Business Development Manager

SOLVE; Portland (OR); On-site; USD 56,000 - 76,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401k with employer match

Employer-paid medical (vision & dental

Dependent coverage option

Volunteer time off

Paid holidays

Wellness week office closure

Job summary

SOLVE is seeking a Business Development Manager in Portland, Oregon, to drive fundraising and corporate partnerships in the state. You will cultivate and solicit relationships with corporate and government supporters, coordinating events and sponsorships to sustain SOLVE’s mission.

The role reports to the Development Director and requires 2+ years in corporate sales or fundraising, with strong relationship-building skills and a willingness to travel to engage Oregon’s business community.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum 2 years of progressive experience in corporate sales and fundraising or equivalent.
• Willingness to meet, engage, and develop relationships with Oregon’s business community.

Responsibilities

• Secure corporate and government support, including event sponsorships and annual philanthropic gifts.
• Manage and facilitate existing relationships with corporate partners and funding opportunities.
• Seek out new business opportunities and partners aligned with SOLVE’s mission.
• Track gifts, maintain donor relationships, and communicate sponsorship deliverables.

Skills

Communication

Teamwork

Adaptability

Time management

Leadership

Emotional intelligence

Customer service

Partnership building

Decision making

Mission focus

Flexibility

Diversity awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft 365

QuickBooks

Salesforce

DonorPerfect

Job description

AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEL:

The Business Development Manager has the primary responsibility for developing and implementing an aggressive annual and long-range corporate giving strategy. Working closely with the Development Director and the Development Team, this person will identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward relationships with corporate and government supporters while fostering strong statewide awareness and financial support for SOLVE. People who excel at this job will be outgoing and motivated to represent SOLVE’s mission within Oregon’s greater business community through in-person meetings, networking events, and other high value touchpoints.

TITLE:

Business Development Manager

REPORTSTO:

Development Director

BENEFITS:

Comprehensive benefits package, including 401k with employer match, 100% employer-paid medical, vision, and dental coverage, with an option for dependents, 2 Employee Assistant Programs, Medical Flex Spending Account, long-term disability, 3 weeks starting vacation and 2 weeks sick time, paid volunteer time, office closure for an all-staff wellness week, and 14 additional paid holidays.

COMMITMENT:

Full-time/Exempt. Flexible schedule. Some nights/weekends as needed. Office location is Portland, Oregon.

SALARY:

$56,000 to $76,000

TRAVEL:

Local travel required.

APPLICATIONDEADLINE:

Applications are reviewed on an ongoing basis until September 14, 2026. Priority consideration for applications received by September 8, 2026.

Essential Functions

Sales and Fundraising (75%)

• Secure corporate and government support, including event sponsorships, partnership support and annual philanthropic gifts to maintain long-term financial longevity of the organization.
• Manage andfacilitateexisting relationships and agreements with corporate partners, while looking for additional points of collaboration and funding throughout the calendar year.
• Seek out new business opportunities and corporate partners that have a vested interest and synergy with SOLVE’s mission and accomplishments.
• Track corporate gifts, maintain relationships, and ensure sponsorship deliverables are accurately and effectively communicated to the team.

Oversee SOLVE’s ‘Out of Office’ Corporate Volunteer Program, which includes coordinating and executing private volunteer events for various corporate groups.

Oversee Grant and Foundation Program (20%)

• Manage End-to-End Grant Lifecycle: Oversee the application, review, award, and reporting processes for community-level environmental grants, ensuring alignment with organizational funding priorities.
• Develop and track proposals and reports for foundation and corporatefundraising
• Evaluate SOLVE programs to decide best fit for funding;submitproposals
• Search for nontraditional grant funding sources, including but not limited to travel funding, advertising and marketing, personnel development and overhead costs.

Support & Liaise with Grantees: Serve as the primary point of contact for awardees, providing ongoing technical assistance, guidance, and troubleshooting throughout their project cycles.

Metrics and Reporting (5%)

• Document andmaintainclear andtimelyrecords and call reports to track contacts, pledges, donations, and special notes;assistin the maintenance ofan accuratedonor managementdatabase

Other duties asassigned

Supervisory Responsibility

This position does not have any supervisory responsibilities.

Required Qualifications

Experience:Minimum2years of progressive experience in corporate sales and fundraising or equivalent.Willingness to meet, engage, and development relationships with Oregon’s business community.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education:Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
• Software:Microsoft 365 suite, QuickBooks,SalesForce,DonorPerfect, other job specific software requirements.
• Language:Able to speak a language other than English

Competencies

• Communication:Ability to convey information clearly, listen actively, and tailor communication based on the audience and situation.
• Teamwork:Collaboration with others to achieve common goals, understanding team dynamics, and contributing effectively within a group.
• Adaptability:Willingness and ability to adapt to new circumstances, learn from change, and work effectively in various situations, embracing continuous learning and improvement.
• Time Management:Efficiently managing your time, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines tooptimizeproductivity and performance.
• Leadership:Guiding, motivating, and influencing others to achieve sharedobjectives, even without a formal managerial role.
• Emotional Intelligence:Understanding and managing your own emotions and recognizing and empathizing with others’ emotions to build better relationships.Attention to Detail:Thoroughness and accuracy in tasks, ensuring quality and precision in your work.
• Customer Service:Attending toconstituent’sneeds and concerns effectively, providing exceptional service, andmaintaininga positive experience.
• Partnership Building:Building and maintaining relationships with professionals in your field, fostering opportunities for collaboration and growth.
• Decision Making:Making informed andtimelydecisions, considering available information, and weighing potential outcomes.
• Mission Focus:Demonstratedcommitment to the organization’s mission and values.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice:

Demonstratedin-depth awareness and understanding of one’s own cultural background and privilege, how it influencesperceptions, values, and practices, and engages in the way they shape their relationship with volunteers, community members, and co-workers.

Flexibility:

Flexible schedule for occasional evening and weekend work.

Physical Requirements

• Physical Ability:Duties are primarily performed in an office setting.Position requires the ability to sit and/or stand for extended periods, use a computer for extended periods, and lift 25 pounds. Occasional participation in events may require standing and walking on uneven or varying terrain outdoors.
• Visual and Auditory Ability:Requiredto have visual acuity tooperatea computer terminal, read written materials, and communicate with others. Must be able to hear and speak clearly for effective communication.
• Focus/Memory:Ability tomaintainfocus and memory in environments with distractions such as heavy foot traffic, background noise due to publicconversationsand the gathering of people, etc.

The following physical requirements are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Reasonableaccommodationsmay be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

Driving:

Able tooperatea vehicle for extended periods. Valid Driver’s License required.

Hiring Timeline

• Applications reviewed: Rolling basis beginning immediately
• Phone interviews: Early September
• Panel interviews: September 21-27
• Final interviews: September 28 – October 3

Target start date:

October 19

SOLVE is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to expanding the diversity of our team. Women, people of color, and members of the LGBTQIA(+) community are strongly encouraged to apply.