Development Manager
About the Organization
About Vital Communities
Founded in 1993, Vital Communities cultivates the civic, environmental, and economic vitality of the Upper Connecticut River Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire.
Vital Communities engages Upper Valley people, organizations, and communities to create equitable solutions to our region’s challenges, with a focus on those disproportionately impacted by them.
We work to build a thriving Upper Valley by focusing on the biggest issues facing our region including housing, transportation, climate disruption, and access to nourishing food and a resilient local economy.
Intrinsic to this work is a steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion so that people of all backgrounds and life experiences are involved at every level; and an ongoing acknowledgment that our office is sited and our work takes place within the sovereign homeland of the Abenaki Nation and People.
About the Job
The Job at a Glance
Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Executive Director, the Development Manager manages the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual, corporate, foundation and government donors in alignment with our Strategic Compass. Responsibilities include managing our annual giving campaigns (Fall and Spring) in collaboration with the Communications Manager; contributing to and implementing corporate giving strategies, donor stewardship and database initiatives; and generating grant proposals and managing a grant portfolio in collaboration with the Programs Director. The position is supported by an Administration & Development Coordinator.
Job Responsibilities
The Development Manager, coordinating closely with staff, is responsible for developing, managing and implementing strategies to raise funds from individuals, corporations, foundations and the government to meet the organization’s revenue goals. Key strategic and development functions include contributing to and managing a strategic annual Development Plan, participating in the annual budgeting process, managing bi-annual appeals, cultivating new donors and grants, and stewarding strong relationships with existing funders. The Development Manager will work with the Finance and Operations Director to implement a planned migration to DonorPerfect, anticipated in early 2026, with support from the Administration and Development Coordinator. This position supervises the Communications Manager and the Development work of the Administration and Development Coordinator, which includes the processing of donations and database operations. The role requires close collaboration with the Programs Director and program staff for their narrative and budgetary contributions to the proposal development process, and to ensure that Development goals and deliverables align with Vital Communities’ programmatic needs. The Development Manager will also collaborate closely with the Finance and Operations Director to ensure that general operating support is secured.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Outstanding interpersonal skills and communication skills, including ease with soliciting donors face-to-face and in writing
- Ability to work collaboratively with others and to develop effective solutions to shared challenges
- Deep knowledge and understanding of JEDI issues and best practices for organizations striving to become diverse, equitable, and inclusive, and ability to work effectively in such an organization
- Ability to generate successful grants, including writing proposals, creating project budgets, producing timely and informative reports, and stewardship
- Demonstrated track record in challenging and influencing colleagues to approach all work with an equity lens
- Ability to think creatively and progressively across changing philanthropy landscapes to keep pace with emergent practices
- Awareness of and skill in applying strategic marketing and communications principles
- Strong project management skills and experience, including delegation, organization, attention to detail, and prioritization across multiple projects
- Strong data analysis skills and an interest in using data and information to drive decisions
Experience
- Experience with individual, corporate, and/or foundation fundraising, and awareness of the fundraising landscape in the Upper Valley
- 5-7 years of progressive experience in development, institutional partnerships, or related field,
- Technically proficient, including experience with databases and an ability to learn new software quickly and easily. Software we use includes Exceed Beyond (to be migrated to DonorPerfect), Air Table, Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Gmail, and other technologies.
- Discerning decision-making and research skills, as well as a high value placed on confidentiality.
- A commitment to continuous learning of best practices in fundraising and communications.
Please apply for this job if you are interested, even if your experience does not meet 100% of the job description. We understand that experiences, skills, and qualifications come in many different forms. The application and interview processes are designed to give you and us opportunities to explore how your unique set of skills, experience, and perspective fit with this position.
A resume is required. We invite you to share additional materials if you choose. This is not required. You’re welcome to send in anything else that would represent your ability to do this job, such as a cover letter, a video, an audio file, or an example of your work. Whether or not you send additional materials, or if you send more than one, is not indicative of a strong application. We offer this opportunity to support different ways of expression and communication. Please limit a video or audio file to less than 2 minutes and 30 seconds in
length.
Location: Hybrid; Must be able to get to White River Junction, VT for donor meetings and staff gatherings as necessary
To Apply: Submit an application at https://vitalcommunitiesinc.applytojob.com/apply