Development Programs Manager

The Position

The National Women's Law Center (NWLC) seeks a highly organized, detail-oriented Development Manager to play a central role in advancing NWLC’s fundraising goals. This position will serve as the project manager for NWLC’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Project Defiance, prospect research, funder engagement preparation and support of all fundraising activities.

The Development Manager ensures smooth execution of weekly fundraising operations (such as donor call time management and leadership briefing packets), coordinates cross-team efforts around donor engagement, and maintains the systems and processes that fuel frontline fundraising success.

Reporting to the Vice President for Development, the Development Manager works closely with senior leadership, frontline fundraisers, and colleagues across NWLC to strengthen NWLC’s fundraising infrastructure, identify and cultivate new supporters, and provide best-in-class experiences for donors.

This is a full-time, exempt position of 37.5 hours per week.

The Organization

The National Women’s Law Center fights for gender justice — in the courts, in public policy, and in our society — working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls.

We use the law in all its forms to change culture and drive solutions to the gender inequity that shapes our society and to break down the barriers that harm all of us — especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.

For more than 50 years, we have been on the leading edge of every major legal and policy victory for women. Find out more at NWLC.org.

Responsibilities

• Identify and research funding prospects for frontline fundraisers for all revenue streams.
• Serve as project manager for NWLC’s comprehensive fundraising campaign, Project Defiance, tracking deadlines, deliverables, and progress against goals.
• Manage and execute the Call Time Program and coordinating with the Sr Development Directors, the Vice President for Development, and all frontline fundraisers to ensure consistent portfolio coverage and solicitation activity.
• Function as the primary liaison to the Office of the President, ensuring a streamlined preparation/briefing process in support of Development-led engagement and travel with the President + CEO
• Provide regular administrative support to the Leadership Advisory Committee (LAC), pro bono program, NWLC’s comprehensive campaign Project Defiance, and NWLC’s donor-facing events including the Annual Gala.
• Support the digital, direct mail, and planned giving fundraising programs, as needed.
• Provide administrative support for the central operations of the team that include but are not limited to maintaining org ratings and reviews such as GuideStar, updating development-specific website content, reconciling and submitting expense reports for VP, and supporting scheduling where needed
• Work regularly within all Development tools, specifically, Raiser’s Edge, Trellis, EveryAction, Outlook, Sharepoint, Workvivo, and WealthEngine.
• Monitor and respond to external inquiries from supporters via central email addresses.
• Serve as the backup to the donor acknowledgement and gift-processing functions.
• Additional related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate will possess:

• At minimum 2 years of progressive fundraising or development operations experience, including direct experience in gift processing, prospect research, and database maintenance.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects and balancing multiple deadlines with initiative, flexibility, and attention to detail.
• Strong understanding of nonprofit fundraising operations, preferably within complex, multi-entity organizations.
• Excellent writing, editing, and verbal communication skills, with a strong eye for detail and accuracy.
• Ability to work across departments and engage colleagues at all levels, including senior leadership.
• Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge and prospect research tools.
• Commitment to NWLC’s mission and values, including gender justice, racial equity, and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
• Sound judgment and discretion when working with sensitive donor or organizational information.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings or travel for donor engagement and events.

Additional Preferred Skills and Knowledge

• Familiarity with fundraising best practices across digital, major gifts, and institutional channels
• Familiarity with compliance considerations across c3/c4/PAC fundraising
• Knowledge of NWLC’s key issue areas, including reproductive rights, income security, and workplace justice
• Experience preparing donor/funder briefings for senior leadership.

Key Relations

The Development Manager will report directly to the Vice President for Development, and work closely with colleagues across Development, Finance, Communications, Programs, and Executive teams, including the President & CEO, Chief of Staff, and Chief of External Affairs.

Compensation & Benefits

A salary within the range of $90,696-106,175 will be provided to the successful candidate with at least 2 years of experience, consistent with the National Women’s Law Center’s compensation framework. The successful candidate’s salary within this range will be determined by the number years of relevant experience they bring to the role.

The Center offers a comprehensive benefits package, and four weeks of annual vacation.

NWLC is a non-profit organization whose headquarters and staff are based in Washington, D.C. at our new office at 1350 Eye Street N.W. This role is based in D.C. and will be eligible for some telework while also being expected to work in person on a regular basis. The successful candidate will need to live in or relocate to the DMV (broadly defined as DC, Maryland, or Virginia).

The first 90 days of employment will be considered a probationary period.

Classification

NWLC recognizes a staff bargaining unit, NWLC United, affiliated with the Nonprofit Professional Employees Union/IFPTE Local 70, a union for non-profit workers. This position is included in NWLC’s bargaining unit. Specific employment terms are subject to collective bargaining.

How to Apply

To apply, please submit a resume and a cover letter outlining how your professional background is a good fit for this position. Resumes should include exact start and end dates (month and year) of employment, as well as the average number of hours worked per week in each job. Applications accepted until position is filled.

Applicants will be contacted if selected for an interview. We kindly request that interested parties refrain from calling, emailing, or visiting NWLC’s offices to express interest or check on the status of their application.

The National Women’s Law Center is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values a diverse workforce. We strongly encourage and seek applications from people with disabilities; people of all genders, gender identities and sexual orientations; people of color; and veterans.

At NWLC, our diversity is our strength, and the variety of lived experiences that connect our teammates to the mission of gender justice is our superpower. We know that members of marginalized groups tend to apply for positions only if they believe they are a 100% match for the role. If you are passionate about NWLC’s mission and think you can be successful in this role, please apply. We’d appreciate the opportunity to consider your application.

Reasonable Accommodations

If you require reasonable accommodations during any part of the hiring process, please email NWLCHR@nwlc.org.