JOBS

About 826NYC:
826NYC is a nonprofit organization that focuses on encouraging the exploration of endless possibility through the power of writing. Our mission is to create spaces where students can build the skills to write their own paths forward, undefined by circumstance, and to support new and exciting approaches to writing and inspire student engagement. Our mission is based on the understanding that great leaps in learning can happen with individualized attention, and that strong writing skills are fundamental to future success.

Contract Major Gifts Strategist

Reports to: Executive Director

Location: Hybrid, meetings as-required in NYC

Compensation: $75–$125/hour or fixed rate project based on deliverables, commensurate with experience

Hours: Appx. 10 hours/week (flexible schedule)

Duration: 6–9 months, with potential for renewal or transition to a full-time role

Application Deadline: July 25, 2025

Position Summary

826NYC is seeking an experienced fundraising consultant to design and implement a sustainable individual giving and major gifts program to support our $1.2M annual budget. This fractional contract role will lay the groundwork for a long-term fundraising strategy focused on securing five- and six-figure gifts.

You’ll work directly with the Executive Director and Board to develop a donor pipeline, create systems for donor engagement, and establish practices that will shape the foundation of a future full-time fundraising hire. This is a rare opportunity to build something mission-critical at a beloved NYC-based youth writing nonprofit.

See the full proposal overview here:826NYC – Contract Major Gifts Strategy Proposal Overview

Key Responsibilities

Program Design & Implementation
– Assess current individual giving landscape and identify opportunities for growth
– Design and document a major gifts strategy tailored to 826NYC’s mission and structure
– Establish sustainable systems for prospecting, solicitation, and stewardship

Portfolio & Donor Engagement
– Build and prioritize a portfolio of 25–50 individual donor prospects
– Draft customized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans
– Advise and support board and leadership with donor engagement efforts

Fundraising Tools & Collateral
– Develop a compelling case for support and tailored donor proposals
– Create templates for donor communications, acknowledgments, and follow-up
– Recommend donor management tools and support improvements to existing CRM

    Capacity Building & Transition Planning
    – Provide coaching to board and staff around major gift conversations
    – Deliver a roadmap for transitioning to a full-time individual giving staff role
    – Present strategic updates and final deliverables to board and senior staff

      Support for Existing Major Gift Cultivation
      – Advise and support executive director on any major gift cultivation in progress

      What Success Looks Like

      By the end of the engagement, we expect to have:

      • A fully documented individual giving and major gifts strategy
      • A pipeline of qualified donor prospects, segmented by giving level and affinity
      • Active cultivation and stewardship underway with high-capacity donors
      • Templates and tools to identify prospects, sustain donor engagement and reporting
      • A clear staffing and infrastructure recommendation for future growth

      Ideal Qualifications

      • 7+ years of experience in nonprofit development, including major gifts
      • Demonstrated ability to close and steward five- and six-figure gifts
      • Knowledge of individual giving strategy, prospect research, and donor behavior
      • Exceptional communication skills (written, interpersonal, and strategic)
      • Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce, LGL, or similar) and donor screening platforms
      • Strong coaching and facilitation skills; comfortable working with boards and executives
      • Familiarity with the NYC philanthropic landscape preferred
      • Passion for equitable education and youth development strongly preferred

      Project Outcomes

      By the end of the contract, 826NYC expects:

      • A documented major gifts strategy and giving pyramid with standard operating procedures (SOPs) to execute
      • A qualified donor pipeline segmented by capacity and affinity
      • Key donor materials (case for support, proposals, thank-you templates)
      • Top of funnel cultivation report templates created
      • Training provided to staff and board
      • A clear transition plan to a full-time major gifts staff position

      How To Apply


      Please submit via Typeform the following:
      1. Your resume
      2. A brief proposal outlining your approach, proposed timeline, and fee structure
      3. A sample donor-facing piece (e.g., proposal, case for support, or impact report)
      4. Responses to the following:
      – Tell us about a time you designed a major gifts program from scratch or revitalized an underperforming one. What were the key elements of your approach?
      – How do you approach building a major donor pipeline when starting with limited data or infrastructure
      – What tools and systems have you found most helpful for prospect management and donor engagement?

      Teaching Artist (creative writing specialty)

      We are collecting resumes for dynamic and experienced writing-focused Teaching Artists. We review applications on a rolling basis, with hiring cycles 1-3 times per year depending on need. Please read through for full details of how to apply.

      Teaching Artists lead short-term, project-based residencies in New York City public schools, nonprofit organizations, and city-run programs. 826NYC’s in-schools and partnerships programs are tailored to the needs of each partner school and organization. Residencies typically range from 6 to 12 sessions in length, lasting approximately the same number of weeks. Each project culminates in an anthology of student work, which is professionally designed and printed for distribution.

      Possible projects that 826NYC’s Teaching Artists may work on include: memoir, poetry, short stories, playwriting, and speculative fiction. This list is not exhaustive, and projects are typically designed in partnership with classroom educators and program staff to embrace themes and genres of interest to participating students.

      Teaching Artists have placements throughout the year based on schedule and expertise.

      Overview of Position:
      826NYC is seeking Teaching Artists to design curriculum and lead in-school and partnership project-based residencies, typically 6 to 12 weeks each. This person should not only be a writer, but also be passionate about literacy education and have experience working with students. This position will be supervised and supported by the 826NYC Director of Education. Teaching Artists will also have the support of trained volunteers, who assist students with their writing asynchronously. Planning hours/days are somewhat flexible depending on the Teaching Artist’s schedule. The end-goal for each in-school and partnership residency is to produce a professionally designed and printed anthology of the students’ writing. The teaching artist will work with 826NYC staff to support the publishing process.

      Reports to: 826NYC Director of Education
      Supervises: Project volunteers
      Duration and Hours: Project-based during the school year; some summer projects may be available.
      Pay: $50/hr in the classroom plus $25/hr paid time for planning, administrative tasks, and training

      Major Responsibilities
      – Design an age-appropriate, project-based writing curriculum for grades ranging from 5-12
      – Facilitate each in-class session of the residency
      – Communicate regularly with the Director of Education; communicate with school or partner staff as needed
      – Support asynchronous volunteers, acting as a liaison between volunteers and students
      – Collect student writing
      – Administer feedback surveys; take attendance; support the collection of publication consent forms
      – Coordinate the publishing of an anthology of writing from the project when relevant
      – Submit lesson plans, timesheets, reports, and other administrative documents

      Desired Qualifications
      – Bachelor’s degree or relevant experience
      – Artistic excellence in one or more writing disciplines
      – Experience working with youth in NYC public schools
      – A passion to improve literacy and a deep commitment to student success
      – Exceptional communication skills, both written and interpersonal
      – Excellent project management and organizational skills
      – A strong work ethic, a collaborative spirit, self-starter
      – Proficient with computer applications — (i.e. Microsoft Office, Google Drive)
      – A deep passion and commitment to the mission of 826NYC

      How to Apply
      We review applications on a rolling basis, with hiring cycles 1-3 times per year depending on need. Please submit your resume and contact info via this Typeform to indicate your interest, and when we are once again hiring we will invite you to submit a full application if your resume demonstrates a strong fit for the role. No phone calls or emails, please.