Development Manager

Lifeline Children's Services; Birmingham (AL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Lifeline Children's Services, based in Birmingham, AL, seeks a Development Operations Manager to oversee fundraising and development activities, including grants, donor relations, systems, and online platforms. The role drives strategies to maximize fundraising efforts, build donor relationships, and ensure efficient operations within Lifeline's development department.

The position requires strong leadership, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive innovation in development practices while

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent
• Experience in development operations or fundraising preferred
• Ability to lead a team and manage multiple priorities
• Strong understanding of donor communications and stewardship

Responsibilities

• Oversee fundraising operations, including campaigns, donor pipeline, and reporting toward revenue goals
• Direct Grants Manager and Development Assistant, ensuring timely grants and donor communications
• Coordinate donor data integrity and gift processing systems within the CRM
• Lead collaboration with departments to develop integrated fundraising strategies
• Monitor donor engagement metrics and reporting
• Represent Lifeline professionally with donors and partners

Skills

Fundraising operations

Donor relations

Leadership

Strategic planning

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Tools

CRM systems

Job description

Position Summary: Responsible for overseeing and managing the operations behind fundraising and development activities. These key operational areas include - but not limited to - grants, donor relations, systems, and online platforms. The Manager is responsible for creating and implementing effective strategies to maximize fundraising efforts, build donor relationships, and ensure the smooth operation of the development department. Works closely with all members of the team to bridge the gap between operations and major fundraising efforts. This role requires strong leadership skills, strategic thinking, and the ability to drive innovation in development practices.

Primary Duties:

• To be a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ to co-workers, clients and ministry partners
• Actively leads the team in a manner aligned with scripture including, but not limited to, praying for and with them, sharing scripture in daily activities and leadership, modeling the character of Jesus Christ in interactions with team and any external clients, partners, vendors, etc.
• Disciples employees for the benefit of our ministry partners (i.e., families in process, expectant parents, etc) through the child placement process
• Aligns team dynamics, internal & external processes, and final product of team’s work with Biblical principles and with Lifeline's Core Values

STRATEGY - 30%

• Lead the implementation of comprehensive strategies for development operations as agreed and set by the VP of Advancement and/or Executive leadership.
• Partner effectively with staff and leaders throughout Lifeline to obtain appropriate information as an understanding of all ministry developmental needs.
• Assist the Development team to ensure donors receive proper communication and fundraising materials tailored to their areas of interest and respond to donor requests in a timely manner.
• Collaborate frequently with Lifeline ministry leaders to stay abreast of the current issues and work that may be of interest to donors.
• Stay up to date on best practices and innovations in the field of fundraising and development and drive the integration of new approaches and technologies.
• Collaborate with Database Manager to implement new management strategies in the CRM.
• Work closely with other departments, including marketing, communications, and program teams, to develop integrated strategies and collaborative initiatives.

MANAGEMENT - 20%

• Manage day-to-day fundraising operations, including campaign planning, donor pipeline management, gift processing coordination, and progress tracking toward annual revenue goals.
• Oversee and direct the Grants Manager, ensuring the grant application process and reporting requirements are met in a timely and collaborative effort including prospect research, proposal writing, and grant compliance. Foster collaboration and proactivity with Grants Manager, Development Officers, State Directors, and programs managers as to needs for grants and opportunities for grants.
• Oversee, direct, and support the Development Assistant, ensuring that all ministry donations and donor information are properly recorded, ensuring timely and personalized communication to State Directors and the Finance Department as needed.
• Assist with Alabama Stewardship initiatives and events as needed, providing operational support and coordination.
• Interact with donors in person, by phone call and/or written communication.
• Contribute to the advancement department’s success in supporting Lifeline’s mission by helping increase fundraising efforts annually.
• Manage the donor database and other development systems to track donor interactions, gifts and prospect research. Ensure data integrity, accuracy, and confidentiality.
• Implement and maintain systems for gift processing, acknowledgment, reporting, and receipting on a continual basis.

LOGISTICS - 50%

• Manage donor data integrity within the CRM, ensuring accurate records, timely updates, segmentation, reporting, and compliance with confidentiality standards.
• Coordinate donor communications, acknowledgments, impact reports, appeals, newsletters, and stewardship touchpoints to enhance engagement and giving satisfaction.
• Monitor fundraising metrics, analyze donor trends, and recommend operational improvements to increase efficiency, revenue growth, and donor retention.
• Represent the organization professionally with donors, board members, community partners, and external stakeholders, clearly communicating mission, impact, and funding needs.
• Demonstrates excellent communication skills. Helps communicate development priorities, campaigns, initiatives, budget process, and goal process as a bridge to the Senior Director of Major Gifts and regional development officers including State Directors.
• Utilize fundraising platforms for efficient donation processing, tracking, and reporting while repeatedly auditing said systems.
• Foster a collaborative and results-oriented work environment, promoting professional development and teamwork.
• Is highly motivated, organized, displays sound/mature judgment and integrity.
• Ensure compliance with relevant laws and regulations governing fundraising activities, including fundraising solicitation laws, donor privacy, and data protection. Uphold the highest ethical standards in all development operations.

Other duties:

• Assisting in agency-related events, including the annual staff retreat, the annual dinner, anniversary celebrations, across all Lifeline programs
• Maintains good relationships with co-workers, including solving all disputes in a Biblically prescribed fashion
• Represents the agency in a professional manner in and away from the
• Encourages and supports church engagement efforts, including live presence opportunities, adoption information meetings, and biblical teaching on caring for vulnerable children.
• If qualified by the state, conduct home studies, post placement/adoption reports or other related adoption services for families in your geographical area when necessary.
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor or member of the Executive team

All roles at Lifeline are designed to function as a flexible, team-based position. While primary responsibilities are outlined, employees may be asked to support additional programs, service areas, or initiatives based on organizational needs, workload/caseload demands, and supervisor direction. Any additional duties will be consistent with the employee’s training, licensure, role classification, and Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) status and will not fundamentally change the nature of the position.

Associate or bachelor's degree in related field

• At least 2 years of related work experience,required
• Central Office location unless outside the guidelines of the Remote Worker Policy

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