DEVELOPMENT MANAGER
Position Status/Classification: Full-time, exempt, Grade 3
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Supervises: None
Compensation: Initial range of $75,000 – $95,000. Salary commensurate with experience. Benefits include health, dental, paid time off, retirement with organizational match, and flexible workplace. Position has the opportunity for advancement to Director of Development.
Work Location: Hybrid
Work Schedule: Regular office hours
Our Mission: We improve the health, education, and success of children by advocating for effective, equitable policies, especially for families most impacted by poverty, racism, health inequities, and trauma.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Development Manager at The Children’s Agenda’s will guide fundraising strategy and execution with a focus on institutional giving, major funder relationships, annual appeals, fundraising systems, and development-related communications. This is a unique opportunity for an ambitious individual to grow professionally as they build a development team over the next 3-5 years. This new role will work closely with the CEO, senior leadership, program staff, and operations team. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven development professional passionate about supporting policy advocacy and evidence-based solutions that address the root causes of problems for children and families across our community and state.
ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Fundraising Strategy and Planning
10% OF RESPONSIBILITIES WITH GRADUAL INCREASE OVER TIME
- Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of the comprehensive annual development plan.
- In collaboration with the CEO, develop realistic and stretch projections for the annual budget.
- Work with management, program, and operations teams to identify funding priorities for general operations, program support, special projects, and strategic initiatives.
- Research funding opportunities and develop annual and multi-year fundraising strategies that support The Children’s Agenda’s mission and priorities.
- Conduct regular analyses of fundraising results, including donor retention, giving levels, funder trends, campaign effectiveness, and revenue by source.
Donor and Funder Relationship Management
15% OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT INCREASE OVER TIME
- Working in close collaboration with the CEO, cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective major funders, including foundations, individuals, businesses, and organizations.
- Support the CEO in strengthening relationships critical to long-term growth.
- Manage the grant and prospect development process in collaboration with the CEO, Senior Director of Operations, and Deputy Executive Director for Programs.
- Develop and maintain prospect lists to support event sponsorships, program funding, special projects, strategic initiatives, and long-term partnerships.
- Provide updates to foundations and major funders through meetings, calls, presentations, emails, and letters, and strategically deploy the CEO and program staff as appropriate.
- Prepare timely, personalized acknowledgments and maintain donor and funder recognition in accordance with grants management policies and agreements.
Grants Management and Institutional Giving
50% OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION OVER TIME
- Identify funding needs, prepare letters of inquiry, proposals, reports, and supporting materials, and ensure all submissions comply with funder guidelines and deadlines.
- Maintain accurate grants management records, demographic information, organizational data, standard attachments, and required documentation.
- Develop project and program budgets in collaboration with the Senior Director of Operations and Deputy Executive Director for Programs.
- Track funding notifications, deliverables, reporting requirements, deadlines, tasks, and all stages of the fundraising cycle using CRMs.
- Maintain and update grants management policies and practices.
- Communicate grant awards, program updates, outcome measurements, deliverables, and financial reconciliation needs to appropriate staff teams in accordance with grant agreements.
- Initiate pre- and post-award meetings to clarify expectations, coordinate implementation, and support successful grant management.
Events and Annual Appeals
10% OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES WITH GRADUAL INCREASE OVER TIME
- Plan and execute fundraising events as needed, ensuring that event concepts, sponsorship opportunities, logistics, and budgets align with the organization’s mission and fundraising goals.
- Cultivate corporate sponsors, major donors, vendors, volunteers, and partners to support successful event planning and execution.
- Use fundraising software and donor data to manage registrations, sponsorships, donor records, campaign lists, ask amounts, and post-event or campaign analysis.
- Write and prepare compelling annual appeal mailings and emails in collaboration with the CEO, and coordinate with vendors to ensure materials are accurate, cost-effective, and timely.
Communications and Collaboration
15% OF WORK RESPONSIBILITIES WITH GRADUAL REDUCTION OVER TIME
- Maintain current knowledge of TCA’s program work by regularly engaging with staff and participating in program-related activities as appropriate.
- Collaborate with the Communications Manager and CEO to develop messaging, donor communications, case statements, grant narratives, reports, and other materials that advance program and fundraising goals.
Perform other duties as assigned.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE:
Minimum of five years of successful experience in nonprofit fundraising, grant writing, donor relations, institutional giving, or related development work required. Experience working with foundations, major funders, annual appeals, and fundraising events strongly preferred.
REQUIRED SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS
- Write persuasive, compelling proposals, reports, appeals, case statements, and donor communications.
- Build and maintain effective relationships with funders, donors, community partners, and other stakeholders.
- Manage projects, deadlines, and cross-functional teams with accuracy, follow-through, and sound judgment.
- Use Microsoft Office, donor management systems, grants management systems, search tools, and online grant portals effectively.
- Conduct effective prospect research, organize complex information, and translate program priorities into clear fundraising materials.
- Demonstrate familiarity with all stages of the fundraising cycle, including identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgment, stewardship, reporting, and renewal.
- Work independently while contributing to a collaborative, mission-driven team culture.
- Prioritize multiple assignments and complete work accurately within established deadlines.
- Demonstrate attention to detail, efficiency, organization, initiative, and commitment to high-quality work.
- Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and respectful engagement across differences.
