Development Manager, Full – Time Exempt (Remote)

Development Manager, Full – Time Exempt (Remote)

Reports to: Development Director

Candidates residing in the Midwest preferred

Who We Are

CEED is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. CEED conducts research and provides community education on important energy, environment, and community development issues so that all members of society may effectively participate in public decision-making. The mission of the Center for Earth, Energy, and Democracy (CEED) is to provide tools and information for communities and policymakers to create just climate and environmental policy. We enhance the capacity of the environmental justice movement through collaboration at local, regional, and national levels. For over a decade, our work has been in partnership with other justice-based organizations, state and regional government entities, professional networks, universities, and advocacy organizations.

CEED advances environmental justice and energy democracy by providing frontline and climate justice organizations with education, policy research, and leadership development. We aim to build permanent movement infrastructure in communities on the front line of energy democracy and climate organizing from our home base in Minnesota to the Midwest and beyond. We do this work because we believe everyone deserves a society that equitably protects and promotes a healthy and vibrant environment for all people in current and future generations. Our work in Minnesota and the broader Midwest influences and is informed by our work to shift the national climate conversation on policy through our leadership role in the Equitable & Just National Climate Platform (EJNCF). This is a time of great opportunity to advance the goals of securing a healthy and vibrant environment for all communities in current and future generations.

Summary of Position

As a member of the CEED team, the Development manager supports the continuation of $6 million annually to support the growth of community planning, education, policy, and environmental justice initiatives. In collaboration with the Development Director, the Development Manager also supports activities to meet organizational annual budget needs, program expansion, and new fundraising strategies.

Reporting to the CEED Development Director, the Development Manager supports implementing the strategic fundraising plan, including grants management; donor prospecting and stewardship; fundraising systems and database oversight; donor communications; and volunteer engagement. The visionary leader cultivates relationships with all stakeholders and partners to secure philanthropic support in sustaining CEED's projects and programs. The Development Manager will assist the Development Director in fostering the continuation of the existing development and fundraising program, providing insight to improve the program as circumstances shift aligned with the organization's short- and long-term needs and its programs.

The individual in this role will collaborate closely with the Development Director, Finance Director, Deputy Director, and the entire CEED team to encourage initiatives that sustain the organization’s financial goals and mission-driven opportunities. This change agent is relatable, creative, and adaptive in fostering relationships. A successful Development manager will have strong written, verbal, analytical, and communication skills coupled with an ability to adapt to changing circumstances. The individual will also be able to exercise good judgment and attention to detail in a wide range of situations.

Primary Responsibilities

Donor cultivation and stewardship:

• Partner and lead on various responsibilities related to donor cultivation and stewardship, including but not limited to donor research, maintaining records, outreach, CRM tracking, and drafting communications. Provide timely, accurate, and professional responses to communications from funding partners.
• Drive creativity in brainstorming, developing, and implementing operational tactics to enhance CEED’s donor and partner contributions. Provide writing support for development efforts, including acknowledgments, stewardship, cultivation, and funding requests.
• Work closely with the key staff to:
  • Ensure appropriate and customized fund development strategies based on programmatic and budgetary needs.
  • Research, identify, and prioritize potential funding opportunities for prospective donors; manage relevant data for fundraising needs.

Grant writing, fundraising, and reporting:

• Manage the organization's diversified grant portfolio, including organizing the process of writing letters of inquiry, grant proposals, and narrative reports. Work closely with staff to ensure timely and accurate reporting.
• Assist the Development Director in setting annual fundraising goals and the strategic planning cycle, collaborating with the staff to create compelling fundraising materials, narratives, and donor communications.

Project Management and Coordination:

• Partner with staff to advance special project milestones related to environmental justice, community outreach, and communications, ensuring project milestones are met and adhere to approved budgets
• Utilize project management and grants calendar tracking tools to monitor work and evaluate results to ensure that departmental and organizational objectives are met and aligned with the organization's needs and mission.
• Coordinate volunteer engagement to support fundraising goals, including coalition fundraising workgroup members, the Board of Directors, and others.

Experience

• A Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent in work experience is required. At least 5 years direct experience in building and managing fundraising activities through individual, foundation, and partner donations, preferably in the environmental justice or social justice fields.
• A collaborative approach to leadership with at least two to three years experience in major gifts and/or granting writing with portfolios of at least $250,000.
• An ability to effectively manage diverse responsibilities and establish clear work priorities based on organizational needs in consultation with the Development Director.
• Experience in working within diverse policy coalitions or networks.
• Experience working in project management and fundraising database tools and systems.
• An understanding of the concepts of institutional and structural racism and bias and their impact on underserved and underrepresented communities.

Knowledge and Skills

• Familiarity with utilizing project management and other systems databases
• Strong research, analytical, and database skills; experience using metrics to measure success preferred.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to engage and build relationships with donors and stakeholders while prioritizing confidentiality and professionalism.
• An ability to craft compelling, influential, and impactful fundraising communication.
• An organized and motivated individual, capable of managing deadlines and fluctuating priorities while maintaining attention to detail.
• A champion for environmental justice with a strong commitment to the economic, racial, and environmental aspects.
• The ability to collaborate with other staff and partners is essential.

CEED Values and Qualities

• A deep commitment to the values of social justice and anti-racism in all its forms.
• A collaborative spirit.
• Drive for accountability and transparency.

Salary

Salary range is $90,000 - $105,000, depending on experience.

Apply for a Career at CEED

Interested applicants are to submit a cover letter describing your interest in the position and relevant skills along with a resume outlining detailed experience for the Development Manager role. Additionally, please provide three (3) professional references along with contact information for each reference. Please send all documents with a subject heading entitled “Development Manager” to careers@ceed.org for consideration. All submissions must be received no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, January 31, 2025.

Equal Employment Opportunity

CEED is dedicated to supporting and respecting the diverse community that different individuals cultivate. As an equal opportunity employer, we stay true to our mission by ensuring that our organization can be a place that celebrates diversity in all its forms. CEED does not discriminate in employment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy and gender identity), national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, parental status, military service, or other non-merit factors.