Development Manager

Reports To: National Director of Development

Location: Remote

Employment Type: Full-Time, Exempt

About the Spina Bifida Association

The Spina Bifida Association of America (SBA) is the nation’s only national patient advocacy organization that is building a better and brighter future for all those impacted by Spina Bifida through education, advocacy, research, support, and clinical care. Spina Bifida occurs during fetal development, resulting in a gap or lesion on the spinal column. It is a lifelong condition that can result in mobility, neurological, bowel & bladder, mental health, and learning challenges, and is the most commonly occurring, permanently disabling birth defect compatible with life.

SBA is a fully remote organization with a small, integrated team. We focus on effectively delivering our mission, operate with a sense of urgency, and believe in work/life balance.

Position Overview

The Development Manager is responsible for growing corporate revenue and contributing to building our base of first time and returning individual donors through digital and direct mail campaigns. It is ideal for someone who can make connections between our mission, stakeholders, and funding opportunities. It’s a rewarding role for someone who is self-directed, creative, effective at prioritizing their work, and focused on outcomes.

The person in this role is expected to travel once or twice a year for SBA events.

Responsibilities

Corporate Fundraising & Partnerships

• • Develop, manage, and grow corporate fundraising efforts, including event sponsorships, corporate donations, and workplace giving programs.
  • Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward corporate partners aligned with SBA’s mission and values.
  • Serve as the primary point of contact for corporate sponsors, ensuring timely communication, fulfillment of benefits, and strong relationship management.
  • Collaborate with colleagues to create customized sponsorship opportunities and corporate engagement strategies.
  • Track corporate fundraising activity and report on outcomes and opportunities.

Individual Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• • Steward and upgrade a portfolio of mid-level donors ($100–$999), ensuring timely outreach, acknowledgments, impact updates, and meaningful stewardship.
  • Implement welcome and cultivation strategies for first-time donors to increase retention and long-term engagement.
  • Use CRM data to track engagement, identify trends, and recommend improvements to stewardship strategies.

Direct Mail & Digital Campaign Support

• • Support the execution of fundraising appeals using direct mail and digital channels.
  • Assist the National Director of Development with:
  • Story development and content gathering
  • Review of art and copy
  • Donor segmentation
  • Production schedules and timelines
  • Ensure campaigns are executed accurately, on time, and in alignment with SBA’s brand and messaging.

Qualifications

• • Bachelor’s degree required.
  • Minimum of 3 years of progressive fundraising experience, preferably in a nonprofit patient advocacy environment.
  • Proven success in securing corporate sponsorships and executing fundraising campaigns.
  • Emotional intelligence, and excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
  • Experience with donor management systems (e.g., Salesforce or similar).
  • Alignment with the mission and values of SBAA, and commitment to working with people affected by Spina Bifida.

Paid vacation, sick leave, holidays, and personal time.

Health insurance is available, with a fully paid HMO option for employees and a PPO buy-up plan.

Employees may contribute to a 401k retirement plan.

Fluency in Spanish is a plus.