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Director of Development

Posted: 09/14/2026

  • Do you have a talent for opening doors and building relationships across Kansas City?

  • Are you energized by connecting companies, community leaders, and prospective donors with a mission you believe in?

  • Would you like to help design the development engine that will support the next phase of growth for an established, mission-driven organization?

Join PREP-KC as our first Director of Development to build new relationships, secure philanthropic support, and help design our development engine to drive future growth.

About PREP-KC: For 20 years, PREP-KC has brought educators and industry professionals together to create pathways to meaningful careers for students attending the region’s urban schools. As we launch an ambitious five-year strategic plan to reach more students and deepen our impact across the bi-state Kansas City region, growing and diversifying philanthropic support will play an important role in achieving our vision.

About the Job: As PREP-KC’s first Director of Development and a senior member of our team, you will work closely with the President and other organizational leaders to build relationships, help design the development engine, and secure philanthropic support.

The Director will focus on three priorities:

  • Build relationships. Develop a strong pipeline of prospective supporters, initially emphasizing corporate partners and other high-potential prospects across the Kansas City region. Open doors, cultivate relationships, and expand PREP-KC’s network of donors and advocates.
  • Help design the development engine. Work with PREP-KC’s leadership team to build the strategies, systems, tools, and practices that turn new relationships into sustainable philanthropic support, including approaches to prospect development, corporate giving, sponsorships, donor engagement, and stewardship.
  • Generate philanthropic support. Turn relationships into financial support through thoughtful cultivation, compelling asks, consistent follow-through, and strong stewardship. Grow corporate giving and sponsorships while developing other promising sources of support.
Across these priorities, look beyond the gift itself to create value throughout PREP-KC, including opportunities for students, connections with industry professionals, new advocates, and support for organizational priorities.

About You: We are looking for an experienced relationship builder who enjoys opening doors, listening for opportunities, connecting people to purpose, and asking others to invest.
You may bring experience in fundraising, corporate relations, business development, sales, community engagement, partnership development, or a combination of these fields. An existing network across the Kansas City region is valuable, as is a demonstrated ability to build strong networks and trusted relationships.

Successful candidates will bring at least five years of relevant experience, strong communication and storytelling skills, excellent follow-through, a disciplined approach to managing relationships and opportunities, and the confidence to represent PREP-KC with corporate, civic, philanthropic, and community leaders.

Position Structure & Benefits: PREP-KC anticipates this will be a full-time Director-level position. We are also open to discussing a reduced schedule with an exceptional candidate whose experience and availability align with PREP-KC’s needs. Scope, priorities, and expectations would be adjusted accordingly.
Compensation is competitive and commensurate with the candidate’s experience. Full-time employees receive a comprehensive benefits package, including health and dental insurance and a 403(b) retirement plan with company matching.

The position requires regular in-person meetings, networking, and relationship-building throughout the Kansas City region.

Apply: Send your cover letter and resume to Susan Wally at jobs@prepkc.org. 

Job Type: Full Time