Development Manager – Grants Researcher & Administrator

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

Position Title: Development Manager

Reports To: Executive Director

Department: Development

Full-time In-person

Status: Exempt

Date: October 2025

About the Organization

Casita Maria Center for Arts & Education is a youth, family and community serving organization in the Hunts Point and Longwood sections of the South Bronx. We were established in East Harlem in 1934 by Claire and Elizabeth Sullivan and Sister Mary Imelda who observed waves of Spanish-speaking people pouring in from Puerto Rico and in desperate need of services. While settlement houses were in place to address the needs of the poor, this population was made up of predominantly European immigrants. Seeing the barriers and isolation that Spanish-speaking people were confronting, Claire, Elizabeth, and Sister Mary provided essential nutrition, housing, childcare, and educational support. What they could not know at the time is that they were championing social justice for what would become one of America’s most historically marginalized groups.

For 91 years, Casita Maria has expanded its population base to serve everyone in the community and continues to serve as a gathering place for hope and enrichment through arts, culture, and education. Currently, Casita Maria has approximately 15 full-time employees and approximately 35-40 part-time assistant program coordinators, group leaders, and teaching artists who lead after-school and summer camp programs.

About the Opportunity – For Immediate Hire

Casita Maria is seeking a skilled and strategic Development Manager – Grants Researcher & Administrator – to be responsible for the full grant lifecycle, including the management and reporting of approved grants in specified functional and program areas. Additionally, and based on your performance and ability to meet or exceed deliverables and department metrics, the person in this role will have the opportunity to become Casita Maria’s Director of Development, building and leading a robust fundraising arm as Casita Maria dynamically expands its portfolio and program reach. Our hope is that you will revitalize development from one consisting on government contracts predominantly, to one that can more deeply penetrate our private sector and philanthropic contacts broadly.

The Development Manager is a member of the senior leadership team and has one direct report, a Develop Associate. Work is performed under the supervision and direction of the Executive Director and in collaboration with select Board and staff members engaged in similar fundraising activities. It requires independent judgment to determine courses of action, an ability to develop and articulate presentations of facts, and the acumen to support conclusions and recommendations. This is professional work of a specialized nature which involves problem solving and decision making; systematic investigation and research of community and City needs; determination and recommendation of programs which are fundable; securing of grants and monitoring compliance; and building a pipeline of government, institutional, private and public sector donors that will allow Casita Maria to advance our after-school program initiatives into a considerable force for the next 100 years. It is a heavy lift for a heavyweight developer!

Primary Responsibilities

Grant & Fundraising Strategy & Management

1. Work closely with the Executive Director and members of the senior leadership team to develop and execute Casita Maria's annual fundraising plan consistent with the organization’s mission, vision, goals, program model and agency brand.
2. Lead the full grants pipeline: research, strategy, writing, budgets, submissions, renewals and reporting (narrative and financial), using our online grants management platform (Instrumentl) to identify private foundations, corporations, and governmental grants.
3. Strengthen fundraising operations, documentation, and processes that support long-term revenue growth including tracking KPIs such as ROI, success rates, grant and fundraising amounts.
4. Manage our CRM software (Bloomerang), internal spreadsheets, calendars, and compliance documentation.
5. Manage the Procurement and Sourcing Solutions Portal for New York City (PASSPort).

Donor Engagement & Communications

1. Support donor cultivation and stewardship assisting with communications and collateral as needed and directed.
2. Liaise with the Board of Directors to provide updates and engage them in fundraising activities, including annual appeals.
3. Coordinate site visits, tours, and funder engagements, and represent Casita Maria at meetings, conferences, and networking events virtually and in-person.

Collaboration & Organizational Leadership

1. Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to strategic planning and organizational priorities.
2. Direct, supervise, and guide the Development Associate to support all fundraising activities, and provide for their professional development, strengthening development as a whole.
3. Establish and maintain positive working relationships, both internally and externally, to achieve the development goals of the organization.

Skills & Experience We’re Looking For

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in fundraising, nonprofit management, public administration, communications, or related field.
• 3–5 years of fundraising or grants research, writing, and administration in a nonprofit setting or arts/education sector.
• Proven success securing private foundations, corporate grants, and government funding.
• Experience with donor databases and grant management software; CRM proficiency.
• Proficiency navigating the city’s procurement and sourcing solutions portal, PASSPort.

Preferred

1. Master’s degree.
2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
3. Strong project management, organization, and multi-deadline prioritization.
4. Collaborative mindset with experience working across teams and with a Board of Directors.
5. Data-driven mindset with experience evaluating and reporting on outcomes and impact, and a fearless utilization of technology to help Casita tell a compelling story.
6. Strong computer skills: knowledge of Google Workspace, Microsoft Office, Mac, and other standard business technologies.
7. Bilingual – Spanish/English a plus.

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions

• Frequently sits for long periods of time.
• Frequently speaks, reads, writes, uses a computer and computer keyboard.
• Will require standing, walking, lifting, stooping, and bending.
• Will require interacting with young children, vendors, government agencies, and technology.

Work Hours

The Development Manager will work weekdays 9am-5pm (10am-6pm is an option) in an in-office environment. As a direct service organization and general rule, remote work options are extremely limited and subject to Executive Director approval and compliance with Casita Maria’s remote work policy. The Development Manager notwithstanding is allowed one (1) remote day weekly with performance and goal accomplishment dictating continued remote status or future requests. The Development Manager must be available to work some weekends and/or evenings, as needed and scheduled in advance.

Compensation

Salary range for this opportunity is $90,000 to $100,000 commensurate with experience.

Benefits

Casita Maria benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability insurances; Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Commuter benefits; 403(b) and pension plans; a generous package of vacation (20 days annually); sick days (56 hours annually); and 16 holidays which includes a Wellness Week between December 26 and January 1.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Casita Maria is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome applicants of all backgrounds in accordance with federal, state, and local laws. We strongly encourage candidates from the local community to apply for our Development Manager role, as local communities know best what they need.

The Development Manager can expect to work in an environment that roots its after-school staff and program in transparency, physical and psychological safety, and whose 91 years of championing social justice for one of America’s most historically marginalized groups is not just a statement but our story. We value staff who are thoughtful, curious, and committed to building systems that support equitable access to the arts and education for all.

How to Apply

Email the required items below to hr@casitamaria.org with Development Manager/Your Name in the subject line. Candidates who do not submit the below will not be considered.

1. Cover letter outlining your relevant experience and interest in Casita Maria.
2. Resume/CV.
3. A writing sample or portfolio (grant proposal or grant report, or successfully completed fundraising campaign).
4. Contact information for three professional references.

This job description is not intended to represent a complete, comprehensive list of all duties and responsibilities that may be required in this position. There may be unplanned activities and other duties as assigned. We appreciate your flexibility in advance.

Casita Maria benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, short-term and long-term disability insurances; Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts; Commuter benefits; 403(b) and pension plans; a generous package of vacation (20 days annually); sick days (56 hours annually); and 16 holidays which includes a Wellness Week between December 26 and January 1.

Bilingual – Spanish/English a plus.