Development Manager

This position is based in the United States and is a fully remote role with an organization advancing privacy, choice, and sustainability through open-source technology. You will lead fundraising and development efforts, owning the strategy across grants, corporate sponsorships, and individual giving.

About the role

You will own the fundraising strategy from prospecting through successful commitments, combining strategic planning, relationship building, grant writing, sponsorship development, and fundraising operations. This role involves close collaboration with leadership and project communities to align funding opportunities with long-term organizational priorities, sustaining influential open-source projects.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own the organization's fundraising strategy across grants, corporate sponsorships, major donors, and individual giving.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate, and steward prospective funders, sponsors, and major donors, adapting engagement and solicitation strategies to each relationship.
• Translate organizational missions, values, technology projects, and strategic roadmaps into compelling philanthropic narratives and funding proposals.
• Build and manage corporate sponsorship programs and partnership packages for major conferences, community events, and other initiatives.
• Research, write, submit, and manage grant applications and funder reports, maintaining strong communication with funders and demonstrating the impact of their support.
• Establish and maintain effective fundraising infrastructure, including donor and CRM records, pipelines, reporting processes, and donation platforms.
• Collaborate with organizational leadership and project communities to ensure fundraising priorities remain aligned with strategic goals, values, and community needs.
• Engage external partners, advisors, and international funding sources when appropriate to expand the organization's development opportunities.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing supporters while continuously developing a pipeline of new funding prospects and strategic partnerships.
• Travel periodically to meet potential donors, sponsors, and strategic partners in person.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of professional fundraising or development experience, with a demonstrated record of securing significant gifts, grants, or corporate sponsorships.
• Proven experience owning a fundraising function or leading substantial fundraising initiatives from strategy and prospecting through solicitation and closing.
• Professional experience within the technology sector, ideally involving mission-driven, nonprofit, open-source, or public-interest technology environments.
• Demonstrated success cultivating and closing corporate sponsorships and/or major donor relationships.
• Strong grant-writing, proposal development, funder communication, and reporting skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in professional English, with the ability to develop persuasive narratives and build trusted relationships.
• Strong relationship-building, stakeholder management, organization, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to work independently in a fully remote, distributed environment while collaborating effectively across teams and time zones.
• Willingness and ability to travel to meet potential donors and partners in person.
• Must currently reside in the United States and be eligible to work there.
• A genuine interest in smart-home technology, automation, privacy, sustainability, or open-source communities is highly valued.
• Experience fundraising for open-source, technology, privacy-focused, or public-interest organizations is a strong advantage.
• An established network of relevant funders, corporate sponsors, or technology-philanthropy contacts is beneficial.
• Familiarity with grant programs supporting open-source and public-interest technology is a plus.
• Experience using fundraising databases, CRM systems, donation platforms, and reporting tools is preferred.

Benefits

• Estimated annual compensation of approximately $120,000-$150,000 USD, with adjustments based on experience, qualifications, and working hours.
• Fully remote work with no fixed daily schedule and a target of at least three hours of team overlap.
• 25 days of paid time off per year.
• 14 days of paid sick leave where local laws do not provide equivalent paid coverage.
• Six weeks of paid and six weeks of unpaid parental leave, with additional support where local regulations provide less compensation.
• Dedicated budget for work hardware, with equipment eligible to become personal property after three years.
• 50% contribution toward home internet costs.
• One workday every two weeks dedicated to personal projects, including eligible projects related to the organization's technology ecosystem.
• Benefits aligned with local employment requirements, alongside a baseline package designed to provide equitable support across employees.
• Opportunity to contribute to globally recognized open-source projects focused on privacy, user choice, and sustainable technology.
• Fully remote collaboration with an international team and significant autonomy in how work is organized.