Development Manager
Role details
Job location
Tech stack
Job description
Position Summary: Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Manager leads key fundraising initiatives for AFA, with a focus on major gifts, direct response (including direct mail), and donor engagement events. This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of donors and prospects, developing and executing targeted fundraising campaigns, and designing meaningful donor experiences that deepen engagement and drive revenue.
The Development Manager partners cross-functionally to implement strategies for donor relationship management-including identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship-to meet annual and long-term fundraising goals. This is a highly collaborative, execution-focused role that works closely with internal teams to strengthen the donor pipeline and expand AFA's base of support.
Responsibilities and Duties
Major Gifts & Donor Strategy
- Manage a portfolio of individual donors and high-potential prospects, developing tailored cultivation and solicitation strategies.
- Utilize prospect research and qualification to identify new major gift opportunities and strengthen the revenue pipeline.
- Execute donor engagement strategies, including meetings, personalized outreach, and stewardship activities.
Direct Mail & Campaigns
- Plan and implement direct mail and multi-channel fundraising campaigns in partnership with the Development Director.
- Collaborate on messaging, segmentation, and creative development to drive donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades.
- Monitor campaign performance and optimize strategies using data-driven insights.
Events & Donor Engagement
- Lead the planning and execution of fundraising and stewardship events, ensuring a high-quality donor experience.
- Coordinate event logistics, timelines, and cross-departmental inputs to achieve revenue and engagement goals.
- Leverage events as strategic opportunities to cultivate and steward donors.
Collaboration & Operations
- Partner with the Director of Development to implement a comprehensive donor communications and stewardship program.
- Collaborate across departments to gather and package programmatic information for donor-facing materials and proposals.
- Maintain and execute a donor stewardship calendar to ensure consistent and meaningful engagement.
- Work with the Fundraising specialist to support revenue tracking, projections, and performance analysis.
- Track and analyze fundraising metrics, campaign results, and event outcomes to inform strategy.
- Prepare reports and materials for leadership and board stakeholders.
- Assist with other duties as assigned.
Requirements
- Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple fundraising initiatives simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with experience engaging diverse stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute fundraising strategies, particularly in major gifts and direct response.
- Experience planning and executing events with a focus on donor engagement.
- Strong analytical skills and comfort using data to inform decision-making.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Asana) and fundraising/CRM systems.
- Experience with prospect research and donor strategy development.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across teams.
- Adaptable, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, small nonprofit environment.
- Commitment to AFA's mission and values.
Benefits & conditions
2.42.4 out of 5 stars 322 8th Ave FL 6, New York, NY 10001 $85,000 - $100,000 a year - Full-time