Job Description
MESA Charter High School seeks to expand its leadership team with the addition of the community’s inaugural Director
of Development. Reporting to and in partnership with the Co-Executive Director team, the Director of Development will
spearhead fundraising and development efforts as MESA Charter High School continues to grow. This individual will have
the opportunity to build the development function from the ground up. This is a uniquely innovative role designed for a
Development Professional who wishes to build their own Development team and strategy and leave a long-lasting legacy
on the MESA Community.

About Us
Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School is a community high school in Bushwick,
Brooklyn. We opened our doors in August 2013 and we now have 496 students in grades 9-12. We have now graduated
six classes of students, with a cumulative graduation rate of 95%. Our students come from more than forty different
middle schools, including traditional public, parochial, and public charter schools. Some are advanced students coming
from magnet schools; others are beginning English Language Learners. What they all have in common is a desire to
succeed; MESA students come to school every day, ready to work. When it comes to NYS Regents pass rates, MESA
outperforms its peers by a rate of 20-30%!

MESA is looking for a…

• Strategic, adaptable leader with excellent relationship management skills
• Entrepreneurial and innovative Development professional with at least three years of experience
• Proven track record of successful solicitations for 4- and 5- figure gifts
• Compelling story-teller with excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Multi-tasker with solid organizational and time-management skills
• Independent worker who enjoys taking charge without close oversight
• Passionate and empathetic team member seeking to empower and equip students with the ability to succeed in

and out of the classroom

You might be a good fit for this role if you…

• Are a confident Development professional who is seeking autonomy and the opportunity to drive strategy
• Have a knack for adding systems and structures to increase efficiency
• Have a can-do attitude and are willing to wear many hats - we’re a small but mighty team!
  

Responsibilities
Development Strategy

• Develop and execute MESA Charter High School’s annual strategic fundraising plan inclusive of revenue and

• Oversee strategy creation and implementation of special events related to revenue, stewardship, and donor

• Craft an alumni-centric fundraising strategy designed to celebrate and empower the MESA alumni community as

Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School
231 Palmetto Street | Brooklyn, NY 11221| (718) 282-7426

www.mesacharter.org

Donor Moves Management

• Fundraising and donor relationship management including prospect identification, cultivation, solicitation, and

• Expand MESA’s active donor base of support through prospecting corporate, institutional, and individual funders
• Streamline corporate and foundation cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship through the development of

MESA community

Marketing and Communications

• Craft, edit, and/or design pitch and solicitation materials; tailor messaging and materials based on audience
• Lead on creation of organizational collateral intended for the donor audience, including materials such as Annual

Report, fact sheets, or programmatic one-pagers designed to highlight MESA’s impact and growth

Salary: $90,000 - $100,000

To apply: Please email your resume and a cover letter explaining specifically why you are interested in MESA to Arthur
Samuels, Co-Executive Director, at asamuels@mesacharter.org with the subject heading “Director of Development” BY
EMAIL ONLY. Due to the nature of the position and the volume of applications received, MESA will not be able to reply
to all submissions. MESA will contact candidates with next steps.

Math, Engineering, and Science Academy (MESA) Charter High School
231 Palmetto Street | Brooklyn, NY 11221| (718) 282-7426

www.mesacharter.org