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Leadership Brainery prepares first-generation, low-income and under-resourced students to compete for selective master’s and doctoral programs. We work from Beacon Street in Boston’s Back Bay.

2 open roles

Development Manager, Individual Giving

Boston, MA · $70,000–75,000

Location: Boston, MA — hybrid, two days in person and three remote
Schedule: Full-time
Salary: $70,000–75,000

Leadership Brainery seeks an entrepreneurial, relationship-driven and highly strategic Development Manager focused on Individual Giving, to help grow and steward the organization's individual donor portfolio during a period of expansion. The role leads efforts to identify, cultivate, solicit and steward individual donors, with an emphasis on upgrading existing supporters from around the $1,000 giving level to sustained annual gifts of $5,000 and above, and on building a pipeline of major gift prospects.

Frequent local and national travel for donor meetings, events and organizational gatherings.

We are looking for

Relationship builder: Skilled at building trust and cultivating authentic, long-term donor relationships.
Strategic thinker: Able to connect donor engagement strategies to broader organizational goals and growth priorities.
Entrepreneurial mindset: Excited by building systems, testing ideas, and helping shape a growing development function.
Mission-driven communicator: A compelling storyteller able to connect donors to impact through data and personal narratives.
Collaborative partner: Works effectively across teams, leadership and external stakeholders.
Results-oriented: Motivated by measurable fundraising outcomes and the confidence to ask for large gifts.

What you’ll do

Individual giving strategy and portfolio management

Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, and maintain an accurate gift table on gift progress.
Upgrade existing donors in the $1,000 range to multi-year supporters and major gift donors, and cultivate new donors capable of giving at or above $5,000.
Build long-term donor relationships grounded in mission alignment and transformational impact.
Develop and implement cultivation and stewardship strategies to increase retention and annual giving across email, text, phone, direct mail and in person.
Conduct prospect research and develop individualized engagement strategies.

Communication and documentation

Create briefing materials, donor proposals and impact updates for supporters.
Collaborate with the development team on quarterly newsletters and impact reports.
Ensure post-meeting reports are created within 36 hours and added to donor profiles in the Bloomerang CRM.
Maintain records in Bloomerang to track engagement, pipeline progress and fundraising metrics.

Donor engagement and stewardship

Build authentic relationships with donors, alumni, partners and supporters.
Partner with staff to translate organizational impact into compelling narratives.
Use donor data to develop systems for acknowledgment, stewardship and reporting.
Create donor experiences that deepen affinity and encourage long-term investment, in person and virtually.

Systems, operations and growth

Strengthen systems for donor tracking, moves management, reporting and campaign operations within Bloomerang.
Monitor fundraising performance and provide regular updates on pipeline activity and campaign progress.
Ensure donor data and post-meeting reports are accurate and deadlines are met.

What you’ll bring

A commitment to the mission and values of Leadership Brainery.
Experience managing donor portfolios and successfully soliciting gifts in the $1,000–$10,000+ range.
Ability to work in person in Boston, MA two days per week.
Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience.
Proven ability, or a strong desire to learn, the process of individual donor solicitation.
An eagerness to network and talk about Leadership Brainery in the community.
Flexibility to attend events or meetings before and after work hours.
An all-hands-on-deck mentality.

Preferred

Demonstrated ability to upgrade and retain donors through relationship-centered engagement.
Experience using CRM systems, specifically Bloomerang.
2+ years in nonprofit fundraising, development or advancement, with success in individual giving.
Experience supporting capital, anniversary or comprehensive fundraising campaigns.
Previous work with alumni communities, emerging professionals or leadership development organizations.
Familiarity with donor moves management and prospect research tools, and experience partnering with executive leaders and boards.
Knowledge of best practices in major gifts, stewardship and campaign planning.

What we offer

Three weeks of paid vacation, plus medical, dental and vision insurance
Three weeks of all-staff holiday vacation, paid
$1,500 professional development stipend
A start-up environment with a leadership team invested in your growth
An office on Beacon Street in Boston's Back Bay, near the Charles River Esplanade

Required uploads: cover letter, resume, and 1–2 writing samples.

Apply for this role

Questions? Email development@leadershipbrainery.org

Graduate Admissions & Aid Manager

Boston, MA

Location: Boston, MA — in-person at least two days per week
Schedule: Full-time. Occasional evenings and weekends are required.
Reports to: Director of Programs

The Graduate Admissions & Aid Manager leads Leadership Brainery's work preparing prospective graduate students, particularly Ambassador Fellows, to navigate admissions and financial aid from exploration through submission and beyond. The role supports students across STEM, Health & Medicine, Law & Policy, Business & Finance, and Education, Arts & Humanities, and blends coordination of five industry-specific admissions coaches with advising, program delivery and resource development. This is a manager-level individual contributor position.

What you’ll do

Program and project management

Serve as the lead admissions coach and advisor for the Ambassador Fellowship, guiding participants through all five phases.
Manage the coordination of five industry-specific coaches paired with students for admissions support.
Collaborate with the Programs team to integrate admissions and aid content into the curriculum.
Translate program goals into clear timelines, deliverables and tracking systems.
Partner with the Development and Policy & Research teams to align messaging and student-facing materials.
Collect and analyze program data to measure outcomes and improve the student experience.

Graduate admissions and financial aid advising

Stay current on admissions trends, standardized testing updates and financial aid policy.
Support students during the three-day Graduate School Summit.
Provide one-on-one coaching to help students define career goals, research programs and map their path to admission.
Hold office hours to guide Ambassadors through the program and track milestones.
Connect students with test prep and admissions coaches, and keep them on track for GRE, GMAT, LSAT and MCAT deadlines.
Lead advising and workshops during the two-week intensive on applications, interviews and scholarships.
Provide expert feedback on personal statements, essays and application materials.
Guide students in evaluating admissions offers, aid packages and matriculation steps.

Resource development

Create and maintain timelines, checklists, guides and databases for admissions and funding.
Develop admissions statement samples, templates and writing resources.
Connect students with resources addressing barriers beyond financial need, including mental health services, food and housing assistance, and emergency support.

What you’ll bring

Master's degree or higher.
Minimum four years' experience in graduate admissions, academic advising or higher education program management.
Experience supporting first-generation, low-income and other populations with limited access to higher education.
Familiarity with admissions testing processes (GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT).
Experience designing or facilitating graduate readiness or professional development programming.
Skilled in project and data management tools such as Asana, a learning management system, and Bloomerang.
Strong data analysis and reporting skills using Google Sheets, Excel or Tableau.
Proven ability to manage multiple priorities and communicate effectively across teams.
Exceptional writing, editing and interpersonal communication skills.

What we offer

Medical, dental and vision insurance
401(k) with employer match
Hybrid work environment
10 days of paid vacation, plus a three-week winter holiday break
Summer Fridays — a four-day work week from Memorial Day through Labor Day
Annual professional development stipend
An office on Beacon Street in Boston's Back Bay, near parks, restaurants and the Charles River Esplanade

Apply for this role

Questions? Email derrickjr@leadershipbrainery.org

Leadership Brainery is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.