Development Manager Job Description

Introduction to Education for Sharing (E4S)

Since its founding in 2007, Education for Sharing (E4S) has reached more than 2 million beneficiaries (children, teenagers, teachers, families, and communities) in 13 countries with its unique play-reflect-act framework to engage children and youth to play, get involved, think critically and act. We use fun, collaborative games to inspire participants to reflect upon essential topics of character, values, and equality. Rigorous program evaluation reveals: participating children and youth demonstrate 65% greater recognition of issues related to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and an increase of 67% in the practice of gender equality. 99% of teachers and educators find the methodology a source of new tools for their pedagogical practice. 82% of our beneficiaries feel capable of solving current challenges in their community. There is a 70% decrease in violent behaviors among participating students.

Development Manager Role

Education for Sharing seeks an enterprising and creative individual with a passion and knack for fundraising to join our tight-knit team as a Development Manager. This is an opportunity to work closely with leadership, help set the direction of our US-based fundraising strategy, and play a critical role in E4S’s expansion in the U.S.

The successful candidate will be a communicator with a keen sense of initiative, capable of identifying and developing fundraising opportunities, developing relationships with potential donors, and managing fundraising campaigns. The Development Manager will write proposals and lead volunteers. As an integral team member, this individual will be supported in honing their speaking, writing, and leadership abilities while advancing E4S towards its financial goals and ability to deliver its program to more children.

The ideal candidate will also be motivated, professional, and organized, with a knack for research. We are looking for someone who believes in Education for Sharing’s mission and will demonstrate an exceptional drive to further our existing fundraising efforts and help strategize and deliver new ones.

Role Objectives

• Secure the financial resources outlined in the annual budget to ensure the organization's programs operate effectively and remain sustainable
• Identify, research, and pursue prospective funding sources, including private foundations, corporations, and government agencies.
• Plan fundraising initiatives to help the organization meet financial goals
• Cultivate a network of dedicated donors and volunteers
• Form strong relationships with external stakeholders
• Ensure donors are kept in the loop and properly stewarded
• Promote awareness of the organization’s mission and work
• Effectively convey the organization’s mission, vision, and programs to potential donors and maintain in-depth knowledge of fundraising priorities
• Lead the reporting efforts with current donors

Daily and Monthly Responsibilities

• Manage a budget and track progress against goals
• Research individuals, corporations, and foundations to identify prospective donors
• Effectively convey the organization’s mission, vision, and programs to current and potential stakeholders
• Craft grant applications and fundraising proposals
• Strategize and successfully execute fundraising campaigns
• Organize fundraising events while overseeing teams of volunteers

Necessary Skills and Qualifications

• A minimum of four years of fundraising experience
• Strong knowledge of fundraising best practices, donor cultivation, and grant writing
• Proven success at fundraising by building a donor base, designing and implementing strategic development plans, and closing gifts ($50K+) from individuals, foundations, and corporations
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with strong project management skills
• Competence in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace suite and donor management systems
• Experience writing grant proposals, press releases, and fundraising letters
• Knowledge of budgeting and financial reporting for grant proposals.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills
• Ability to lead and motivate colleagues and volunteers
• Strong attention to detail
• Adept at managing tasks, planning events, and balancing priorities
• Passion for education and a commitment to the mission of Education for Sharing

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, nonprofit management, business, public relations, or a related field
• Familiarity with California nonprofit funding landscape and grant guidelines.
• Confidence in public speaking
• Legal or compliance experience is a plus
• Working knowledge of Spanish is a plus

The ideal candidate will be based in California, as the Development Manager will be required to attend occasional in-person meetings near a major metropolitan area and will report to the United States Country Manager.

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Education for Sharing is an equal-opportunity employer and seeks to bring our values of diversity and inclusion to our hiring process. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, age, disability, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Beyond our commitment to non-discrimination, we encourage applications from candidates who can contribute to the diversity of our organization and who have lived experiences of inequity and connections to marginalized communities.