Company Overview
Reality Changers is a transformative non-profit organization dedicated to empowering youth from disadvantaged backgrounds by providing them with academic support, financial assistance, and leadership training to become first-generation college students. With a mission to change lives and communities, we have successfully awarded millions in scholarships and fostered a network of support for our students.
Summary
As a Development Manager at Reality Changers, you will play a pivotal role in advancing our mission by overseeing fundraising initiatives and building relationships with donors. This position is essential for ensuring that we continue to provide vital resources and support to our students as they pursue higher education.
The Development Manager will report to the VP, Development.
BENCHMARKS /GOALS / MEASURES OF SUCCESS:
- Work with the Development team to achieve the organization’s annual fundraising goal.
- Manage a portfolio to cultivate, solicit and steward donors who give up to $2,500 during the fiscal year.
- Manage the organization’s monthly giving program to achieve and help grow the organization’s annual giving goal.
REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES
An incumbent may perform any combination of the essential functions shown below. This position description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, knowledge, or abilities associated with this classification, but is intended to accurately reflect the principal job elements.
RESPONSABILITIES
1. Donor Relations (50%):
- Work with the Development Team to implement and manage an annual fundraising plan (e.g. peer-to-peer campaigns, year-end appeal, donor stewardship events, special events, etc.).
- Responsible for identifying, qualifying, cultivating, soliciting and stewarding gifts up to $2,500.
- Grow and manage the monthly giving program including cultivation, solicitation and stewardship of donors.
- With the Director V.P. of Development, develop targeted mailing lists and prospect lists for campaigns and special events.
- Manage third-party fundraisers by attending planning meetings, helping sell tickets, and support the Volunteer Manager with recruitment/management of Reality Changers volunteers for special events.
- Support the President/CEO and VP of Development with making regular phone calls to current and potential donors, partners, and sponsors to set up meetings with supporters and maintain communication.
- Conduct ongoing research and analysis on donor prospects to expand the donor base.
- Manage and log communications, solicitations and other contacts to donor records.
- Monitor and update relationship manager portfolios to ensure ongoing engagement with current and prospective donors
2. Donor Database Management (25%):
- Responsible for overseeing the daily operations of the Development database including ensuring the accuracy and integrity of data, standard operating procedures and providing end-user training and support.
- Continuously improve and maintain efficient systems for data cleansing, data entry, gift processing, prospect research and relationship management.
- With Finance Assistant, track pledges and monthly gifts to ensure on-time payment.
- Analyze and produce reports on fundraising campaign performance.
- Support with monthly reconciliation between Development and Finance departments.
3. External Communications and Outreach (20%):
- Draft and review compelling development communications in the form of, but not limited to, proposals, grant applications, development reports, meeting briefs, event packets, and donor correspondence as directed.
- Work closely with Marketing & Communications Manager to develop and manage consistent messaging to prospects, donors and community members.
- Strategically cultivate and leverage relationships with relevant businesses, funding entities, and partners to maximize the impact of Reality Changers’ brand, efforts, and impact in the community.
- Connect with community partners to follow up on leads; assist with planning and coordination of outreach events and community networking opportunities.
- Attend/represent Reality Changers at community and donor-related meetings and events.
- Attend/manage monthly Speech Night sessions.
4. General Administration (5%):
- Support various tasks and projects in the organization’s effort to raise annual fundraising goals.
- Stay current on the latest technology and features of databases as well as other data systems.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, financial development or related field
- 5+ years of marketing and communications experience, including creating content for social media, email campaigns, websites, video, etc.
- 3+ years experience event management experience.
- 2+ years project management experience
- Nonprofit experience with communications and fundraising
- Experience with a fundraising database is required.
KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS / ABILITIES
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university is required.
- 3+ years of fundraising experience with demonstrated success in personally cultivating, soliciting and stewarding donors required.
- Demonstrated success in building rapport with and maintaining relationships with donors.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills, including proven success in presenting ideas and concepts effectively and persuasively.
- Excellent attention to detail and highly organized.
- Knowledge and proficiency in MailChimp, Salesforce, WordPress, Canva, Adobe Creative Suite, Classy, and G Suite
- Demonstrated ability to set and manage priorities under tight deadlines with an outcomes-oriented approach.
- Must be highly adaptive, versatile, and responsible, even when confronted with ambiguity.
- Willingness to take initiative and do what is necessary to complete the job.
- Strong attention to detail and good follow through.
- Knowledge and proficiency in Microsoft Office, G Suite, Zoom, and email systems. Experience in Salesforce preferred.
ADDITIONAL EXPECTATIONS
- Represent Reality Changers in a positive manner in all public and private settings.
- Provide positive encouragement to staff, students and instructors in all public and private settings.
- Exemplify commitment to Reality Changers’ mission and values.
TRAVEL / HOURS
- Regular weekend and evening work will be expected, especially in November/December and leading up to events.
- Occasional travel will be expected.
POSITION REQUIREMENTS
- A valid driver’s license and reliable transportation to and from site location(s), Reality Changers’ headquarters, and related events.
- Clear Tuberculosis Test (TB) or ability to obtain medical clearance
- A job offer of employment is contingent upon completion of our pre-employment screening process.
SALARY / BENEFITS
As a candidate for this position, starting salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon work experience, education, job-related skills, and any other factors Reality Changers considers relevant factors to the hiring decisions for this position.
Benefits for this position include a 403(b) plan, medical, dental and vision coverage, flexible spending accounts, life insurance, paid holidays, annual $500 professional development stipend, paid sick leave, paid parental leave, sabbatical leave, and unlimited flexible paid time off.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Due to COVID-19, Reality Changers employees are temporarily operating in a hybrid model---working in-person from the office and remotely from home.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This job requires the ability to sit, use hands and arms to perform repetitive motions. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and the ability to adjust focus. It requires moderate dexterity, application of basic skills (calculator, keyboard, hand-eye coordination, etc.) and the ability to bend or stand as necessary.
At Reality Changers, we believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) are connected to our mission and critical to the well-being of our staff and our community. In 2021, we were recognized as an “Outstanding Organization for Diversity & Inclusion” by the Association of Fundraising Professionals San Diego Chapter.
Reality Changers serves first generation youth from low-income backgrounds and from groups who are traditionally under-represented on college campuses---such as Black, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBT+, Immigrant and/or Undocumented communities. Because we believe that these communities must be centered in the work we do, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities and/or backgrounds.
TO APPLY
To apply, please submit the following to [email protected] by Monday, April 21, 2025:
- A thoughtful cover letter outlining your interest in the position and how your qualifications align with the above requirements and Reality Changers’ focus and mission
- Current resume
- This position is eligible for appointment at $70,000 annually
Interested candidates are encouraged to apply as early as possible as interviews will be scheduled on a rolling basis. The anticipated start date is May 2025
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $51,633.00 - $77,450.00 per year
Benefits:
- 403(b)
- Dental insurance
- Dependent health insurance coverage
- Employee assistance program
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
- Sabbatical
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- of event management and coordination: 3 years (Preferred)
- creating social media content, email campaigns,etc.: 5 years (Preferred)
- project management: 2 years (Preferred)
- with a fundraising database management: 1 year (Required)
Work Location: In person
