Position:

Development Associate Location:

Cleveland Type:

Full-time, exempt Who We Are Partnership Schools is accepting applications for the role of Development Associate in Cleveland, Ohio. The ideal candidate brings zeal, creativity, imagination, positivity, and passion to their work and is ready to dive into a fast-paced and exciting entrepreneurial environment. Since 2013, the Partnership has been a pioneering school management organization shaping the next generation of urban Catholic schooling. From 2013 through 2024, the Archdiocese of New York granted operational management of seven long-standing Pre-K to 8th-grade schools in the South Bronx and Harlem to the Partnership, and during that time the schools experienced substantial math and reading achievement gains and increased enrollment significantly. In 2020, the Partnership was invited to expand to the Diocese of Cleveland, where it manages five schools in the heart of the city providing students in historically underserved neighborhoods with the academic preparation, faith formation, values, and skills they need to thrive. The Partnership currently serves about 1,000 students in Cleveland, nearly all of whom live in poverty. In July 2026, the Partnership expanded its mission to Toledo, Ohio, adding two schools to its network and extending its commitment to strengthening urban Catholic education in new communities. As the Partnership begins the 2026-2027 school year, it continues to build on its proven model of academic excellence, faith-based formation, and transformative support for students and families. The historic success of urban Catholic schools stems not only from a rigorous tradition of academic excellence but also from an emphasis on developing self-worth, moral character, a love of learning, and a sense of civic responsibility—all part of our long-standing commitment to educating the whole child. Partnership Schools is unique in knitting this tradition together with lessons from high-achieving public, charter, and independent schools, in the service of our students. At the Partnership, we believe all children can achieve at the highest levels. If you are interested in serving as a pioneer in education and share an unwavering commitment to raising student achievement and an appreciation and respect for Catholic culture, identity, and values, we want to hear from you! What You'll Do Partnership Schools is at a pivotal moment in our trajectory. In our first decade, Partnership Schools successfully pioneered a groundbreaking approach for the independent management of urban Catholic schools, one needed now more than ever. As Catholic schools nationally have faced enrollment, academic, and financial crises that resulted in waves of closures, the schools in the Partnership increased enrollment, produced academic growth, and raised more money than ever. Because our effective model serves as a proof-point of what is possible, Partnership Schools is accelerating our growth and tenaciously expanding philanthropy to increase the number of students served and bolster the organization's national impact on the school choice movement. Partnership Schools seeks an entrepreneurial and innovative Development Associate to help catalyze the organization's continued growth and advancement. They will join a growing, motivated, and collaborative team—comprising both on-the-ground leadership in Cleveland, and geographically dispersed talent based on the organization's talent-first mindset. The Development Associate plays a critical role in advancing both the fundraising efforts and operational effectiveness of Partnership Schools. This is an ideal opportunity for a highly organized, detail-oriented individual who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. The successful candidate will demonstrate excellent judgment, strong communication and operational skills, and the ability to balance multiple priorities with discretion and professionalism.

Key responsibilities:

Front-line Fundraising Support Assist with the implementation of donor events including school tours, small private gatherings, and more Develop and implement strategies for the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of new and existing donors Research potential individual, foundation, and corporate prospects in support of fundraising goals Support Development team with tasks including briefings, collation of key materials, scheduling, note taking, and event set-up Visit our schools to help capture photos and video content for use in donor communications, fundraising campaigns, and stewardship materials With experience, own and call upon a small portfolio of donors to help the team reach their overall fundraising goal Perform other development team duties and special projects as assigned Provide select development-related tasks for the Executive Director, including scheduling donor meetings, coordinating travel for donor meetings, and confidential correspondences Donor Database Support Build and maintain strong operational systems to help track and measure progress to yearly fundraising goals across regions Design and run reports from Salesforce to support goal and engagement tracking Help manage donor stewardship, tracking, gift logging, and donor acknowledgments Oversee donation processing, tracking, reporting, and timely acknowledgment, ensuring compliance with tax and legal requirements. What You'll Bring A bachelor's degree and relevant experience through internships, previous jobs, or applicable college projects Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and Google suite Experience with Adobe Acrobat, Social Media platforms, and Salesforce is a plus Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to perform and prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with excellent attention to detail Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with stakeholders, including staff, board members, external partners, and donors Expert level written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to write in a clear and concise voice with the end customer in mind Proven ability to handle confidential information with discretion, be adaptable to various competing demands, and demonstrate the highest level of customer/client service and response A resourceful approach, with the ability to work independently and exhibit strong decision-making capability Experience and interest in internal and external communications, relationship development, and fundraising Why You'll Be a Fit You are deeply committed to the mission of Partnership Schools and to the education of students in underserved communities—and will inspire others to support and our efforts You are interested in learning about preK-8 education, Catholic education, school choice, and/or social justice You're open-minded, intellectually curious, and eager to learn something new each day! You naturally bring a positive, high-energy, and collaborative approach to your work; and You are comfortable being part of a team that is "forming, storming, and norming" as it builds on current ways of working to continually improve systems, tools, and approaches—and would welcome the chance to shape the future with us. What We Offer What We Offer Salary ranges from $45,000 to $60,000, commensurate with experience. The Partnership offers a competitive benefits package and is an equal opportunity organization that values diversity.