The Development Manager position at a remote US-based nonprofit organization represents a critical leadership function responsible for driving fundraising strategy, donor engagement, and operational excellence. In this role, the individual supports mission-driven work focused on community health, mental wellbeing, and disability support, particularly for individuals affected by brain injury and their caregivers. The position blends relationship management, data systems oversight, campaign coordination, and administrative leadership within a highly collaborative, values-driven environment.
Organizational Context and Mission Alignment
The organization operates within the mental health and disability support space, delivering programs that integrate mindfulness, yoga, psychoeducation, and community-building to improve quality of life for individuals affected by brain injury. Its mission emphasizes holistic recovery and inclusive community participation, while also advancing research-based approaches to rehabilitation and wellbeing.
The Development Manager plays a central role in sustaining this mission by ensuring financial stability through diversified fundraising streams. These include individual donations, institutional grants, peer-to-peer campaigns, and fundraising events. The role is fully remote, with a preference for candidates based on the US East Coast due to coordination needs across teams and stakeholders.
The organization also emphasizes equity and inclusion, actively encouraging applications from individuals with lived experience related to disability, caregiving, or marginalized identities. This approach reinforces its commitment to ensuring that fundraising strategies and donor engagement practices reflect the communities it serves.
Core Responsibilities in Fundraising and Campaign Management
The Development Manager is responsible for overseeing integrated fundraising campaigns and events that generate significant annual revenue. These campaigns require detailed project management, cross-functional coordination, and donor engagement.
Key responsibilities include:
- Managing annual fundraising campaigns using digital platforms such as Classy or similar donation systems
- Coordinating communications strategies across internal teams to ensure consistent messaging
- Serving as the primary liaison for peer-to-peer fundraisers and campaign donors
- Overseeing logistics for in-person and hybrid fundraising events, including large-scale community activities
- Managing external vendors, volunteers, and event stakeholders to ensure successful execution
- Supporting donor engagement through stewardship initiatives and recognition programs
In addition to execution, the role requires strategic oversight of campaign timelines, performance tracking, and donor participation analytics.
Institutional Fundraising and Grant Management Functions
A significant portion of the role focuses on institutional fundraising, particularly grant development and reporting. The Development Manager contributes to the preparation of funding proposals, compliance documentation, and donor reporting requirements.
Responsibilities include:
- Conducting prospect research to identify new funding opportunities
- Managing grant application portals and submission timelines
- Supporting the drafting of grant reports and renewal documentation
- Coordinating site visits and engagement activities with institutional funders
- Maintaining accurate records of institutional relationships and funding cycles
This function ensures alignment between programmatic impact and funding expectations, reinforcing long-term sustainability.
Individual Giving and Donor Stewardship Systems
The Development Manager also oversees individual giving strategies, ensuring that donor relationships are nurtured and sustained over time. This includes managing recurring donations, major donor communications, and donor recognition systems.
Key tasks include:
- Managing monthly giving programs and donor retention strategies
- Overseeing stewardship communications across donor segments
- Responding to donor inquiries and coordinating internal responses when needed
- Identifying donor stories and spotlight opportunities for communications channels
- Ensuring timely acknowledgment of gifts and issuing donor receipts
This work is central to building long-term trust and engagement with the donor community.
Systems Management and CRM Oversight
A major technical component of the role involves managing donor data systems, particularly CRM platforms such as Salesforce. Data accuracy, reporting integrity, and system efficiency are essential to ensuring effective fundraising operations.
Responsibilities include:
- Maintaining and updating CRM records, including offline donations and campaign allocations
- Ensuring data hygiene across donor accounts, contacts, and transactions
- Managing integrations with third-party platforms such as Benevity and PayPal Giving systems
- Producing regular reports on fundraising performance and donor activity
- Documenting standard operating procedures for development operations
This systems-focused work ensures transparency, accountability, and data-driven decision-making.
Administrative and Operational Support Functions
The Development Manager also contributes to broader administrative coordination within the development department. This ensures that fundraising operations remain organized, efficient, and well-documented.
Key responsibilities include:
- Maintaining digital and physical donor records and correspondence files
- Supporting executive leadership with administrative tasks as needed
- Organizing shared drives and internal documentation systems
- Assisting in data analysis and reporting preparation
- Ensuring smooth communication across internal departments
These functions provide structural support to the broader development strategy.
Required Skills and Professional Competencies
The role requires a combination of technical expertise, communication ability, and organizational discipline. Candidates are expected to bring experience in nonprofit development operations, particularly in data-driven fundraising environments.
Essential competencies include:
- At least four years of experience in development or nonprofit fundraising roles
- Strong proficiency in Salesforce or equivalent CRM systems
- Experience managing digital fundraising platforms such as Classy or similar tools
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Strong organizational and project management abilities
- Ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously
- Analytical thinking and data-informed decision-making
- Ability to work independently in a remote environment
Preferred qualifications include experience with mindfulness or healthcare-related nonprofit work, as well as familiarity with web platforms such as Squarespace.
Work Environment and Professional Expectations
The role is fully remote but requires consistent virtual collaboration across teams and stakeholders. The Development Manager is expected to work full-time hours, occasionally participate in weekend events, and travel within the United States for major fundraising activities.
The position demands adaptability, emotional intelligence, and a strong commitment to mission-driven work. It is particularly suited for professionals who thrive in dynamic, fast-paced nonprofit environments where systems management and human-centered engagement intersect.
Conclusion
The Development Manager role represents a strategic intersection of fundraising leadership, operational systems management, and donor engagement within a mission-driven nonprofit organization. By integrating campaign execution, CRM oversight, and institutional fundraising, the position ensures the long-term sustainability of programs that support individuals affected by brain injury and their communities.
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Disclaimer: Remote Job Opportunities (RJO) is not the hiring organization. For any inquiries, please contact the responsible organization directly. Please do not send your applications to RJO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
