Development & Fundraising Manager

Inspirica, Inc.; Stamford (CT); Hybrid; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

403(b) Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

Job summary

Inspirica, Inc. is seeking a Development & Fundraising Manager to advance fundraising efforts through donor cultivation, stewardship, and campaign leadership.

The role includes managing donor portfolios, coordinating grants, and partnering with the VP of Development to grow support for Inspirica’s mission to end homelessness. The position requires 3–5 years in nonprofit fundraising, a Bachelor’s degree, strong writing and relationship-building skills, and the ability to work evenings or weekends

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, donor relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and stewarding donors and prospects.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and writing skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, time-management, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
• Experience with corporate giving, sponsorships, foundation fundraising, or grants preferred.
• Experience with Raiser's Edge or another donor database preferred.
• Passion for Inspirica’s mission to end homelessness and housing insecurity.
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends as required for events.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of individual, corporate, and sponsorship prospects across giving levels.
• Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to strengthen relationships and increase giving.
• Build and actively manage fundraising pipelines, identifying opportunities for retention, renewal, upgrades, new donor acquisition, corporate support, and sponsorships.
• Research and qualify prospects and develop strategies to move them from identification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Participate in donor and prospect meetings as needed, presentations, site visits, and solicitations, as appropriate, in coordination with the Vice President of Development.
• Manage and grow monthly sustaining giving opportunities and other recurring giving initiatives.
• Prepare donor-facing materials, proposals, sponsorship materials, impact reports, and stewardship communications.
• Ensure timely and meaningful follow-up with donors and prospects.

Skills

Donor cultivation

Donor stewardship

Fundraising campaigns

Grant coordination

Communications writing

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

Job description

Inspirica is a mission-driven 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to providing housing and comprehensive services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness. With an $8 million budget, multiple programs, and diverse government grant funding sources, we work to create sustainable solutions that empower our residents and strengthen our community.

Position Summary

The Development & Fundraising Manager is responsible for supporting and advancing Inspirica’s fundraising efforts through donor cultivation and stewardship, prospect development, fundraising campaigns, corporate and sponsorship opportunities, grant coordination, and community outreach. This role will manage assigned donor and prospect relationships, develop and maintain fundraising pipelines, and take ownership of key fundraising initiatives from prospect identification through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and follow-up. The Manager works closely with the Vice President of Development and Development team to strengthen donor relationships, identify new funding opportunities, increase philanthropic support, and advance Inspirica’s overall fundraising goals.

Key Responsibilities

Donor Cultivation & Stewardship

• Manage and grow an assigned portfolio of individual, corporate, and sponsorship prospects across giving levels.
• Develop and execute personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies to strengthen relationships and increase giving.
• Build and actively manage fundraising pipelines, identifying opportunities for retention, renewal, upgrades, new donor acquisition, corporate support, and sponsorships.
• Research and qualify prospects and develop strategies to move them from identification through cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Participate in donor and prospect meetings as needed, presentations, site visits, and solicitations, as appropriate, in coordination with the Vice President of Development.
• Manage and grow monthly sustaining giving opportunities and other recurring giving initiatives.
• Prepare donor-facing materials, proposals, sponsorship materials, impact reports, and stewardship communications.
• Ensure timely and meaningful follow-up with donors and prospects.

Community & Donor Outreach

• Support outreach efforts that strengthen relationships with local businesses, civic organizations, community partners, and prospective supporters.
• Represent Inspirica at appropriate community and donor meetings, presentations, and events.
• Identify opportunities to connect community relationships to fundraising and donor development.
• Collaborate with external grant writers and internal teams to gather information and support grant applications and reports.
• Research and identify foundation and other funding opportunities aligned with Inspirica’s priorities.
• Assist with proposal development, editing, supporting materials, and funder communications.
• Maintain awareness of prospective funding opportunities and share recommendations with the Vice President of Development.
• Support and manage assigned components of annual appeals, fundraising campaigns, and other development initiatives.
• Develop strategies to increase donor participation, retention, and revenue.
• Coordinate donor outreach and follow-up associated with assigned campaigns.
• Assist in developing solicitation and campaign materials.
• Support Inspirica’s key annual fundraising and community events, including:
• Seeds of Hope Gala: June fundraiser attended by 250+ community and business leaders.
• Holiday Wishes: December toy drive fulfilling the holiday wishes of approximately 1,500 children.
• Take ownership of assigned fundraising, sponsorship, donor outreach, and revenue-generating components of events.
• Work collaboratively with the Donor & Community Engagement Manager on event logistics, volunteer engagement, guest experience, and community relationships.
• Support donor and sponsor follow-up following events.

General Department Support

• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies that strengthen Inspirica’s fundraising program and donor base.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Development and Development team on departmental goals, priorities, and initiatives.
• Develop and contribute to donor communications, solicitation materials, proposals, and other fundraising materials.
• Take ownership of assigned projects and initiatives from planning through execution and follow-up.
• Maintain timely documentation of donor and prospect activity in coordination with the Development Data & Administrative Associate

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development, donor relations, or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience cultivating and stewarding donors and prospects.
• Strong relationship-building, communication, and writing skills.
• Strong organizational, project management, time-management, and attention-to-detail skills.
• Ability to work independently, take initiative, and manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team and across departments.
• Experience with corporate giving, sponsorships, foundation fundraising, or grants preferred.
• Experience with Raiser’s Edge or another donor database preferred.
• Passion for Inspirica’s mission to end homelessness and housing insecurity.
• Flexibility to work evenings or weekends as required for events.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary Range: $70,000-$75,000

Location: This position requires 4 days in the office in Stamford, CT, with 1 remote day

Inspirica is proud to offer a comprehensive program of benefits designed to serve the diverse needs of our workforce. Benefits include:

• Health Savings Accounts (HSA) & Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Short-term and Long-term disability, Life Insurance, AD&D
• 24 days of Paid Time Off (including vacation time and sick time)
• 11 days of Paid Holidays (including 1 Floating Holiday)