Development Manager, Individual Giving

About the role

Leadership Brainery is a nonprofit dedicated to preparing young leaders aged 18–24 for success in graduate school. This role focuses on Individual Giving to help grow and steward the organization's individual donor portfolio during a period of expansion.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, and maintain an accurate gift table on gift progress.
• Upgrade existing donors in the $1,000 range to multi-year supporters and major gift donors, and cultivate new individual donors capable of making gifts at or above the $5,000 level.
• Build long-term donor relationships grounded in mission alignment and transformational impact.
• Create and prepare briefing materials, donor proposals, and other impact updates for supporters.
• Conduct prospect research and develop individualized engagement strategies for donor prospects.
• Maintain records in the Bloomerang CRM to track donor engagement activities, pipeline progress, and fundraising metrics.
• Build authentic relationships with donors, alumni, partners, and supporters through personalized and collective engagement strategies.
• Use donor data to develop systems and strategies for donor acknowledgment, stewardship, and reporting.
• Create donor experiences that deepen affinity and encourage long-term investment in the mission, including in-person and virtual donor events.
• Strengthen and refine systems for donor tracking, moves management, reporting, and campaign operations within Bloomerang.
• Monitor fundraising performance and provide regular updates on donor pipeline activity and campaign progress.
• Ensure donor data and post-meeting reports are accurate and updated regularly, and that task deadlines are met.

Qualifications

• A commitment to the mission and values of Leadership Brainery is essential.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and successfully soliciting gifts in the $1,000-$10,000+ range.
• Ability to work in person in Boston, MA, two days per week.
• Bachelor's degree and/or equivalent experience.
• Proven ability or a strong desire to learn the process of individual donor solicitation.
• An eagerness to network, make connections, and talk about Leadership Brainery to individuals in the community.
• Flexibility to attend events or meetings before and after work hours. An all-hands-on-deck mentality.
• Demonstrated ability to upgrade and retain donors through relationship-centered engagement strategies and strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience using CRM systems, specifically Bloomerang, to manage donor engagement and fundraising activity is preferred.
• Candidates ideally should have 2+ years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, or advancement, with demonstrated success in individual giving and donor cultivation.
• Previous work with alumni communities, emerging professionals, or leadership development organizations is a plus.
• Familiarity with donor moves management and prospect research tools is preferred, as is experience partnering with executive leaders and boards on fundraising strategy.
• Knowledge of fundraising best practices related to major gifts, stewardship, and campaign planning is highly valued.

Initial Success Indicators

• Total first-year fundraising goal of $150,000.
• Success in acquiring new donors: ten contributions of $1,000, eight at $2,500, and nine at $5,000.
• Achieving approximately $55,000 in active gifts renewed, and recapturing approximately $25,000 from lapsed donors.
• Upgrade at least five donors from $1,000 to $5,000+.
• Increase the donor retention rate from 41% to 45%.
• Attend at least 80 networking events per year, averaging two per week, including both virtual and in-person opportunities.
• Consistent execution of one professional development activity per month.

Compensation & Benefits

Leadership Brainery offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, along with a benefits package and opportunities for professional growth and advancement. Salary Range: $70,000-75,000. Location: This position is primarily based in Boston, Massachusetts, with a hybrid schedule of two days in person and three days remote. Travel: Frequent local and national travel for donor meetings, events, and organizational gatherings is required. Generous benefits, including three weeks of paid vacation and medical, dental, and vision insurance, $1,500 professional development stipend, a start-up environment with amazingly talented and fun teammates and a leadership team invested in your professional growth and success, and a beautiful and inspiring workplace on Beacon Street in Boston's historic Back Bay neighborhood. Enjoy local restaurants and parks, or stroll down the Charles River Esplanade for lunch. Equal Employment Opportunity Leadership Brainery is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, gender identity, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.