Development Manager

Candidate Profile: Are you a fundraising and grant management pro who wants to use your skills to advance sustainability and climate justice? Are you looking for a chance to help grow a mission-driven non-profit by taking proposals, grant impact reporting, and funder engagement practices to the next level? If so, you might be an ideal candidate for USDN’s Development Manager position! 

Position Summary: The Development Manager will be a key contributor to USDN’s Strategic Development team. The Strategic Development team is responsible for coordinating USDN’s major fundraising activities, including new funder prospecting, funder relationship management, general and mission funding proposals, collaboration with program staff on project-specific proposals, and grant reporting. The team also works to evolve USDN’s fundraising practices by improving knowledge management, prospect and grant tracking, record-keeping, and proposal processes. The Development Manager will play a leading role in developing proposals, tracking data, maintaining fundraising collateral, and managing awarded grants while supporting the identification of new funders and the exploration of new revenue strategies. 

Responsibilities

Proposals and Grant Management

• Drafting proposal and grant application content, in collaboration with staff and partners.
• Managing proposal submission processes.
• Preparing and submitting grant reports and related funder correspondence.
• Grant management and record-keeping (grants awarded, reporting deadlines, etc.).

Funder Prospecting and Engagement

• Researching and cultivating new foundation and corporate supporters.  
• Securing corporate sponsorships for events and other partnership opportunities.
• Facilitating go/no-go decision-making on specific funding opportunities. 
• Supporting the implementation of funder engagement and relationship management efforts.

Fundraising Collateral and Content Development

• Helping evolve the articulation of USDN’s position, value proposition, and activities to increase the organization’s appeal to new and existing funders.
• Working with other teams to develop compelling funder-facing collateral that explains existing programs and new initiatives.
• Collaborating with other teams to understand project goals and funding needs and helping create funder-facing materials that articulate visions for new programs.

Data & Record Keeping

• Ensuring accurate and comprehensive documentation of correspondence, donor leads, contacts, opportunities, and other records in CRM systems (Salesforce).
• Supporting the evolution of systems used to maintain donor records and track key performance indicators.
• Working with team members to support the collection and maintenance of project metrics, performance indicators, financials, and more.
• Maintaining content management systems for proposals, reports, boilerplate and other frequently referenced development-related narrative.

Special Projects and Other Responsibilities

• Supporting the ongoing development and implementation of the organization’s revenue strategy, including research and analysis to identify and plan new revenue models.
• Pursuing other potential sources of revenue, in addition to foundation funding, as opportunities arise.
• Creating and managing an individual work plan and balancing varied responsibilities.
• Attending, participating in, and/or supporting USDN staff retreats, major events, regular team calls, training, and other ongoing activities.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Focus

The Development Manager will be part of a team committed to achieving equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) both within the organization and through the efforts of USDN’s member network. The Development Manager will be responsible for:

• Cultivating and maintaining professional competency in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI). EDI is a central goal, fundamental value, and required competency for the practice of sustainability. USDN staff cultivate EDI skills and competencies through personal practice and training.
• Emphasizing adopted EDI principles in the design and delivery of programming and throughout the performance of job responsibilities. The position will advance EDI principles as a characteristic of responsible governance, where all levels of government have a fiscal and moral responsibility to address the long-term implications that inequity has on prosperity, health, and safety of residents.
• Identifying and responding to EDI challenges that Partner Networks are experiencing.
• Committing to social justice and anti-racist principles.

Qualifications & Experience: While no single candidate is expected to embody all the qualifications below, an ideal candidate would possess many of the below experiences and skill sets.

• A bachelor’s degree and three or more years of development and/or fundraising experience in the non-profit sector.
• A proven track record of successful fundraising in the nonprofit or public sector.
• Experience drafting proposals, grants, budgets, and reports for philanthropic and/or federal grants.
• Experience soliciting sponsorships and/or managing a sponsorship program.
• Experience managing deadlines and ensuring timely completion of grants and reports.
• Experience researching and identifying potential supporters.
• Experience working in sustainability, climate, and equity-related fields is preferred.
• A commitment to the mission, vision, and equity, diversity, and inclusion goals of USDN.
• Experience with Salesforce CRM is a plus

Desired Knowledge and Skills

• Applied knowledge of fundraising strategies and processes.
• Familiarity with foundation grant-making processes.
• Knowledge of federal grantmaking and grants management is strongly preferred.
• Experience with corporate grants, sponsorship, and partnership models is a plus.
• Familiarity with local government and/or sustainability concepts and practices preferred.
• Strong organizational skills to meet deadlines across multiple priorities.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills; persuasive writing and storytelling skills is a plus.
• Ability to adapt and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to work well independently and as part of a team in a mostly virtual work environment.
• Collaborative, flexible, team-oriented individual with strong interpersonal skills.
• Detail-oriented and the ability to maintain thorough records and correspondence.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace, including google docs, sheets, slides, and more.

Terms of Employment: This is a full-time, exempt position that reports to USDN’s Development Director. The compensation range for this position is expected to be between $75,000 - $80,000 annually. USDN offers a robust benefits package, including 100% employer covered health, dental, disability, and life insurance, flexible leave policy, generous paid leave, and 401(k) program. 

Location: This is a fully remote, work-from-home position. USDN has no central office but staff collaborate extensively via video call meetings and through periodic in-peron convenings. The candidates must furnish their own quiet office space for conference calls. USDN provides an IT stipend to cover internet and phone use, computer, software, and other home office supplies. Work hours: 9am-5pm Eastern, Central, Mountain, or Pacific Standard Times (flexible); 40 hours/week.

About USDN

Established in 2008, the Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN) supports local governments to implement bold change in pursuit of equitable and sustainable communities. It does this by building the capacity of local governments to act, scaling promising practices and solutions, and harnessing data and insights to advance and influence the field. The heart of USDN’s work is a network of local government sustainability professionals from over 300 cities and counties across the United States and Canada dedicated to creating a healthy environment, advancing racial equity, and building thriving and resilient communities. USDN is powered by a team of more than 25 people that work together across the United States, and a robust network of trusted partners and collaborators. 

Urban Sustainability Directors Network is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We strongly encourage applications from qualified people of all gender expressions and identities, sexual orientations, racialized communities, Indigenous persons, veterans and persons with disabilities. 

Accepting applications until August 9, 2023 @ 5 PM PST. 

Candidates are encouraged to apply early!