Development Manager

The Development Manager will play an integral role in advancing the organization’s fundraising and development efforts. Reporting to the Senior Director of Development and Communications, the Development Manager will work collaboratively as part of a team, which includes the Senior Director and a Development Associate. This position will focus on executing fundraising initiatives, managing donor relationships, supporting events, and overseeing day-to-day development operations. The ideal candidate will bring strong organizational skills, creativity, and a passion for fostering donor engagement to support the mission of the organization.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising and Donor Relations

• Support the implementation of a comprehensive development strategy, including individual giving, corporate partnerships, and grant opportunities.
• Manage a portfolio of mid-level donors and prospects, focusing on cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director to identify new funding opportunities and strategies for donor engagement.
• Oversee donor acknowledgment processes to ensure timely and personalized recognition.
• Assist in developing and executing direct mail and email fundraising campaigns.

Grant Writing and Management

• Assist in identifying grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources that align with organizational priorities.
• Collaborate with the Senior Director to write compelling grant proposals, ensuring alignment with funder guidelines and priorities.
• Prepare supporting materials for grant applications, including budgets, program descriptions, and impact data.
• Track grant deadlines, submissions, reporting requirements, and compliance to ensure timely follow-through.
• Support the Grants Manager (if applicable) in maintaining accurate records of grant applications and outcomes.

Event Management

• Assist in planning and executing fundraising events, including annual fundraisers, donor cultivation programs, and community engagement activities.
• Collaborate with event consultants to ensure seamless event logistics.
• Identify opportunities to maximize event fundraising through sponsorships, committees, and volunteer engagement.
• Support the development of sponsorship materials for events and cultivate relationships with corporate sponsors.

Database Management and Reporting

• Oversee donor database (e.g., Virtuous CRM) management to ensure accurate tracking of donations, donor interactions, and campaign performance.
• Generate regular reports on fundraising progress for internal stakeholders.
• Analyze data to identify trends and opportunities for growth in donor engagement.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development and Communications to align activities with organizational goals.
• Supervise the Development Associate by providing guidance on administrative tasks, donor communications, and database management.
• Collaborate with other departments to integrate development efforts into broader organizational initiatives.

Communications Support

• Assist in creating donor-focused communications such as newsletters, appeals, sponsorship materials, and annual reports in collaboration with the communications team.
• Unearth compelling stories that highlight the organization’s impact to share with donors and stakeholders.
• Provide content for social media platforms related to donor engagement and events.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Business Administration, or a related field is required.

Experience:

• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit development or related roles.
• Proven success in managing fundraising campaigns or events.
• Experience working with donor databases (e.g., Virtuous CRM or similar platforms) is preferred.

Skills:

• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for engaging donors and stakeholders effectively.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; advanced Excel skills are a plus.
• Analytical mindset with experience generating reports and interpreting data for strategic decision-making.

Personal Attributes:

• Passion for social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives aligned with the organization’s mission.
• Ability to build trust-based relationships with donors, partners, and team members.
• Collaborative team player who thrives in a fast-paced environment while maintaining flexibility in work style.

Competencies:

• Advanced Excel is a plus.
• CRM database software experience.

Pay Range: $32.00 - $52.08 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.