Development & Communications Manager

Position Title: Development & Communications Manager

Position Type: Full-time (40 hours per week), Exempt

Reports to: Executive Director

Supervises: Development Coordinator (and consultants, as needed)

Salary: $76,550 Annual Salary

About LYRIC

Founded in 1988, the Lavender Youth Recreation & Information Center (LYRIC) provides support and services to nearly 2,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning (LGBTQQ+) and allied youth per year. LYRIC’s mission is to build community and inspire positive social change through education enhancement, career training, health promotion, and leadership development with LGBTQQ+ youth, their families, and allies of all races, classes, genders, and abilities.

The organization has an annual operating budget of approximately $4.5 million and a staff of 20+.

Focus Areas

The Development & Communications Manager leads the day-to-day implementation and growth of LYRIC’s fundraising and donor engagement strategies. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Manager advances LYRIC’s culture of grassroots fundraising, youth-adult partnership, and social justice-aligned philanthropy. The Manager oversees individual giving, institutional fundraising, donor stewardship, events, communications, and development operations while building systems that support sustainable revenue growth and organizational impact.

The Development & Communications Manager: (1) implements LYRIC’s annual fundraising strategy across individual, institutional, and grassroots revenue streams; (2) manages and expands donor, funder, and community relationships; (3) oversees development operations, systems, and reporting; (4) supervises the Development Coordinator; and (5) collaborates across the organization to ensure fundraising and communications efforts reflect LYRIC’s values and youth leadership model.

Knowledge

Fundraising Strategy & Revenue Generation

• Lead implementation of LYRIC’s annual development plan in partnership with the Executive Director, supporting approximately $5 million in annual revenue goals
• Identify, cultivate, and pursue new funding opportunities, with particular focus on expanding non-government revenue sources
• Support institutional fundraising efforts, including foundation, government, and corporate proposals, reports, and relationship management
• Develop and implement grassroots fundraising strategies that align with LYRIC’s mission, community engagement practices, and youth leadership model
• Monitor fundraising performance, revenue projections, and progress toward annual goals

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Develop and implement donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies that strengthen long-term relationships with supporters
• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual donors and prospects, including mid-level and major donors
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors
• Increase participation in monthly giving and major donor programs through targeted engagement strategies
• Oversee donor acknowledgements, stewardship activities, and relationship management processes
• Represent LYRIC at donor meetings, community events, and external gatherings

Events & Community Engagement

• Lead planning and execution of Pride Pour and other donor cultivation events that collectively generate at least $100,000 annually
• Coordinate event logistics, sponsorships, donor engagement opportunities, and volunteer participation
• Support organizational visibility and community engagement efforts through fundraising and outreach events

Communications & Storytelling

• Collaborate on fundraising communications that align organizational messaging with development goals
• Support the creation of donor-facing materials, campaigns, annual reports, appeals, newsletters, and stewardship communications
• Ensure LYRIC’s fundraising communications authentically center youth voice, leadership, and community impact
• Work collaboratively with staff, youth leaders, and community stakeholders to tell compelling stories that inspire investment in LYRIC’s mission
• Participate in organizational planning, retreats, staff meetings, and cross-departmental initiatives
• Contribute to a workplace culture grounded in learning, leadership, allyship, social justice, and sustainable impact

Organizational Leadership, Systems & Operations

• Oversee donor database management and reporting, ensuring data integrity, accuracy, and compliance
• Develop and maintain development systems, policies, procedures, and workflows that support organizational effectiveness
• Partner with Finance to support budgeting, reconciliation, grant tracking, and audit preparation
• Build fundraising capacity among staff, youth leaders, and Board members through training, coaching, and engagement opportunities
• Supervise and support the Development Coordinator through regular coaching, goal setting, and professional development
• Manage consultants, vendors, and external partners as needed
• Attend agency staff meetings, Board meetings, retreats, and organizational gatherings as requested
• Perform other duties as assigned

Who You Are

• 4–6+ years of verifiable nonprofit fundraising experience, including individual and institutional fundraising
• Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and contributing to organizational revenue growth
• Experience securing and stewarding five- and six-figure gifts through multiple fundraising channels
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising best practices, donor engagement strategies, and grassroots fundraising models
• Experience working with donor databases such as Raiser’s Edge or comparable CRM platforms
• Experience supervising staff, managing projects, or leading cross-functional initiatives preferred
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing, donor correspondence, and public presentations
• Excellent project management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment
• Relationship-builder with strong interpersonal and collaboration skills
• Strategic thinker who can translate organizational goals into actionable fundraising plans
• Commitment to the mission and philosophy of LYRIC
• Passion and commitment to fostering healthy LGBTQQ+ youth and ability to work within protocols that prioritize youth development principles and organizational capacity
• Knowledge of youth issues, particularly those affecting LGBTQQ+ youth
• Commitment to youth development, social justice, equity, inclusion, and anti-oppression principles and practices
• Experience and competencies working in multiracial, multicultural environments
• Ability to interact with colleagues, youth participants, donors, board members, funders, and community stakeholders in a professional and effective manner
• Some evenings and weekends are required and will be scheduled in advance

Why LYRIC

• A career that truly impacts the lives of LGBTQQ+ youth.
• $800 annual health & wellness cash supplement.
• Professional and Learning Development Trainings including $1,000 optional employee-choice professional development opportunities.
• Comprehensive health insurance including full coverage of medical, dental, vision, and acupuncture/chiropractic insurance for employees.
• Optional Health FSA and Commuter Benefits with employee contributions.
• 403(b) retirement plan, including up to 4% employer matching.
• 19 holidays observed including employee birthday and 5 days for winter break. 19 vacation days, 18 sick days, 1 personal day, 3 days of critical incident leave, 3 days of bereavement leave, and 5 days of paid jury duty.
• This is a union position with OPEIU Local 29.
• The position is in-person full-time.

LYRIC is an equal opportunity employer. Applications are strongly encouraged from women, people of color, immigrants, young people, lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, transgender and genderqueer people, people living with HIV/AIDS, people with disabilities, and bilingual and bicultural people. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Apply here: https://lyric.bamboohr.com/careers/94

No phone calls or email inquiries.

• $800 annual health & wellness cash supplement.
• Professional and Learning Development Trainings including $1,000 optional employee-choice professional development opportunities.
• Comprehensive health insurance including full coverage of medical, dental, vision, and acupuncture/chiropractic insurance for employees.
• Optional Health FSA and Commuter Benefits with employee contributions.
• 403(b) retirement plan, including up to 4% employer matching.
• 19 holidays observed including employee birthday and 5 days for winter break. 19 vacation days, 18 sick days, 1 personal day, 3 days of critical incident leave, 3 days of bereavement leave, and 5 days of paid jury duty.
• This is a union position with OPEIU Local 29.
• The position is in-person full-time.