Development Manager

Randall's Island Park Alliance, Inc.

Job Opening Notice

Posting Dates: July 14, 2025 – Until Filled

Job: Development Manager

Department: Development

Job Type: Full-Time; Year-Round; 40 hours per week; Monday – Friday; Occasional weekend and evening events; Exempt

Salary Rate: $90,000-$100,000

Benefits: Comprehensive benefits package 60 days following date of hire (health insurance, paid time off, free parking onsite, etc.)

Work Location: Randall's Island Park, New York, NY 10035 (Icahn Stadium) with one day remote work

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The Randall’s Island Park Alliance, Inc. (RIPA), is seeking a dynamic Development Manager to join its team at a pivotal moment of expansion and visibility. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated professional to play a central role in all aspects of development including individual giving, sponsorships, grants, corporate volunteerism, donor stewardship, and event planning, including an annual gala. The Manager will help to implement RIPA’s strategic fundraising plan, cultivate relationships with new and existing donors, and contribute to the development of new initiatives. This role requires creative and analytical thinking and the ability to build impactful partnerships and enhance the donor experience to support RIPA’s mission to continue to transform Randall’s Island Park into a vibrant hub for athletics, recreation, education, and environmental stewardship in NYC. The Manager will manage core development operations, oversee the Raiser’s Edge donor database, play a key role in expanding the Corporate Volunteer Program, and help to launch a new sponsorship initiative. The Manager will report to the Chief Development Office and work closely with colleagues across the organization. This position is based at Randall’s Island Park and requires on-site work approximately four days per week, with occasional evening and weekend hours for relevant events.

MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the RIPA Annual Fund and managing fundraising campaigns

o Set goals, develop strategies, and track progress through metrics and reports

o Set and develop strategies to reach annual fundraising targets and develop metrics and analytical reports to assess and communicate progress to goals

o Oversee donor touchpoints, including meetings, proposals, and acknowledgements, to cultivate ongoing engagement

o Collaborate with RIPA’s Communications team to develop fundraising-related elements of the RIPA website, campaign assets, and annual report

o Coordinate donor events and recognition programs that inspire giving and build relationships

• Strategically plan for donor and program growth, under the direction of the Chief Development Officer

o Develop strategies to increase giving from existing donors and design outreach initiatives for new donors via existing and new pipelines

o Develop, launch, and manage programs to engage mid-level individual donors to the Alliance

o Evaluate and implement fundraising best practices across donor segments

• Manage the grants pipeline and program

o Research, identify, and prioritize grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources

o Write compelling grant proposals and progress reports; manage submission deadlines and documentation

o Develop and maintain an up-to-date grant calendar and liaise with internal staff and funders

o Ensure compliance with grant terms and report deliverables

• Manage the RIPA Raiser’s Edge donor database and manage operations

o Develop and manage best practices, workflows, and data integrity protocols in Raiser’s Edge

o Oversee timely and accurate gift and pledge entry, ensuring system accuracy

o Manage donor scheduling, mailing lists, acknowledgments, and invoicing

o Provide reports to leadership on goals versus actuals, campaign performance, and prospect / gift pipelines

• Donor Stewardship and developing long-term relationships, under the direction of the Chief Development Officer

o Design targeted stewardship plans to deepen engagement, encouraging repeat and increased gifts

o Oversee donor acknowledgements and ongoing communications

o Build individualized stewardship strategies for major donors, schools, athletic leagues, corporate partners, and other individual donors

o Work with the Development Committee of the Board to advance Board fundraising efforts.

• Coordinate donor events and execute fundraising strategies for the annual gala

o Lead planning and execution of key events, including the annual gala, donor receptions, and more

o Manage event budgets, logistics, vendor communication and timelines, in partnership with the Programming and Operations Manager

o Steward and engage with donors at events

This job description is not an exclusive or exhaustive list of all job functions an employee in this position may be asked to perform.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and 5+ years of nonprofit development experience, including but not limited to annual campaigns, grants, events, and donor programs
• Proven ability to set ambitious goals and exceed targets through strategic planning and execution
• Exceptional project management and multitasking skills
• Outgoing, personable, creative, and energetic approach to engaging with people at all levels
• Interest in Randall’s Island Park and its mission
• Strong writing and editing skills, including grant proposals and donor communications
• Excellent communication skills including oral, written and presentation
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge (or similar CRM), with meticulous attention to data quality
• Proven ability to take initiative while exercising diplomacy and sound judgement in a fast-paced environment
• Inventive, driven, personable, good sense of humor
• Ability to create and maintain positive, professional relationships
• Ability to shift priorities and focus, when needed
• Flexibility to work outside of typical work hours, occasionally
• Motivated and punctual, able to work independently and as part of a team
• Ability to collaborate and effectively engage multiple stakeholders in support of a unified mission

PREFERRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

• Valid Driver License
• Bilingual

To apply, please complete an application online at: https://www.randallsisland.org/about/employment-opportunities/

• Please include a cover letter*

The Randall's Island Park Alliance, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and we believe in a diverse and an inclusive workplace and environment.

RIPA maintains confidentiality of all applications and therefore will never contact a present employer without prior consent from the applicant.