Development Manager

General Description

The Development Manager provides leadership for First Witness Child Advocacy Center’s fundraising, communications, and community engagement efforts. This position is responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive development strategy that increases philanthropic support, strengthens donor relationships, expands community partnerships, and elevates awareness of First Witness’s mission and impact.

The Development Manager oversees annual giving, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, fundraising events, planned giving, and donor stewardship, as well as assists the operations team and Executive Director with foundation relationships, grants management support, marketing, and communications. As a member of the First Witness Leadership Team, this position partners closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to ensure the organization’s long-term financial sustainability and continued growth.

The anticipated salary for this position is $57,000 – $61,000, dependent on qualifications and experience. Most work hours will take place between 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday, with occasional evening and weekend hours for community events and board meetings. This position is full-time with full benefits (health, dental, vision, life insurance, short- and long-term disability, 401k employer contribution after a year of employment, lifestyle spending account for self-care activities, etc.). Reports to: Executive Director.

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, and three professional references to Tyra Jaramillo-Kraemer at tjaramillo@firstwitness.org.

Responsibilities

Development Strategy

• - Develop and implement a comprehensive annual development plan that supports First Witness’s strategic priorities and financial goals
• - Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community supporters
• - Build and manage a sustainable major gifts program
• - Develop strategies to increase recurring giving and planned giving opportunities
• - Monitor fundraising performance and adjust strategies to maximize revenue growth
• - Research emerging fundraising trends and implement innovative development initiatives

Donor and Community Relations

• - Build authentic, long-term relationships with donors, sponsors, community leaders, and philanthropic partners
• - Develop individualized stewardship plans for major donors
• - Coordinate donor recognition activities and appreciation events
• - Record donations in an ongoing donor database
• - Prepare compelling donor reports demonstrating organizational impact
• - Represent First Witness at community events and networking opportunities to increase professional network, as well as refine and enhance First Witness’s outreach and capacity

Program Leadership

• - Lead the First Witness operations staff and establish priorities aligned with the organization’s mission and strategic plan
• - Monitor operational effectiveness through data collection and continuous quality improvement
• - Develop, implement, and evaluate operational policies, procedures, and workflows
• - Identify opportunities for innovation and program expansion
• - Supervise First Witness operations staff
• Conduct regular supervision, performance evaluations, and professional development planning
• Coordinate onboarding, mentoring, and professional development for new operations staff
• Assist in recruiting, interviewing, and retaining qualified staff
• - Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, psychological safety, and continuous learning

Grant Development

• - Collaborate with program leadership to identify grant opportunities that align with organizational priorities
• - Coordinate grant calendars, proposal development, supporting documentation, and submission timelines
• - Work with program leadership to gather data and outcomes for grant reports
• - Maintain relationships with foundation and government funders

Marketing and Communications

• - Oversee and collaborate with operations staff to create organizational storytelling across print, digital, social media, email, website, and annual reports
• - Collaborate with program staff to highlight program outcomes and impact through stories, data, and testimonials

Fundraising Events and Campaigns

• - Provide strategic oversight for fundraising events and campaigns
• - Develop annual fundraising campaigns that engage individuals, businesses, and community partners
• - Coordinate sponsorship development and corporate engagement
• - Evaluate fundraising return on investment and continuously improve event effectiveness
• - Recruit and support volunteers and board members serving on fundraising committees

Board Engagement

• - Partner with Executive Director to support Board fundraising efforts
• - Assist board members in donor cultivation and stewardship activities
• - Prepare development reports for Board meetings
• - Provide fundraising education and coaching to board members

Data Management and Evaluation

• - Monitor fundraising metrics and prepare annual reports
• - Analyze fundraising trends and donor retention

Organizational Leadership

• - Serve as a member of the First Witness Leadership Team
• - In the absence of the Executive Director, provide agency leadership in the interim in collaboration with the First Witness Leadership Team
• - Participate in organizational strategic planning and implementation
• - Collaborate across departments to improve services for children and families

General Responsibilities

• - Support a positive environment for families, team members, and all others who enter

First Witness

• - Participate in trainings as appropriate
• - Participate in staff and team meetings
• - Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Required

• - Commitment to ending child abuse
• - Commitment to growth and learning about cultural humility
• - Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, marketing, business, public administration, or a related field
• - Experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, advancement, or philanthropy
• - Demonstrated success securing major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and/or annual giving support
• - Experience supervising staff teams
• - Experience managing donor relationships and fundraising campaigns
• - Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills
• - Strong project management and organizational abilities
• - Experience using donor management software and fundraising databases
• - Ability to work collaboratively with staff, board members, volunteers, and community partners
• - Valid driver’s license and ability to travel throughout the service region

Preferred

• - Experience working in victim services, healthcare, education, or other mission-driven nonprofit organizations
• - Experience leading comprehensive fundraising campaigns
• - Experience with marketing, public relations, or digital communications
• - Crisis intervention skills

About First Witness

First Witness Child Advocacy Center (CAC) is a child-focused non-profit agency offering hope, healing, and justice for alleged victims of child abuse and their families. We provide forensically sound interviews for children, adolescents, and vulnerable adults who have reported sexual abuse, physical abuse, witnessed violence, or who may have been otherwise victimized. Our family advocates help non-offending caregivers understand the system and professionals involved and connect children and families with resources in their community.

First Witness is a nationally recognized training center, and trains forensic interviewers, family advocates, prevention educators, and other professionals throughout the US as well as children, families, and youth serving professionals in the Northland.