May Center for Learning

Join Our Team

May Center for Learning is for people who are passionate about working with students with learning differences.

Join Our Team

May Center for Learning has position openings for people who are passionate about working with students with learning differences. With small class sizes (8 students or less), excellent professional development, and kind and supportive colleagues, working at May Center is a highly positive experience. May Center for Learning is a recognized leader in the state of New Mexico and beyond for its intervention programs for students with learning differences. 

May Center for Learning is located in beautiful and historic Santa Fe, New Mexico, an artistic mecca surrounded by mountains, mesas and hot springs offering unparalleled access to the outdoors for recreation, sport, and rejuvenation. 

Director of Advancement

Position Overview

We seek a strategic and experienced Director of Advancement to work closely with major gift prospects, alumni families, organizational partners, and leadership to cultivate relationships, elevate current donors to higher levels of giving, and develop comprehensive strategies to enhance our institution. The Director of Advancement will lead our capital and annual fundraising efforts during this pivotal phase of growth. The ideal candidate will be a relationship-building professional with demonstrated success in comprehensive advancement programs, including major gifts, cross-cultivation with capital campaigns, alumni cultivation, outreach, and donor stewardship.

This position offers the opportunity to shape the advancement function of a growing organization, working collaboratively with leadership, board members, and community partners to secure the resources needed to advance our mission.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising & Development (70%)

  • Lead comprehensive fundraising strategy, including major gifts, grants, corporate partnerships, and special events

  • Manage and grow a portfolio of 75-100 major gift prospects ($25,000+)

  • Coordinate cross-cultivation efforts with board members and the leadership team

  • Coordinate capital campaign activities and stewardship initiatives

  • Research, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, foundation, and corporate donors

  • Develop and implement annual giving and capital campaign programs

Relationship Management & Stewardship (20%)

  • Build and maintain meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors

  • Coordinate donor recognition and stewardship activities

  • Represent May Center at community events and professional gatherings

  • Oversee marketing and public relations efforts

Management & Operations (10%)

  • Supervise the Executive Assistant for Advancement and Marketing

  • Collaborate and supervise marketing and PR consultants when applicable

  • Manage advancement budget and ensure cost-effective operations

  • Oversee donor database management and ensure data integrity

  • Prepare regular reports for leadership and the board

  • Coordinate communications on advancement-related materials


Required Qualifications

  • Education: Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred

  • Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of progressive advancement experience with demonstrated success in major gifts and campaign fundraising

  • Certification: CFRE (Certified Fund Raising Executive) or other recognized credential strongly preferred 

  • Skills:

    • Proven track record of securing gifts of $100,000+

    • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

    • Strong relationship-building and interpersonal abilities

    • Experience managing direct reports and building teams

    • Strategic thinking and planning capabilities

    • Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with various teams


Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience with Little Green Light CRM or similar donor management systems

  • Background in education-focused nonprofits

  • Capital and/or endowment campaign experience in organizations 

  • Experience working in collaborative environments with cross-cultivation

Application Process

To Apply: Submit cover letter, resume, and three professional references to advancement@maycenter.org


Application Materials Should Address:

  • Your fundraising philosophy and approach to donor relationships

  • Specific examples of major gifts secured and fundraising initiatives managed

  • Experience building and managing advancement teams

  • Interest in May Center's mission and philanthropy within the educational landscape