Why this role exists

Tergar Schools needs to build a major-donor engine from close to scratch to cover $600,000+ in annual recurring operating funding, and then keep scaling in the years after. We also carry a significant capital need for constructing a secondary campus in Nepal (Yolmo campus).

Today, that strategy and those relationships rest on our Executive Director (who splits his time across two organizations) and our Community Giving & Events Manager (who is part-time and also helps oversee social media and communications). This is not sustainable, and we need additional capacity.

This is a critical position within the organization. We have vision, and we have a program taking shape; what we don't yet have is a major philanthropy function that can stand on its own. This role builds it, and owns it.

The opportunity

This is a builder's role. You will not inherit a mature pipeline, a full case for support, or a team to run. You will help create those things, then run them.

If you are energized by shaping something from the ground up and by working in a small, self-directing team with real autonomy, this is fertile ground.

What you'll own

Fundraising strategy

• Co-create, with Tergar Schools leadership, the organization's fundraising strategy - a realistic path to 60$600k in annual recurring operating funding, with a credible ramp.
• Ensure the plan for the Yolmo capital campaign continues running smoothly (currently $3.9M in Phase 2, with subsequent $10M to come in additional phases), in coordination with the Executive Director.
• Design the revenue mix across donor tiers, major donors, foundation relationships, and campaigns; set tier targets, engagement plans, and stewardship sequences, with major-donor cultivation at the center.

A major-donor portfolio

• Along with the Executive Director, carry and cultivate a portfolio of at minimum 50 major-donor relationships and prospects. The Director of Operations and Community Giving & Events Manager each carry a smaller set (~10 apiece) alongside you.
• Own visit targets, solicitation, and closing for your portfolio, utilizing the ED for key prospects - this role holds real gift responsibility, not advisory hours.
• Own your pipeline and moves-management records in our CRM (Keela) - you keep your own portfolio data clean and current.
• Cultivate foundation relationships that behave like major gifts: principal- and program-officer-driven, relationship-based - not open-application grant cycles (at the moment).

Enabling the Executive Director

• Translate the Visionary (Mingyur Rinpoche) and Executive Director's vision into an executable fundraising strategy - you can hear where he's pointing and build the structure that gets there.
• Structure and make the most of their donor-facing time: create the right meetings, prepare them well, and follow through afterward.

Leading the fundraising function

• Supervise the Community Giving & Events Manager and align all staff-run fundraising activity to the annual strategy.
• Recommend workflow and staffing refinements where they strengthen execution.

Board partnership

• Partner with the Board on fundraising, and support Board recruitment, retention, and engagement.

Case for support and donor messaging

• Shape the case for support and the framing of donor communications so they are clear, honest, and aligned with the wider Tergar Mandala narrative. (You guide and shape; staff draft routine copy.)

How the work is divided

You own fundraising strategy and lead the function, and you personally carry and (with the ED) close a major-donor portfolio. The following are executed by others on the team - but as the function's lead, you're accountable for how well they serve the strategy:

• Mass donor communications and newsletters - you shape major-donor messaging and the case for support; you don't produce broadcast copy.
• Event logistics - you design cultivation moments and work the room; sometimes you roll up your sleeves to run operations, staff tables, or do anything else required to get the job done.
• CRM administration and data hygiene - you own your own pipeline and moves-management records in Keela; you're not the system administrator or the bulk-data owner.

Outside this role entirely:

• Open-application / RFP grant prospecting, writing, and reporting (this may shift in the future)
• General administrative, clerical, and production work - including social media and graphic design

Who you are

What we're really looking for

• A go-getting strategist, not an order-taker. You are excited by building something and can help construct the case while you raise against it - not someone who needs a finished business plan handed to you first.
• A demonstrated record of building a major-donor pipeline from a cold or thin base. You can name the donors you've brought in, the timelines, the ask sizes, and the retention. Closing ability matters more than polish.
• Someone who can translate a founder's vision into strategy and execution and is comfortable shaping how senior leaders spend their time. This is as important as the gift experience itself, and rarer.
• Fluency, or fast credibility, in US and Asia major-gift philanthropy. Strong US high-capacity individual networks are a significant plus. European individual-gift networks are not a priority for this role.
• Comfort in a very small, distributed, high-autonomy team (~2.8 FTE, no management layer). Self-directing and energized by constraint.
• Genuine resonance with the mission. You can speak to Basic Goodness and our model of learning authentically - not as something bolted on. A Buddhist practice is not required.
• Education- or mission-space fluency is a plus, not a requirement. Experience in higher-ed or health-system development is welcome but not expected; what transfers is the major-gift craft and the ability to build.

Experience

• 8+ years of progressively responsible frontline development experience, with a track record of personally closing five- and six-figure gifts (seven-figure a plus).
• Some experience supervising, coaching, or mentoring - you'll oversee the Community Giving & Events Manager and more staff in the future.
• Comfort owning your pipeline and moves-management records in a CRM (we use Keela).

Personal qualities

• An inspiring communicator who can translate vision into action.
• Grounded, collaborative, and highly relational - able to hold complexity with steadiness and clarity.
• A genuine and embodied resonance with contemplative practice and our mission. You don't need to be Buddhist or hold a meditation practice, but you can speak to the value of inner development sincerely and without irony - and help donors feel why this work matters.

How we work together

• Weekly alignment with the Executive Director (Director of Operations / Community Giving & Events Manager as needed)
• Monthly strategy realignment
• Quarterly retrospectives to evaluate progress and refine
• A team that values deep, steady, skillful work over speed - across Vermont, Wisconsin, Ireland, Kathmandu, and Minnesota

Compensation & logistics

• Full-time, remote (ideally US-based)
• Compensation: $85,000 to $120,000 DOE
• Benefits: Flexible working schedule, Unlimited PTO, Health care reimbursement up to $1000 per month