Development Manager

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Job description

Do you believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid? Would you like to work where you are encouraged to be your best self while promoting fun, creativity and play? If you are motivated and you possess experience raising money for social change we want you to join our team and put your passion for play to work for us.

Playworks is the leading national nonprofit leveraging the power of play to transform children's physical and emotional health. We change school climate through the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day. We believe safe and healthy play is an effective way to build a more fair and equitable future for all kids.

Playworks believes that there is a best in every kid, and in every adult, too. We bring the values we instill on our playgrounds -- respect, inclusion, healthy play, healthy community -- into the workplace. We are an organization that actively promotes learning and also individual professional development, growth and advancement.

This is a unique opportunity for a proactive professional with strong business development and fundraising skills to join a dynamic, high-functioning organization.

This position can be located anywhere in the San Francisco Bay Area.

As the Playworks Northern California Development Manager, you will focus on:

Strategy and Planning:

* Together with the Executive Director and Development Director, design and implement an annual development plan for the organization's budget.
* Have a current conceptual knowledge of the region's philanthropic landscape with an ability to leverage relationships and partnership opportunities for the overall benefit of the organization.
* Assist with designing a corporate sponsorship strategy customized for regional prospects, implement that strategy and share best practices with the organization.
* Attend, assist and represent Playworks at various key fundraising events/functions, speaking engagements, tours, and other programs.
* Demonstrate skill in applying and modifying knowledge of practical problem solving, recommending solutions, and implementing and evaluating changes.

Development Operations:

* Prepare regular reports on development progress against targets.
* Promote the staffing of the regional Board of Directors by implementing and coordinating Board and fundraising activities including house parties, happy hour events, mail solicitations, and donor outreach.
* Manage development pipeline including all opportunities, contacts, and data in Salesforce and development systems.

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship (Foundation, Corporate and Individual):

* Manage and execute the region's development activities including developing foundation relationships, corporate sponsorships and individual donor solicitation activities.
* Research, prepare and submit foundation grants and corporate requests.
* Serve as contact for local funders while building and maintaining lasting regional and community relationships through prospect research in addition to hosting program visits and seeking new relationships in the philanthropic community.
* Manage corporate relationships including designing and executing corporate volunteer activities.
* Manage and expand the corporate volunteer program to bring additional volunteers to the Playworks community, with a recognition that volunteers lead to additional resources, including potential corporate partnerships, individual donors, etc.
* Solicit government grants as needed.
* Prepare and submit reports to funders.

Event and Campaign Production:

* Assist with the planning and execution of regional related special events by securing corporate sponsorships and individual gifts.
* Conduct fundraising and brand awareness campaigns within a specified geographic region.
* Coordinate individual donor solicitations including spring and end of year appeal mailing, house parties, major donor campaigns, and other events.

Marketing and Communications:

* Develop and execute a communications plan, including email, social media and other platforms.

If you're a good fit for this position, you already know much of what this job entails. However, to be sure we're providing a complete picture, here are some details:

* Success in this position will require knowledge of effective fundraising strategies including grant seeking, individual donor cultivation, corporate employee volunteer programs and event production.
* You will be successful if you possess solid organizational and analytical skills and the ability to meet aggressive deadlines while being detail oriented.
* The strongest candidate will have the demonstrated ability to maintain poise and demeanor appropriate to portray an image of professionalism as defined by Playworks and possess a documented history of successful fundraising development and nonprofit management.

Required Skills & Experience

* Proficiency in Microsoft Office suites. Knowledge of Salesforce is a plus.
* Excellent written and verbal skills for effective communication and the ability to facilitate small and large group presentations.
* Ability to conceptualize the regional philosophy and to communicate the concept to others effectively, and with desired results is key.
* Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 3-5 years of experience preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work and an opportunity to grow professionally. We offer:

* Competitive nonprofit salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, exempt position.
* A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k), life insurance, employee funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts.
* Generous paid time off with paid vacation, sick and holiday leave.

If working and playing and working while playing sounds like your ideal place to work, then apply online to join our team!

Please include:

* A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
* Resume.
* Writing sample.
* References will be requested.

Other things you need to know:

* This position may require travel to various locations.
* If a Playworks employee is required to drive a vehicle for work related purposes (not commuting purposes) the employee must complete an authorization form and provide us with evidence of valid, current driver's license and proof of liability/collision/property damage insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000/ $100,000 each occurrence.
* You must have outstanding communication skills-in addition to maintaining an open line of communication; you'll demonstrate excellent communication skills, including good phone and email etiquette and the ability to facilitate small and large group presentations.
* Requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

We are committed to racial equity, and we make a particular effort to recruit people of color, indigenous people, gender non-binary people, and people with historically more marginalized identities to apply for open positions. Our core values of inclusion, respect, healthy community and healthy play are the foundation of our organization and are infused in all aspects of our work.

Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every one of the qualifications as described in a job description. We are most interested in finding the best candidate for the job, and that candidate may be one who comes from a less traditional background. If that is you, don't hesitate to apply and tell us about yourself!

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of age, gender, gender identity/expression, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, marital status, physical ability, or any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates for employment, volunteering opportunities or board service on a merit basis.