People in conversation

Now Hiring: Development Manager

Founded in 1989, Essential Partners (EP) is an independent 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that helps people build relationships across differences to address their communities’ most pressing challenges. EP has empowered people around the globe with its Reflective Structured Dialogue approach, a proven, adaptable, scalable framework with the power to transform the way people engage differences of identities, values, and perspectives wherever they live, work, worship, and learn.

Essential Partners now seeks a collaborative, creative, independent Development Manager. The right applicant will join our small, talented, impact-driven team of full-time staff members as well as our pool of project-based expert practitioners and a dedicated Board of Directors. This role will work collaboratively to meet short- and long-term strategic goals and to advance EP’s transformative vision of change in the world.

The ideal person for this role will have hands-on experience managing and executing an organization’s fundraising plan, including but not limited to the management of appeal campaigns, donor database records, donor stewardship, and regular reporting. The position's core responsibilities as well as applicant qualifications and instructions for how to apply can all be found below.

Essential Partners embraces diversity of identity, belief, and background in every aspect of our organization and is committed to co-creating an inclusive workplace for all.

Position Summary

Job Title: Development Manager
Reports to: Co-Executive Director
FSLA Status: Exempt, Full-time
Salary Range: $66,000-$79,000, Depending on Experience

Manages all aspects of the annual development plan, the annual fund, and strategic development initiatives in partnership with the Executive Director(s) toward achieving Essential Partner’s Strategic Plan goals.

Core Responsibilities & Qualifications

  • In close partnership with the Co-Executive Directors and in collaboration with key stakeholders across the organization, support the development and implementation of EP's strategic fundraising program to expand the organization’s funder pool and steward relationships with individual donors and institutional grantmakers and funders
  • Support the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of donor prospects for leadership giving, planned giving, and capital giving opportunities
  • Monitor annual revenue goals and budgets for EP’s fundraising program in alignment with short- and long-term strategic goals
  • Use Salesforce and fundraising platforms to maintain accurate donor records, enter data, and produce regular reports in alignment with protocols for data entry, gift processing and acknowledgment, and grant reporting
  • Conduct targeted background research and analysis on prospective donors, grantmakers, and sponsors to assess capacity and likelihood of support
  • Collaboratively create and execute strategies to expand and retain the organization’s base of low- and mid-level annual fund donors (e.g., through annual appeals)
  • Collaborate closely with the Director of Marketing and Communications to produce relevant and persuasive fundraising literature and messaging for donors, funders, and EP’s broader audiences
  • Oversee and manage application pipelines, reporting requirements, and on-time submissions for grant opportunities in collaboration with external grant-writing consultants and operations and programs teams 
  • Support other fundraising activities as needed (which may include small-scale fundraising events, corporate sponsor pitches, and/or other appeal tactics)
  • Supervise development interns and consultants
  • Coordinate with staff, the Board of Directors, and the Board’s Development Committee  on fundraising initiatives when appropriate to cultivate and support an organization-wide culture of philanthropy and impact

Effective implementation of these responsibilities will result in:

  • Increased impact and accessibility of EP’s work and program partnerships through funding of pro bono projects by grants, donors, and sponsors
  • Increasingly robust and diversified funding streams from growing networks of individual and institutional funders
  • Strong relationships with donors and funders leading to consistent and increasing contributions
  • Transparent reporting and communication across stakeholder groups in a way that mobilizes the organization towards fundraising goals

In addition, this position is expected to participate in organizational life via regular staff meetings, occasional in-person gatherings and events, as well as any other meetings necessary to support effective collaboration across teams and roles. The position will also support reporting and documentation requirements to maintain effective and reliable organizational systems as necessary and appropriate.

Qualifications:

  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills to effectively engage a variety of diverse audiences (this includes but is not limited to individual donors, grantmaking officers, strategic partners, and public audiences)
  • Experience in project management and maintenance of organizational systems using a variety of software and tools (including, at minimum, Salesforce and Google Suite)
  • Highly knowledgeable with the landscape of nonprofit fundraising best practices and their appropriate application
  • Foundation relationship management experience with grant reporting experience
  • Experience successfully implementing an annual development strategy and action plan in coordination with the ED(s) and in alignment with the organization’s budget and goals
  • Ability to manage a variety of fundraising campaigns in coordination with the ED(s) and Director of Marketing and Communications – including (but not limited to) major donor engagement plans, and end-of-year appeals (direct mail and email)
  • Entrepreneurial approach with the ability to work independently to manage multiple projects, and meet deadlines consistently
  • Ability to coordinate collaborative, multi-stakeholder efforts to qualify for, apply for, and write reports for grant-funded projects within deadlines
  • A desire to grow the organization’s fundraising profile and achievements and support the increased scale and sustainability of its mission and impacts
  • A commitment to cultivating a culture that values and invites diverse identities, worldviews, and perspectives
  • At least 5 years of experience in fundraising and/or development within nonprofit organizations OR 3 years of fundraising and/or development experience within nonprofit organizations plus at least 3 additional years of transferable experience required
  • Bachelor’s Degree and development leadership experience preferred
  • The ability to remain in a stationary position for at least 50% of the time; to operate a computer and other office productivity machinery; and to travel locally and nationally

Compensation & Workplace

Essential Partners is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. This position is a full-time position with competitive benefits including sick leave, new parent leave, four weeks of PTO, paid company holidays, retirement matching after 1000 hours and one year of work, and medical and dental insurance. The approximate salary ranges from $66,000-$79,000 annually depending on experience.

Essential Partners is a fully remote organization; all employees are required to be residents of the United States of America and are able to work remotely from anywhere. Essential Partners does not currently base salary rates on location, and offers both initial funding as well as monthly connectivity stipends to ensure all employees have access to a safe, secure, healthful, and comfortable work environment with the equipment and tools required for their role. EP also hosts regular in-person retreats, which are scheduled in coordination with employees to ensure all staff are able to gather together regularly. 

That said, this role requires regular work in and with colleagues and funders in the US Eastern Time Zone, so this role must reside in the Northeast United States (Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, or Maine). This role also requires occasional time outside of normal business hours to meet with donors, host events, pursue relevant professional development opportunities, or build strategic relationships. 

Essential Partners is an equal opportunity employer. We embrace diversity of identity, belief, and background in every aspect of our organization and we are committed to co-creating an inclusive workplace for all.

To Apply

Please submit a resume or CV with a relevant writing sample to careers@whatisessential.org. The subject of your email should be “Development Manager - [Your Name]”.  Applicants are invited to provide more details and texture about their relevant experience and interest in the form of an optional cover letter. 

The priority deadline to submit applications is January 10 with the hope of filling the position as early as January 2024, but the hiring process is ongoing on a rolling basis and will continue until the position is filled. Staff will review application materials then reach out to schedule 3 rounds of interviews. Finalists will be asked to share 2-3 references. We will continue to accept applications until the position is filled.