Development Manager

About the job

Center for Food Safety (CFS) is seeking a relationship-driven fundraiser to grow our mid-level and major giving portfolio of individual donors, and to provide strategic support, execution, and project management for CFS's fundraising efforts.

The Development Manager will be an integral part of CFS's fundraising and cultivation efforts. The Manager is responsible for building and sustaining relationships with a portfolio of 25-30 new mid-level to major donors, prospects, and advisors through accurate data management, donor communications, and events coordination. The Development Manager will report directly to the Co-Executive Directors but also work closely with the Operations and Communications teams to develop and execute strategies for donor retention, engagement, and growth.

This position will be mostly remote, with regular in-person meetings with CFS leadership and donor events.

WHO WE ARE

Center for Food Safety (CFS) 's mission is to empower people, support farmers, and protect the Earth from the harmful impacts of industrial agriculture. We defend and promote your right to safe food and a clean environment through groundbreaking legal, scientific, and grassroots action.

For over 25 years, we have led the way in creating a new food future, fostering a more powerful food movement against the harmful industrial agricultural system while promoting organic, ecological, and regenerative alternatives. We've won high-profile lawsuits to protect public health and endangered species from pesticides like Monsanto's Roundup and dicamba. We prevented the introduction of genetically engineered wheat, rice, potatoes, and more to the market and secured meaningful labeling to ensure that we all know what's in our food. We succeeded in instilling animal welfare requirements into the organic standards and protected the oceans from industrial aquaculture. And much more: Our groundbreaking legal cases, which protect pollinators, farmworkers, and farming communities, as well as the Earth from the devastating impacts of industrial farming, form a landmark body of case law on food and agricultural issues, transforming our food system.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

The Development Manager will collaborate with colleagues to create and implement fundraising strategies that support a $3.5 million annual budget. The Development Manager aims to expand our support base, secure contributions from both existing and new funders, and manage resources to help maintain organizational sustainability. They conduct initial exploratory meetings with donors, prospects, and advisors to assess capacity and interest in giving, build a portfolio of donors, prospects, and advisors, and manage their relationships with CFS accordingly. This position will primarily focus on principal gift donors, prospects, and advisors across the United States. It will also work collaboratively to support the Co-Executive Directors and the Director of Operations and Institutional Giving in enhancing individual and institutional giving, with a minimum new fundraising target of $ 500,000 per year.

The Development Manager is critical in driving CFS's principal gift strategy. They can articulate organizational priorities in detail, understand capital campaign and project budgets, and leverage funding opportunities using this knowledge. They are required to use, but are not limited to, the CFS donor database, systems, and other Development Department resources. Additionally, the Development Manager actively represents CFS nationally, enhancing the organization's image and outreach to new funders.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Handles a dynamic portfolio of major gift donors, prospects, and advisors; cultivates relationships through personal visits, phone calls, ongoing correspondence, and events.
• Develops personalized engagement strategies based on donor interests and giving history.
• Oversees the acknowledgment process, including the year-end holiday card outreach.
• Monitors existing donor records and research prospect pipeline to ensure CFS is timely pursuing new donors.
• Identifies new potential major donors, giving circles, foundations, corporate sponsors, and corporate donors with potential for individual philanthropy. Creates and executes campaigns and communication points with the leadership team to grow the donor pipeline.
• Involves, directs, and assists Executive Leadership, Operations, and Communications teams and program staff in formulating principal gift strategies, cultivating relationships, providing stewardship, and facilitating solicitations.
• Shares program information with donors, prospects, and advisors; contributes to creating tailored funding materials, budgets, and correspondence highlighting donor impact, appreciation, recognition, and engagement.
• Supports annual giving campaigns, major gifts programs, and other initiatives and communications aimed at engaging new and current donors. Assists in planning and executing donor events and field trips.
• Utilizes the CRM database to maintain up-to-date donor records, track progress, and plan activities.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree (Master's preferred) or equivalent experience required.
• At least three years of nonprofit fundraising experience with an emphasis on significant gift solicitation; a proven track record of cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding midlevel and major donors to meet/exceed fundraising targets consistently.
• Demonstrated success in major gift solicitation, capital campaigns, and donor relations.
• Mastery in Office 365, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. A strong proficiency in social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.
• Experience with Bonterra/EveryAction (or a comparable fundraising database).
• Willingness to travel, including occasional evening and weekend responsibilities.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with diverse funders, including but not limited to Board of Trustees, Development members, individual donors, foundations, corporate and community partners, colleagues, volunteers, and vendors.
• Excellent attention to detail; organized and systematic in donor follow-through and stewardship, capable of balancing competing priorities in a small team within a fast-paced environment.
• Experience in, and a passion for, food systems, environmental advocacy, or knowledge of the philanthropic community related to food and agricultural issues is a significant plus.

WHAT WE OFFER

CFS offers a competitive compensation package, a flexible hybrid work environment, a four-day "Flexible Friday" work week, and a 401(k) and Roth retirement plan with matching contributions starting on day one. Best-in-class benefits include medical, vision, and dental insurance, disability insurance, pre-tax medical savings plans, and generous vacation and leave policies.

The total annual earnings range for this position is $85,000 to $125,000, depending on location, qualifications, and experience.

Location: Hybrid, San Francisco Bay Area or Portland desired. Remote work is considered for the right candidate.

CFS is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and equity in the workplace.

HOW TO APPLY

For consideration, email leadership@centerforfoodsafety.org with "Development Manager" in the subject line. Please include a cover letter and resume, and be prepared to share three references. Applications will be reviewed immediately and will continue to be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

LOCATION

Hybrid/Remote --San Francisco --Bay Area preferred

START DATE

The position is anticipated to be filled as soon as possible.