Copy Of Development Manager

About the Role

The Development Manager is a newly created, individual contributor role within The Guild's Advancement & Fundraising division. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this position serves as the operational engine of The Guild's fund development program — managing the donor database, stewarding grant relationships, coordinating corporate and foundation research, and supporting the launch of signature fundraising initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Donor Database & Development Operations:
  • Serve as the primary administrator of The Guild's donor database (e.g., Little Green Light), ensuring accurate and timely entry of gifts, pledges, contact records, and donor interactions.
  • Develop and maintain data standards, reporting protocols, and database integrity practices.
  • Generate donor stewardship reports, giving histories, dashboards, and fundraising performance metrics.
  • Prepare gift acknowledgments, donor correspondence, and development reports.
  • Support forecasting, campaign tracking, and fundraising analytics.
  • Produce reports and materials for leadership, board committees, and fundraising discussions.
• Grant Management & Compliance:
  • Maintain a comprehensive grants calendar, tracking application deadlines, award periods, reporting requirements, and submission schedules.
  • Coordinate grant application and reporting processes in partnership with program leaders, finance staff, and executive leadership.
  • Monitor grant compliance requirements and ensure timely submission of reports and supporting documentation.
  • Serve as the central repository manager for grant files, correspondence, agreements, and award documentation.
  • Work closely with Finance to coordinate financial reporting and reimbursement requests when required by funders.
  • Maintain relationships with foundation and corporate funders through timely communication and stewardship.
• Prospect Research & Pipeline Development:
  • Conduct ongoing research to identify prospective individual, corporate, foundation, and government funding opportunities.
  • Develop donor and prospect profiles to support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies.
  • Research corporate sponsorship opportunities and community partnerships aligned with The Guild's strategic priorities.
  • Maintain prospect tracking systems and support movement management activities.
  • Monitor philanthropic, disability services, workforce development, and nonprofit trends that may present funding opportunities.
  • Prepare briefing materials and research summaries for executive leadership and board volunteers.
• Donor Stewardship & Relationship Support:
  • Coordinate donor acknowledgment, stewardship, and engagement activities.
  • Track cultivation plans, follow up actions and relationship management activities.
  • Support donor visits, tours, meetings, and cultivation events.
  • Partner with the Communications Manager to ensure donor impact stories and stewardship communications are timely and meaningful.
  • Support the Development Committee and other volunteer leadership groups through meeting preparation, reporting and follow-up.
• Fundraising Events & Community Engagement:
  • Coordinate logistics and administrative support for fundraising events, donor gatherings, and community engagement activities.
  • Manage registration systems, sponsorship tracking, volunteer coordination, and event reporting.
  • Maintain event timelines, vendor coordination, recognition plans, and post-event evaluations.
  • Ensure donors, sponsor, and participant information is accurately captured and integrated into the donor database.
  • Support efforts to strengthen community visibility and engagement through fundraising and relationship-building activities.
• Strategic Initiatives Support:
  • Support fundraising and partnership activities related to organizational strategic priorities, new programs, capital improvements, employment initiatives, and other mission-driven ventures.
  • Assist in coordinating research, prospect identification, and funding opportunities associated with special projects.
  • Maintain tracking systems and reporting structures for strategic fundraising initiatives.
  • Collaborate with leadership to identify emerging opportunities that advance The Guild's mission and long-term sustainability.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, public administration, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, development operations, grants management, donor relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience managing donor databases or CRM systems.
• Experience coordinating grants administration, compliance, and reporting.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
• Commitment to The Guild's mission and the advancement of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Benefits

• Excellent health benefits—medical, dental, vision.
• Employer contribution to retirement plan after 2 years of employment.
• Generous paid time off.
• Collaborative work environment that values new insight and personal contributions.
• Opportunities for professional development and growth.