Development Manager

Who We Are

Food For Free is a Somerville-based non-profit dedicated to providing 15 Eastern Massachusetts communities with consistent access to fresh and nutritious food. We accomplish our mission through logistics, innovation, and partnerships with schools, colleges, community programs, corporations and traditional food organizations. Founded in 1981 as one of the nation’s first food rescue organizations, Food For Free now serves more than 132,000 Massachusetts residents facing food insecurity and distributes 6.2 million pounds of nutritious fresh and prepared foods annually.

Food For Free is a flexible, innovative organization. We have an open, informal culture and believe deeply in transparency and integrity. Collaboration is at the heart of all that we do and it comes from a deep respect for one another, our community and the people we serve.

What You’ll Do

As Development Manager, you’ll work closely with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy Officer to help donors see the impact of their giving, foster meaningful engagement through events and personal outreach, and play a critical role in the overall development operations.

Donor Engagement and Stewardship

• Build and maintain strong relationships with donors, with regular touchpoints
• Co-manage current donor relationships with the team
• Develop personalized donor outreach plans, making donors feel valued beyond transactions
• Manage donor recognition communications - thank yous, impact updates, and more
• Track donor engagement trends and strengthen retention
• Attend community events to attract and retain new donors
• Grow and expand the organization’s current recurring giving program-Community HeartBeets

Sponsorships and Community Giving

• Work with the team to grow sponsorship programs beyond events
• Build relationships with local businesses, community groups, and corporate partners
• Support stewardship of corporate volunteer groups
• Support the development of grant funded opportunities, including identifying and vetting new opportunities and building relationships with philanthropic funders

Fundraising Events and Communications

• Lead the organization’s internal events committee
• Manage event logistics for the organization’s annual events (spring, summer and fall) and various donor-led events throughout the year- creating a seamless donor experience
• Work with a variety of consultants and the team to develop donor-centered messaging for appeals, newsletters, and social media
• Ensure pre and post event touchpoints are in place
• Work closely with the Finance team to ensure revenue is accurately tracked
• Attend monthly board of directors’ development committee meetings

Donor Data Strategy

• Work with team to provide donor and sponsor impact stories for grant and gift reporting
• Optimize CRM use for strategic donor segmenting and personalized engagement

Who You Are

These are guidelines. You may not meet every qualification listed or you may bring a valuable perspective and experience we have not yet considered. If your skills are transferable and you are in the ballpark, please apply.

• You have 3-5 years experience in nonprofit development and fundraising
• Experience in supporting the creation and implementation of annual development plans
• You have experience with development CRMs, bonus points if that experience is with DonorPerfect
• You have a passion for managing projects across a multifaceted team and organization
• You are a natural relationship builder - whether you’re speaking with a long-time donor, new sponsor, or a volunteer group, you know how to connect with people in meaningful ways
• You are strategic - you understand how to move donors through the pipeline
• You are detail-oriented - you follow up, you keep track, you don’t miss a beat!
• You are an effective communicator - you create compelling emails, find ease in making in-person asks, and make sure people are recognized in meaningful ways.

Why Work With Food For Free?

• Mission-driven work - every dollar raised provides healthy food for individuals and families who need it most
• Donor-centered fundraising - you have the chance to build meaningful relationships with supporters
• Team collaboration - work with a passionate team dedicated to making a difference
• Food For Free offers generous benefits, including paid vacation, holidays, wellness days, and 403(b) retirement account & match.