Development Manager

Overview

The Development Manager is the primary internal driver of day-to-day fundraising execution. This role translates strategy into action through portfolio management, direct and written solicitation, stewardship systems, event-related revenue activity, reporting, and moves management. The role is central to revenue growth because it carries a defined donor portfolio, advances pipeline movement, executes stewardship plans, supports leadership-facing fundraising activity, and leads event-related additional revenue not reflected in donor portfolios.

Qualifications and Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required
• 7–9 years of nonprofit fundraising experience
• Experience managing donor portfolios, events, stewardship systems, and annual fundraising activity
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Power-user proficiency in Salesforce database management, reporting, and pipeline tracking
• Strong written and donor communication skills
• Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with senior leadership

Preferred Qualifications

• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple projects
• Ability to act as a strategic thought partner in tandem with the Executive Director and make recommendations that consider competing needs and priorities
• Comfortable with data and able to synthesize data from different sources to inform strategy
• Clear commitment and vision for how equity and inclusion is incorporated in organizational design and fundraising practice
• Effective leadership, critical thinking, and adept problem solving
• Adaptability through a flexible and open-minded attitude
• Ability to lead meetings and delegate responsibilities
• Success Measures: Assigned portfolio is actively managed with clear next steps and documented movement, Stewardship is timely, consistent, and aligned with donor value and giving history, Event-related revenue is planned, tracked, and grown in a disciplined manner, Reporting is accurate, timely, and useful for decision-making, Revenue expectations of $175,000–$200,000 are met or exceeded annually in the first three years

Role and Responsibilities

Portfolio Management and Donor Stewardship

• Manage an assigned portfolio of individual donors, corporate partners, and other prospects designated by the Executive Director
• Advance relationships through qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship using a structured pipeline approach
• Maintain individualized donor engagement plans, including outreach, meetings, stewardship steps, and annual ask timing
• Coordinate follow-up after meetings, donor visits, and major relationship touchpoints

Event-Related Revenue Management

• Lead planning, tracking, and execution of event-related additional revenue
• Manage sponsorship outreach, event revenue tracking, donor follow-up, and post-event stewardship
• Ensure event activity supports the broader donor strategy rather than operating as a stand-alone function

Fundraising Systems and Reporting

• Maintain active management for assigned relationships in Salesforce
• Track donor stage movement, progress to goal, renewals, and stewardship completion
• Produce regular fundraising reports for the Executive Director and Board
• Maintain accurate records and support strong data integrity practices

Leadership and Cross-Functional Support

• Supervise the Program Support Specialist and Contract Grant Writer and help prioritize workflow across the development function
• Translate fundraising data into actionable management insight

Other Duties

Please note that this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.