrating the long-term economic mobility a bachelor's degree unlocks. These outcomes are the result of a deliberate approach that supports scholars to minimize student debt, secure paid internships, and reduce the need to work excessive hours while in school—ensuring they can focus on learning, leadership, and personal growth. By preparing our scholars to capture the full value of their degree, we position them to thrive in the 21st-century economy and lead lives of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. Our Values At College Track, our values drive the way we do our work, and we look for individuals who share our passion. We blend an entrepreneurial spirit with our nonprofit roots, cultivating a dynamic culture where everyone's contributions are valued and encouraged. • Commitment: With every choice and every decision, we center the 10-year promise. • Passion: It is the fire that drives us, and we're in it for the long haul. • Joy:Energized by the hopes, ambitions, and growth of our scholars, we celebrate the impact of our community. • Authenticity:What each brings to the table contributes to deep and trusting relationships. • Excellence:Every day is better than the last, we're always learning, always progressing, always evolving. Learn more about College Track at collegetrack.org. The Opportunity College Track seeks a Vice President of Principal Gifts (VPPG), a mission-driven leader responsible for shaping and driving the organization's individual giving strategy to drive impact and long-term sustainability. Reporting to the Chief Philanthropy Officer, the VPPG provides strategic oversight and direction for the fundraising strategy for major and principal donors, as well as manages their own portfolio of high-net-worth individuals. As a key member of the Philanthropy Leadership Team, the VPPG partners closely with the Philanthropy Leadership Team, as well as leaders across the Education and Data & Analytics teams, to align individual giving strategies with organizational goals and operational priorities. The VPPG is a visible and influential leader who cultivates partnerships with high-impact funders, Board members, and senior executives, ensuring individual philanthropy fuels College Track's national growth and impact. Candidate Profile The Vice President of Principal Gifts will be responsible for the following: External Fundraising and Strategic Partnerships (70%) • Lead the development and execution of a comprehensive, multi-year individual philanthropy strategy that advances College Track's financial sustainability and strategic priorities, demonstrating national scale and local impact. • Provide strategic oversight for over $7M principal giving portfolio, ensuring alignment with College Track's organizational mission, brand, and programmatic goals. • Serve as a key external ambassador for the organization, cultivating and stewarding relationships with high-net-worth and principal donors whose partnership fuels transformative investments in educational equity. • Partner with the CPO, President & CEO, and National Board to deepen engagement with current supporters and expand College Track's network of individual investors nationwide. • Collaborate with Executive Site Directors and Local Advisory Boards to strengthen regional fundraising capacity and build aligned, market-level engagement strategies. • Leverage data, research, and emerging trends to expand the pipeline of high-impact donors and secure multi-year, seven- and eight-figure commitments. • Provide thought leadership in major gift philanthropy, advancing best practices and representing College Track as a national leader in donor engagement and stewardship. • Represent College Track at external convenings, philanthropic networks, and industry forums to elevate the organization's visibility and influence. • Partner with internal and external stakeholders to advance organization-wide initiatives that strengthen College Track's position as a leader in equitable education and college access. Team Management and Cross-Functional Leadership (30%) • Lead a high-performing Principal Gifts team—including two Directors of Principal Gifts—by setting vision, standards, and goals that align with College Track's organization-wide strategy. • Foster a culture of accountability, learning, and collaboration, ensuring the team operates as a unified, data-informed, and mission-driven function. • Partner with cross-functional leaders across Finance, Education, and Communications to align funding strategies with organizational priorities, impact measurement, and resource planning. • Collaborate within the Philanthropy Leadership Team, to optimize systems, infrastructure, and reporting processes that strengthen the organization's fundraising capacity. • Partner with the CPO and the Philanthropy Leadership Team to ensure cohesion and synergy across all philanthropic channels, maintaining best-in-class donor cultivation and stewardship practices. • Build leadership capacity within the Principal Gifts team, fostering innovation, professional growth, and strategic execution excellence. First and foremost, the Vice President of Principal Gifts will be a fierce advocate for College Track's mission to equip scholars confronting systemic barriers to earn a bachelor's degree in pursuit of a life of opportunity, choice, purpose, and power. The ideal candidate will bring a deep commitment to educational equity, along with the following experience, skills, and mindset: • 10+ years of extensive experience in fundraising with major donors, ideally within an educational nonprofit, philanthropic, or mission-driven organization of comparable scale and complexity • 5+ years of leadership experience, including management of high-performing teams and multi-departmental initiatives • Proven success in designing and leading individual philanthropy strategies that secure multi-year, seven- and eight-figure investments from individual donors and other sources. • Exceptional relationship-building and influence skills, with a demonstrated ability to engage, inspire, and partner effectively with boards, executives, and senior-level funders across sectors • Outstanding strategic communication and storytelling abilities, capable of articulating organizational impact and vision to diverse audiences, including funders, policymakers, and partners • Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional collaboration, aligning philanthropy with program, finance, and data teams to drive mission and sustainability goals • Proficiency in leveraging data and systems (e.g., Salesforce) to inform strategy, forecasting, and performance management, in partnership with operations and analytics teams • Strong business and financial acumen, with the ability to translate strategic priorities into clear plans, budgets, and measurable outcomes • Bachelor's degree required • Physical Requirements: Sedentary work that primarily involves sitting, standing, typing, and using standard office technology Compensation and Benefits This position is full-time, exempt, with a salary range of $165,000-$225,000. Exact compensation will depend on experience. However, as someone new to the role, you can expect an offer around $180,000 - $194,999 to ensure internal equity while leaving room for salary growth during your time in the position. College Track provides access to extensive benefits centered around three core areas of wellness: health care, work-life balance, and financial security. We believe time off is essential to success and provide up to 27 discretionary time off days (Sick and Vacation) in addition to 28 paid office closure and holiday days in your first year of employment. Learn more about benefits here. This is a hybrid position based in Oakland, CA at the local College Track Site. Travel may be requested to support events. While we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, we especially encourage applicants who identify as first-generation college graduates to apply for open opportunities. Contact DSG | Koya has been exclusively retained for this engagement, which is being led by Trevor Hooper. Submit a compelling cover letter and resume by filling out our Talent Profile. All inquiries are strictly confidential. DSG | Koya is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals living with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual living with a disability and need assistance expressing interest online, please email NonprofitSearchOps@divsearch.com. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process. College Track is an equal-opportunity employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce. College Track does not discriminate based on race, age, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, gender, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression. About DSG | Koya DSG | Koya, a DSG Global company, is the nation's premier search firm dedicated to mission-driven leadership. Since its founding in 2004, DSG | Koya has had an exclusive focus on mission-driven clients and was founded on the belief that the right leader can transform an organization and have a deep and measurable impact on our world. DSG | Koya works with nonprofits & NGOs, responsible businesses, and social enterprises in local communities and around the world. DSG Global is consistently recognized by Forbes on its top 10 list of "America's Best Executive Recruiting Firms" and is an industry leader in recruiting transformational leaders for a changing world. The firm is deliberately different in its approach, with best-in-class teams who have decades of experience in cultivating inclusive leaders, understanding the dimensions of diversity, and building equitable teams. Learn more about DSG | Koya via the firm's website. To apply, visit: https://www.dsgco.com/search/22852-collegetrackvppg/ jeid-0d3c7533435a43d0b9dc084c0db1f5ed