Development Manager

ARCK is seeking a full-timeDevelopment Manager to drive fundraising strategy and strengthen the relationships that sustain ARCK's mission, programs, and growth. This role will identify, cultivate, and steward relationships with individual donors, foundations, corporate partners, sponsors, and community champions who share ARCK's commitment to equitable arts education and youth development in Boston.

The Development Manager will lead grant writing, manage the grant calendar, support donor cultivation and stewardship, coordinate sponsorship outreach, and help build a diversified revenue model that supports ARCK's in-school programs, Creativity Lab, ARCKfest, Creativity Pathways Showcase, and future growth.

This role works closely with the Executive Director on donor strategy, revenue goals, funder relationships, and board engagement. The Development Manager will also collaborate with the Program Manager to use student impact data and with the Marketing & Communications Coordinator to ensure fundraising materials clearly and powerfully communicate ARCK's work.

The ideal candidate is a strong writer, relationship builder, systems thinker, and mission-driven fundraiser who understands how to connect people, resources, and stories to create lasting impact., Fundraising Strategy & Donor Development

• Create and implement a formal Development Strategy Plan in partnership with the Executive Director and ARCK Board.
• Develop strategies to build, strengthen, deepen, and diversify ARCK's base of support among foundations, corporations, individual donors, sponsors, and community partners.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward donors and funders who are aligned with ARCK's mission.
• Create and document best practices for donor cultivation, relationship management, and stewardship.
• Provide the Executive Director, Founder/CEO, and board members with tools, talking points, and resources to support relationship-building and fundraising outreach.
• Build a donor pipeline that supports ARCK's long-term sustainability and growth.
• Plan and support donor cultivation and stewardship events that keep supporters engaged, informed, and inspired., * Lead grant writing, proposal development, and reporting for foundations, corporations, and institutional funders.
• Manage ARCK's private grant and reporting calendar to ensure all deadlines, requirements, and reports are completed on time.
• Assist in writing and editing sponsorship proposals, grant narratives, letters of inquiry, and funder communications.
• Coordinate sponsorship outreach for ARCKfest, the Creativity Pathways Showcase, the Annual Gala, and other fundraising events.
• Maintain strong relationships with foundation, corporate, and community funders.
• Use program impact data, student stories, and organizational outcomes to make a compelling case for support.
• Work with the Program Manager to gather data on student outcomes, including creativity, confidence, social awareness, leadership, and engagement.

Development Operations & Systems

• Update and maintain ARCK's Development Guidebook.
• Manage, track, and delegate development tasks using ARCK's donor database and project management systems, including Eleo and Trello.
• Ensure donor, grant, sponsorship, and fundraising information is updated accurately and consistently in ARCK's CRM.
• Manage the logistics of gift receiving, processing, acknowledgments, pledges, and donor follow-up.
• Maintain organized development records, donor notes, grant files, sponsorship materials, and reporting documents.
• Work with the Operations Coordinator and external accountants to ensure development records align with finance and budget documentation.
• Prepare quarterly development reports for the Executive Director to share with the Board and other stakeholders.

Events, Campaigns & Stewardship

• Work with ARCK's Development Committee to organize and manage major fundraising events, including the Annual Gala, ARCKfest, Speaker Series, Creativity Pathways Showcase, Boston Marathon Block Party, and other stewardship events.
• Support event sponsorship strategy, donor invitations, outreach timelines, follow-up, and acknowledgments.
• Help create meaningful donor experiences that reflect ARCK's values of creativity, belonging, equity, and student voice.
• Collaborate with staff, board members, committee members, and volunteers to support event fundraising goals.
• Track event-related fundraising progress, sponsorship commitments, guest lists, pledges, and follow-up actions.

Communications & Fundraising Materials

• Work closely with the Marketing & Communications Coordinator to ensure consistent messaging across fundraising, sponsorship, and donor outreach materials.
• Create print and digital collateral to support ARCK's fundraising work, including newsletters, annual appeals, sponsorship materials, donor solicitation letters, pledge cards, event materials, and impact reports.
• Translate ARCK's work in social-emotional learning, creativity, equity, arts education, civic engagement, and youth development into clear and compelling funder language.
• Help communicate ARCK's impact in ways that are accessible, inspiring, and aligned with the organization's mission and growth strategy.
• Ensure donor and funder communications reflect the voices, stories, and outcomes of ARCK students, educators, and community partners.

Team Collaboration & Supervision

• Supervise development interns and development consultants, as needed.
• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Founder/CEO, Board Development Committee, Program Manager, Operations Coordinator, and Marketing & Communications Coordinator.
• Support board members and committee members with fundraising tools, timelines, donor research, sponsorship outreach, and follow-up.
• Participate in internal planning meetings and contribute to ARCK's broader organizational sustainability strategy.

Do you have experience in Productivity software?, Do you have a Bachelor's degree?, * Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.

• 5+ years of development, fundraising, grants, nonprofit advancement, or related experience preferred.
• At least 3 years of experience creating and executing development strategy preferred.
• Proven track record identifying, cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding support from individual donors, foundations, corporations, sponsors, and special event supporters.
• Strong grant writing, storytelling, editing, and donor communication skills.
• Experience managing grant calendars, donor databases, fundraising campaigns, and sponsorship outreach.
• Knowledge of relevant funding sources in education, arts education, youth development, social-emotional learning, equity, innovation, or community development is strongly preferred.
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite and Google Workspace required.
• Experience with Eleo, Trello, CRM systems, or donor management platforms is a plus.
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Able to work independently while also collaborating across a small, mission-driven team.
• Comfortable working hybrid, with access to a computer and camera for video conferencing.
• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events and donor meetings.
• Passion for ARCK's mission and interest in education, the arts, creativity, equity, youth development, and the nonprofit sector.

0 / Per year

The ideal candidate is a thoughtful fundraiser and compelling storyteller who can help ARCK build the relationships and resources needed for long-term sustainability. They understand that fundraising is not only about raising money - it is about building trust, inviting people into a mission, and showing what becomes possible when young people are given the tools to create, lead, and belong. This person is strategic, organized, warm, and confident in communicating with donors, funders, board members, staff, and community partners. They can move between big-picture revenue strategy and detailed follow-through, from writing a grant proposal to tracking a donor pledge to helping prepare a board member for a sponsorship conversation. They are excited to help ARCK grow its Creativity Lab in the Fenway, expand its school and community partnerships, and build a diversified fundraising model rooted in creativity, equity, and measurable student impact., ARCK, a forward-thinking and innovative education nonprofit, has been working to improve the educational experiences and outcomes for students from marginalized communities since 2012. Our mission is to transform education by integrating well-being, social awareness, and creativity into learning. ARCK's programs focus on developing positive character by cultivating empathy, confidence, critical thinking, and creative expression. We also train and coach educators to instill these essential skills in their students. Ultimately, our programs prepare students to lead social innovation and empower diverse learners to drive social impact.