Development Manager

Start Date: September 2025

Posting Close Date: September 2025

Job Type: Part-time to Full-time (negotiable)

Experience Level: Mid to Senior

Location: Hybrid (Colorado Springs + occasional statewide travel)

Salary: $30–39/hr (depending on experience)

This position is grant-funded.

About the Role

Blackpackers seeks a Development Manager to lead fundraising, donor relations, and resource development to sustain and grow our mission of increasing outdoor access for Black individuals and families across Colorado. The Development Manager will design and implement fundraising strategies, cultivate and steward donor relationships, coordinate grant writing and reporting, and engage corporate sponsors and partners.

This role requires both relationship-building skills and the ability to manage the systems and processes that support successful fundraising. The Development Manager will collaborate closely with the Executive Director and program team to align funding strategies with Blackpackers’ goals and impact.

This hybrid role involves regular in-office work in Colorado Springs, occasional travel for donor meetings, and participation in events and programs to engage supporters.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, grants, and special events.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, and community stakeholders.
• Manage the grant process from research and proposal writing to submission, compliance, and reporting.
• Work with the Executive Director to set and track fundraising goals and timelines.
• Maintain accurate donor records and reporting using CRM software.
• Collaborate with program staff to align funding opportunities with programming needs and impact stories.
• Coordinate donor appreciation initiatives, recognition events, and fundraising campaigns.
• Represent Blackpackers at events, speaking engagements, and community gatherings as a fundraising ambassador.
• Monitor and evaluate fundraising outcomes, adapting strategies for improved results.

Qualifications & Skills

• 3+ years of experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit resource management.
• Proven success in cultivating donors and securing gifts from individuals, corporations, and/or foundations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including grant writing.
• Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Experience with donor databases or CRM systems.
• Comfort with public speaking and representing an organization externally.
• Demonstrated commitment to racial equity, inclusion, and expanding outdoor access for underrepresented communities.
• Collaborative team player with the ability to work independently.

Work Environment & Location

This role blends in-office work at our Colorado Springs headquarters with occasional statewide travel for donor meetings, events, and program site visits. The Development Manager must be comfortable working in both administrative and public-facing environments.