Development Manager
Description
Position Summary
The Development Manager plays a key role on KIPP Public Schools Northern California’s development team, supporting the execution of annual fundraising goals through strong portfolio management, donor engagement, and high-quality project execution.
Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Manager will plan and execute targeted campaigns for segments of donors and support the Director, CEO, and CXO on portfolio moves management. The Development Manager is responsible for executing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies (communications, meetings, events, tours) that drive revenue and strengthen relationships. This role translates development strategy into clear project plans and ensures timely, high-quality implementation.
This position is based in our downtown Oakland office (BART accessible) and requires travel to our 23 schools. This is a hybrid role with the expectation that three days per week be spent onsite at our school campuses or at our Regional Support Office in Oakland.
Ideal Candidate
- You are a strong relationship-builder and project manager who thrives on turning strategy into action.
- You are detail-oriented, highly organized, and comfortable managing multiple priorities simultaneously.
- You enjoy researching donors and prospects, analyzing data, and identifying opportunities for engagement and growth.
- You are proactive in managing timelines, tracking progress, and ensuring internal and external stakeholders are prepared and aligned.
- You communicate clearly and persuasively, tailoring messages to different audiences.
- You are comfortable collaborating across teams, managing up effectively, and surfacing risks early.
- You have a strong commitment to public education, equity, and social justice.
Preferred Qualifications
Required Experience:
- At least 3–5 years of relevant work experience.
- Experience in development or fundraising, particularly in institutional or major gifts.
- Experience managing projects with multiple stakeholders.
- Prior experience using Salesforce or a similar CRM.
Education:
- Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
Knowledge/skills required:
- Demonstrate strong project management skills and the ability to manage competing priorities.
- Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
- Use data to analyze progress and inform decisions.
- Write clearly and compellingly about mission, programs, and impact.
- Build authentic relationships across lines of difference.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities
Portfolio Management & Fundraising Execution
- Own a portfolio of individual donors, managing cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship plans.
- Support moves management for CEO and CXO portfolios, including preparing briefing materials, tracking next steps, coordinating follow-up, and ensuring cultivation and stewardship activities are executed on time.
- Manage targeted fundraising campaigns for defined donor segments, including planning timelines, coordinating cross-functional inputs, developing donor communications, tracking performance metrics, and analyzing results to inform future strategy.
- Develop tailored cultivation and stewardship plans aligned to annual fundraising goals.
- Conduct donor research and analyze giving patterns, motivations, and networks.
- Prepare briefing materials and correspondence for senior leaders (CEO, CXO, Director of Development) as needed.
- Support and execute school visits and donor engagement opportunities, such as small events.
- Track donor activity, progress, and revenue projections in Salesforce.
- Monitor retention, renewal, and re-engagement rates and recommend adjustments based on data.
- Identify new prospects and support efforts to diversify and expand the giving base.
- Proactively flag risks, gaps, and opportunities in portfolio performance.
Proposal & Communications Management
- Draft and manage development of proposals, reports, and tailored donor communications.
- Translate strategic priorities into compelling cases for support.
- Manage timelines for proposal submission, reporting, and stewardship deliverables.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to gather information and impact data.
- Ensure high-quality, timely, and accurate donor-facing materials.
Cross-Team Collaboration & Project Ownership
- Translate the annual fundraising strategy into actionable project plans.
- Coordinate across internal teams to ensure alignment on donor communications and engagement opportunities.
- Support coordinated efforts, including annual appeals, newsletters, and multi-stream campaigns.
- Manage project timelines and competing priorities to ensure on-time delivery.
- Communicate project status clearly and consistently to the Director of Development.
- Escalate strategic direction changes, cross-project conflicts, or policy exceptions as appropriate.
Contribute to team planning, goal tracking, and continuous improvement processes. - Other duties as assigned.
Physical, Mental, and Environmental Demands
Physical: Ability to navigate office and school campuses, and hold meetings in different spaces. Traditionally, much of the day involves sitting. Ability to access and utilize technology, including a keyboard and mouse. Occasional lifting/carrying of equipment 20 lbs. Physical agility to move oneself in various positions to execute duties effectively, which may include kneeling, walking, pushing/pulling, squatting, twisting, turning, bending, stooping, grasping, fine finger manipulation, and reaching overhead
Mental: Stress of deadlines and normal work standards, ability to analyze problems and generate alternatives, work with interruptions, concentrate for long periods of time, read, write, calculate, perform routine math problems, interpret data, memorize and recall objects and people.
Environmental: The office environment is subject to constant interruptions and distractions. Occasional school/event environment and local travel (typically within 80 miles of the Oakland office). KIPP adheres to health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC, CDE, and public health agencies’ recommendations.
Classification
This is a full-time, exempt position based on a full-year calendar cycle, based out of our Regional Support Office with frequent travel to schools and districts.
This is a hybrid role with the expectation that three days per week be spent onsite at our Regional Support Office in Oakland.
Must have access to reliable transportation for work-related travel.
About KIPP Public Schools Northern California
We are a thriving nonprofit network of 23 free, public charter schools open to all students. At KIPP, we believe all children should grow up free to create the future they want for themselves and that schools can and should be a critical factor in making that vision a reality. Together with families and communities, we create joyful, academically excellent schools that prepare students with the skills and confidence to pursue the paths they choose—college, career, and beyond—so they can lead fulfilling lives and build a more just world.
Our student community consists of nearly 7,000 elementary, middle, and high school students in East Palo Alto, Oakland, San Francisco, San Lorenzo, San José, Redwood City, and Stockton. 81% qualify for free or reduced price lunch, 34% are multilingual learners, and 12% have special needs. We strive to cultivate a representative team of teachers and leaders that reflects our students’ diversity.
Compensation
KIPP Northern California is dedicated to you and your family's well-being! We offer a competitive salary as well as a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, and transportation benefits.
We benchmark annually against comparably-sized non-profit organizations in the regions where we operate to offer competitive salaries. The salary range for this position is between $94,000 and $121,000. Most candidates would be compensated at $100,000.
How to Apply
Please submit a cover letter and resume by clicking "Apply" on this page.
KIPP Northern California Public Schools does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, ethnicity, color, national origin or ancestry, cultural background, religious creed, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/registered domestic partner status, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, military or veteran status, primary language, citizenship or immigration status, or any other consideration made unlawful by federal, state, or local laws.