Development Manager

Development Manager

Who We Are

Spark the Journey is a nonprofit organization that provides mentorship and a community of support for young adults to chart their own paths to achieving college and career success. Spark the Journey is continuing Capital Partners for Education’s legacy and is growing into a national community. Spark the Journey’s unique mentorship approach fosters long-lasting relationships between mentors and mentees as young adults choose and pursue the education, career path, or personal goals they want to achieve—with a community of support behind them.

About the Role

The Development Manager works with Spark the Journey’s Development team to support fundraising goals by managing individual donor prospecting, designing donor cultivation and stewardship strategies, planning organizational fundraising events, maintaining high-quality donor data management, and supervising the Development and Operations coordinator. This position reports to the Director of Advancement.

Responsibilities

Donor Prospecting and Cultivation

• Generate prospective donor profiles, meeting briefs and talking points, leading on the coordination of donor invitations and meeting logistics for individuals and corporations
• Work with the Development team on the organization’s campaigns and individual appeals, particularly creating mailing lists from the database, coordinating with board members on their contact lists, and coordinating with Communications team members on content and distribution
• Manage all aspects of individual donor development for mid-level and annual fund donors, including identification, cultivation, solicitation, acknowledgement, and stewardship
• Research and identify conferences, events, and other opportunities to generate new donor leads

Donor Stewardship

• Work with the Development Coordinator and Director of Development to inspire donors to move up the gift pipeline
• Regularly update donor data in the development team’s database (Salesforce), to ensure accurate financial projections
• Engage effectively with donors and stakeholders via email, phone calls, virtual calls, or occasional in-person meetings
• Oversee the Development Coordinator’s execution of acknowledgment letters, pledge management, and other fundamental fundraising tasks

Communications & Events

• Collaborate with Communications team members on fundraising projects, including monthly giving programs, special appeals, and peer to peer fundraising projects.
• Manage the execution and planning of two annual fundraising events
• Support Spark’s direct mail and digital fundraising campaigns, with a focus on increasing mentor support and securing recurring/multi-year gifts
• Attend events as needed to elevate Spark’s brand awareness
• Other responsibilities as necessary to support team and organizational goals

Management

• Supervise and support professional development of a Development and Operations Coordinator

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• At least three (3) years of experience working in nonprofit development or fundraising
• Demonstrated success of meeting fundraising goals, through diverse funding streams and experience securing individual major gifts of at least $5,000
• Proven record of building and nurturing relationship with executive leaders, board members and various high net-worth individuals
• Proficiency working in CRMs, preferably Salesforce
• Detail-oriented with strong problem-solving and organizational skills, with an ability to meet multiple deadlines
• Good interpersonal skills; able to work with cross-functional teams and lead through influence.
• Ability to manage and work within a budget
• Provide friendly, donor-centered customer service and represent the organization and our mission in a professional and positive manner
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Passion for Spark’s mission in helping low-income and first-generation-to-college students obtain a college degree and career readiness skills
• Ability to attend and travel to Washington DC donor events and meetings in the evening or weekends, as necessary
• We are not able to sponsor employment visas for this position. Applicants for this position should be legally able to work full time in the United States for 12 months

Physical Requirements 

This position is primarily sedentary, but may involve moving, lifting and carrying around materials around at fundraising or engagement events. The person in this position will need to respond to emails, chat messages, and audio/visual communications, and may need to occasionally move about inside the office to liaise with internal team members, access files, and use office machinery such as a copier/printer.

How You Will Be Compensated

The starting salary range for this position is $60,000 - $76,100 annually, depending on skills and experiences brought to the role. To counter pay inequality and uphold internal parity, Spark uses a non-negotiable salary system. Our goal is to offer a competitive salary that also meets our equity guidelines. Rather than negotiating, we offer a comprehensive benefits package which includes:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with FSA options, effective the first day of the month following employment
• 403(b) retirement plan with 3% employer match
• Life and disability insurance with premiums fully funded by Spark
• 15 days of paid vacation in each of the first two years; 20 days in subsequent years
• Office closed on national and state holidays and between December 24 – January 1

Spark provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.