Development Operations Manager

We are looking for a Development Operations Manager to join our team at Project Success. Project Success is a youth development nonprofit organization that helps students connect to their purpose. We work with more than 17,000 6th-12th grade students and their families annually and have more than 225,000 alumni around the world. Learn more at projectsuccess.org

The Development Operations Manager is responsible for the systems, tools, and processes that support fundraising at Project Success. They manage the operational foundation behind fundraising, improving how systems and processes function over time, and ensuring the team has the tools, information, and support they need to operate effectively. They play a key role in strengthening how information flows across the Advancement team, supporting external communications, reporting, and day-to-day operations.

This role reports to the Senior Director of Advancement and is part of the Advancement team at Project Success.

Our ideal candidate is proactive, detail-oriented, and comfortable working across a wide range of responsibilities. They bring a solid understanding of fundraising operations and can confidently maintain and improve technical systems and processes. They are comfortable communicating directly with team members, donors, partners, and can handle sensitive information with care and discretion.

CORE JOB RESPONSIBILITIES

Development Operations

• Serve as the central point of coordination for the Advancement Team, managing project timelines, and ensuring clear communication and consistent follow-through on fundraising initiatives
• Collaborate with the Senior Director of Advancement to ensure systems, processes, and day-to-day operations align with fundraising goals and strategies
• Support the planning and execution of large and small-scale fundraising events
• Manage and continuously improve processes for gift processing, acknowledgements, and donor recognition
• Support the Senior Director of Advancement with departmental budget tracking, expense monitoring, and forecasting
• Ensure operations align with ethical fundraising practices and organizational policies
• Support and champion the Project Success mission, values, and commitment to inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility
• Build and maintain effective, collaborative working relationships with colleagues, donors, board members, volunteers, and community partners
• Participate in team meetings, trainings, and other events as needed

Systems Management

• Maintain the donor database, currently Raiser’s Edge (NXT web view and hosted database view), ensuring accuracy and usability across the team
• Implement and uphold standardized data entry, coding structures, and reporting policies and procedures
• Develop and maintain dashboards and reports to monitor key fundraising metrics and support decision making
• Coordinate with IT, Blackbaud and other vendor partners to maintain system performance and resolve technical issues
• Serve as an internal resource for systems and tools that support fundraising operations, providing guidance, training, and troubleshooting as needed
• Continuously assess and improve how systems and tools support team workflows and fundraising operations

Other Duties as Assigned

MISSION, VISION, AND VALUES + INCLUSION, DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about the success of our students and share the mission, vision, and values of Project Success.

Mission: Project Success motivates and inspires young people to dream about the future, helps them take steps to get there and gives them the tools they need to achieve their goals.

Vision: Every child entering middle school will graduate high school with a plan for their future and have the skills and confidence that will take them through the rest of their lives.

Values:

Kids First!

Dependability, Reliability, and Trust

A Non-Judgmental Environment

Willingness to Grow and Change

Love is the Key

Develop Healthy Relationships

Clear and Open Communication

Sustain Excellence

Commitment to Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Accessibility (I.D.E.A.):

Project Success strives to connect students to their purpose by creating programming that truly serves our students and families. We envision a Project Success where inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility are fully integrated into everything we do. We aim to hire individuals that care deeply about students, families, and community, share our values, and are committed to practicing ongoing anti-racism work and I.D.E.A. principles.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND SKILLS

Please note that while the qualifications below are preferred for this position, we do not expect any one person to necessarily have all the items listed. We highly encourage people with a wide range of education, experience, and skill levels to apply for this position.

• Bachelor’s degree or 4+ years of similar experience (or a combination of training, education, and experience that provides the required knowledge and abilities)
• 4+ years of experience in fundraising, non-profit operations, or a related field
• Experience working with a CRM or donor database, Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred
• Tech-savvy with a willingness to learn new systems
• Strong organizational skills and ability to create and maintain effective systems and processes
• Exceptional time management skills with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks
• Demonstrated commitment to equitable and inclusive fundraising practices and the ability to engage with donors, volunteers, and communities from diverse backgrounds
• Demonstrated commitment to safeguarding sensitive information with the utmost discretion, care, and integrity
• Commitment to continuous learning and incorporation of new information
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Zoom

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Must have a valid driver’s license and auto insurance
• Ability to sit and/or stand for prolonged periods, including movement up and down stairs and throughout office environment and at events
• Must be able to lift up to 25 pounds at times and 50 pounds on occasion

POSITION DETAILS

This position is a full-time salaried exempt position. This role will require regular in-office work at our headquarters in Minneapolis, with some flexibility for remote work. The work schedule will vary depending on the needs of the department and will include evening and weekend hours for events and meetings. Travel will be up to 20%, primarily local. Details on schedule to be discussed in the interview process.

The compensation package includes the following:

• $60,000-$70,000 annual salary
• Generous paid time off
• Excellent Health Insurance with a low deductible (PS pays 100% of the monthly premium rate)
• Excellent Dental and Vision Insurance (PS pays 100% of the monthly premium rate)
• Short-Term Disability and Life Insurance (PS pays 100% of the monthly premium rate)
• SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with up to a 3% match
• Free parking at the PS office

TO APPLY

Please email the following to apply@projectsuccess.org with a subject line including the name of the position, addressed to Tanner Curl, Senior Director of Advancement:

• Resume
• Cover Letter
• References
• Where you heard about us and/or found the job posting

To learn more, visit: https://www.projectsuccess.org/join-our-team/

Project Success is dedicated to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage candidates from a wide variety of backgrounds and experience levels to apply!