Development Manager

Special Olympics DC

Special Olympics DC (SODC) empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through year-round sports, health, and community-building. We are seeking a mission-driven, results-oriented Development Manager to grow philanthropic support through events, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.

Role Summary

The Development Manager is a mid-level fundraiser responsible for managing a portfolio of donors and sponsors, leading signature fundraising events, and supporting grant efforts to drive revenue growth. This role blends relationship management, event production, and data-informed fundraising. The position reports to the CEO and collaborates closely with programs, athletes, volunteers, and board members.

Key Responsibilities

• • Manage and grow a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects; conduct proactive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet annual revenue goals.
  • Drive corporate sponsorship strategy: identify prospects, develop proposals, secure commitments, and ensure timely, high-quality fulfillment and recognition.
  • Create compelling donor and sponsor communications (invitations, appeals, social media assets, event scripts).
  • Use CRM to track activity, prospect pipeline, and measure ROI; produce reports and post-event analyses to optimize retention and revenue.
  • Support grant pipeline with research, grant writing, data gathering, and grant reporting in collaboration with program leads.
  • Uphold SODC’s values of inclusion, athlete leadership, and community impact in all fundraising activities.

Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree preferred; 3–5 years of professional nonprofit fundraising, event fundraising, or corporate partnerships experience.
  • Demonstrated success closing sponsorships or gifts and meeting revenue targets.
  • Strong event management skills with attention to detail, timelines, and budgets.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to diverse audiences and representing the SODC mission.
  • Proficiency with fundraising CRMs, Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools (Monday.com); data-driven mindset.
  • Collaborative, organized, and adaptable; able to manage multiple priorities and balance internal and external stakeholder needs.
  • Ability to successfully exercise independent judgment and discretion to reach your goals; able to effectively manage sometimes conflicting priorities in a multi-faceted, time-sensitive environment.
  • Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends based on the organization’s scheduled events and other business needs.
  • A passion for the Special Olympics mission

What We Offer

• • Opportunity to create visible impact alongside athletes, families, and community partners.
  • Supportive team culture with professional development and growth pathways.
  • Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with experience.

Benefits include, but are not limited to: medical, dental, life and long-term disability insurance, vacation, sick and personal days, federal holidays, a paid winter break, and paid parking. We have a passionate small team working in a fun, challenging and fulfilling work environment.

Special Olympics DC is an Equal Opportunity Employer, seeking to recruit, develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, representative of the communities we serve.

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