Development Manager

Oakland Lacrosse Club

At Oakland Lacrosse, established in 2012, we believe in the power of team sports to unleash the full potential in each young person. We do so by establishing long standing relationships with our players, families, and schools and building an environment throughout all of our teams that creates positive peer relationships, develops their confidence to overcome challenges, and connects them to a network of resources. Our year-round program provides free access to the sport and a holistic approach that includes leadership development, academic counseling, and wellness education for youth from Oakland Public Schools in grades 6-12. Currently we serve over 230 youth at eight partner schools with plans over the next five years to expand our program to over 500 youth at 18 partner schools.

Position Overview:

Oakland Lacrosse Club is seeking its first Development Manager to increase the visibility, impact, and financial sustainability of our growing organization. Reporting directly to the Founder and Executive Director—who brings strong experience and comfort with fundraising—the Development Manager will be a vital member of the leadership team, helping to shape and execute a strategic development plan that supports the entire organization. Working with the Executive Director, a highly engaged 16-person Board of Directors, and an active Development Committee, the Development Manager will be responsible for: Sustaining and expanding a donor portfolio, leading and supporting donor stewardship and fundraising events, serving as an ambassador for Oakland Lacrosse in the community, and develop and implement an effective internal communications strategies to engage and inform staff and supporters, fostering a strong sense of connection to the organization’s mission and goals.

The ideal candidate is proactive, takes initiative, and is motivated to shape and drive a development strategy with lasting impact. As a key leader, the Development Manager will partner closely with the Executive Director to raise over $2 million annually—70% of which comes from individual donors.

Individual Giving & Portfolio Management (50%)

• Manage and grow a portfolio of 100+ individual donors and prospects, focusing on gifts of $500 to $10,000 as well as long-term relationships.
• Create and implement individualized cultivation and stewardship strategies.
• Conduct donor meetings (in person and virtual) to share updates, deepen relationships, and solicit gifts.
• Draft personalized donor materials, proposals, and follow-up correspondence.
• Create and implement an overall communication calendar for all OLC donors
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of donor activity and communication in DonorPerfect CRM system

Communication (20%)

• Develop and manage an internal communications calendar to ensure consistent, timely, and mission-aligned outreach to individual donors throughout the year.
• Coordinate with the Executive Director and Communications Coordinator to schedule donor “touches” including emails, mailings, updates, and thank-you notes.
• Draft internal-facing materials to support staff and board in donor engagement efforts, including briefing documents, call scripts, and follow-up templates.
• Serve as the key liaison between the Development and Program teams to ensure alignment on fundraising initiatives, collaborate on joint events, and stay informed on key program milestones and successes to effectively communicate impact to stakeholders.

Prospect Research & Pipeline Development (15%)

• Identify and qualify new major gift prospects through research, networking, and referrals.
• Collaborate with Development Committee and Board to grow the donor pipeline
• Analyze giving patterns to inform segmentation and targeted outreach strategies.

Donor Events & Engagement (15%)

• Plan and manage donor-focused events including cultivation gatherings, stewardship receptions, house parties, and our annual 4v4 Jamboree.
• Oversee event logistics from start to finish: guest list creation, invitations, partner coordination, run of show, volunteer management, and post-event follow-up.
• Partner with OLC Communications Coordinator to develop compelling invitations, event materials, and post-event stewardship.
• Track event performance and engagement outcomes to inform future planning and strategy.
• Ensure events align with broader fundraising and donor engagement goals.

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Qualifications & Skillsets of the Ideal Candidate

Below are qualities and experiences we think will help a candidate be successful in this role. Please think of these as guidance, not requirements, and apply if you’re excited about the possibility of what we can achieve together.

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Characteristics & qualities

• 2-3 years of demonstrated success in fundraising or sales, with focus on cultivating individual relationships
• You are excited about the ability for fundraising to enact instrumental change both within an organization and for its program participants.
• Leverage exceptional verbal and written communication skills to engage and cultivate relationships with a diverse set of donors, effectively conveying the organization’s mission, vision, and fundraising priorities through tailored messaging and strategic outreach
• You have a true interest in equity in urban education. You understand the power of youth development and how team sports can have high barriers to entry, and you want to be part of improving opportunity.
• You have a strong learning orientation. You accept and incorporate direct feedback readily because it helps you and the organization improve.
• You are a strong listener and communicator, excited to serve as a face of OLC – sharing our core values, program, and impact.
• You’ve planned for and led high-stakes conversations, and you’ve been told your presentations are engaging and clear.
• You have a high level of self-awareness, humility, and emotional intelligence.
• You are a data-driven and rigorous thinker. You sweat the small stuff, always follow through on your commitments, and are meticulous about documenting, communicating, and organizing your work.
• You are excellent at building and stewarding authentic relationships, and deftly navigate operational and organizational hurdles to make partnerships work. You’re great at building trust and establishing consensus within and across diverse groups.
• We also are particularly enthusiastic about candidates who share proximity to our players — candidates who were part of a team sport that shaped them in some meaningful way.