Development Manager

The Development Manager will lead the organization’s efforts to secure sustainable revenue while ensuring that all development strategies reflect the historical and cultural context of the organization. The role focuses on identifying and cultivating creative funding sources, including state, regional, and national grants, building an individual donor program, and working closely with the Executive Director to develop diverse revenue streams.

A successful candidate will understand how to connect the site’s history and descendant-led mission to funders, donors, and community stakeholders while advancing programs that promote racial reconciliation.

Key Responsibilities

Historical Context–Driven Grant Research & Management (40%)

• Identify, research, and pursue state, regional, and national grants, with emphasis on humanities, cultural preservation, arts, racial equity, and community engagement funders.
• Ensure all proposals, budgets, and reports reflect a nuanced understanding of the historical significance of the site and the experiences of its descendants.
• Manage the full grant lifecycle, including submissions, reporting, and compliance.
• Develop creative approaches to funders, including partnerships and collaborative proposals that highlight the site’s history and reconciliation mission.

Individual Donor Program Development (35%)

• Build and grow a robust individual donor program that connects donors to the organization’s mission, history, and descendant-led leadership.
• Create compelling communications — including newsletters, impact stories, and campaign materials — that center historical context and the ongoing legacy of the site.
• Develop donor acquisition, stewardship, and retention strategies.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board to cultivate major donors and long-term supporters.
• Lead annual giving campaigns, including Giving Tuesday and year-end fundraising.

Organizational Revenue Strategy (20%)

• Work closely with the Executive Director to identify and evaluate diverse revenue streams (earned income, events, sponsorships, partnerships) aligned with the site’s mission and history.
• Support financial planning, forecasting, and budgeting related to development.
• Track and analyze fundraising performance to guide strategic decisions that ensure financial sustainability while honoring historical priorities.

General Development Support (5%)

• Maintain accurate donor and grant records in the CRM system.
• Provide updates to the Executive Director and Board on fundraising progress, highlighting connections to the site’s historical mission.
• Represent the organization at funder events, community gatherings, and public forums, demonstrating knowledge and respect for the site’s historical context and descendant-led leadership.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of fundraising or development experience, preferably in small nonprofits, cultural institutions, or history-focused organizations.
• Proven success in securing grants from government agencies, foundations, or corporate funders.
• Experience building or expanding individual donor programs.
• Strong writing, storytelling, and communication skills, with the ability to interpret and convey complex historical narratives to diverse audiences.
• Understanding of American history, the legacy of slavery, and racial reconciliation initiatives.
• Comfort collaborating with a descendant-led team and representing the organization’s history with sensitivity and integrity.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple deadlines.