Development Manager

The Helix School; San Rafael (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

The Helix School is seeking a Development Manager to lead the Annual Fund campaigns, events, and donor communications strategies. This role focuses on growing the donor base, deepening relations with Helix family and community donors, and collaborating with leadership to identify major prospects.

Responsibilities include raising about $200,000 for the Annual Fund, launching a monthly donor program, and supervising the Development Operations Associate to deliver exceptional donor experiences.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.

Responsibilities

• Manage donor relations, annual fund donor stewardship, and ensure high donor engagement and satisfaction.
• Co-supervise the Development Operations Associate and support a monthly donor program.
• Plan and execute Annual Fund campaigns, events, and donor communications.
• Lead Gala and major events like Paths to Possibility 5K with the team.
• Prepare fundraising reports and annual impact communications.
• Manage relationships with vendors, consultants, and community partners.
• Coordinate with Marketing and Development teams to maximize donor outreach.

Skills

Donor relations

Fundraising campaigns

Event planning

Donor stewardship

Communication

Project management

Collaboration

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Blackbaud

e-Tapestry

Bloomerang

QGiv

Raiser’s Edge

Mailchimp

HubSpot

Canva

PowerPoint

Word

Excel

Google Suite

CapCut

Job description

Purpose of the Position

The Development Manager’s primary responsibility is to execute the school’s planned Annual Fund campaigns, events, and donor communications strategies, grow the general donor base deepening relations with Helix family and community donors, and collaborate with members of the leadership team on identifying institutional and major donor prospects. Responsibilities includes raising funds for the Annual Fund (approx. $200,000) via fundraising campaigns, events, and direct solicitation; launching a new monthly donor program; managing donor communications (impact newsletter and fundraising campaigns); supporting the annual Luminary Gala and Paths to Possibility 5K events; and supervising the Development Operations Associate to deliver exceptional donor experiences.

Essential Functions

Donor Relations & Annual Fund Donor Stewardship

• Be present across campus getting to know staff and interacting with students and families. Engage with parents and guardians to inspire giving & volunteering for the Annual Fund
• Build a portfolio of Annual Fund donors below a named threshold, and collaborating with Development Director on qualifying donors for major gifts pursuits
• Manage and cultivate a portfolio of annual donor prospects, soliciting gifts within a giving threshold to meet Annual Fund goal of $200,000
• Manage and oversee donor stewardship, gift acknowledgements, thanks, recognition, and pledge agreements, ensuring a high degree of engagement and satisfaction with all donors

Monthly Donor Program

• Co-supervise the Development Operations Associate with the Director of Development to manage donor CRM, gift records, email lists
• Plan and launch the Helix Monthly Donor Program and grow participation via benefits including launching the Pedroncelli Helix wine club and other perks for members

Campaigns, Appeals, and Events Management

• Plan and execute Annual Fund events and fundraising appeals (inclusive of directing email, direct mail, social media, and web) including Fall Appeal, Helix Connections events, Grandparents & Special Friends Day, Giving Tuesday (thanks not solicitation), Year-end Appeal, I Love Helix days, and Move-a-thon fundraising
• Design, write, and develop content for email, direct mail, peer-to-peer fundraising, social media, and paid advertising, collaborating with marketing manager and marketing vendor as needed
• Support and collaborate with the Helix Adult Academy team on their annual fund campaign, events, and donor communications

Gala & Paths to Possibility 5k

• Play an instrumental role leading the executions of the Luminary Gala with an Events Manager
• Be an active member of the Gala Committee, managing pledges, invitations, and overseeing the Gala marketing projects with the Marketing & Communications Manager
• Form and lead the Paths to Possibility 5k committee and oversee event readiness with a race director and Helix team

Reports and Presentations

• Prepare development fundraising reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and as needed basis, running queries and analyzing donor data
• Own the preparation of the Annual Impact Report with the Marketing Manager
• Produce quarterly Impact e-newsletters with the Marketing Manager and Development Director

Vendors & Community Partners

• Research, recommend, and attend events, conferences, associations, and other community wide opportunities for Helix to participate in to broaden our exposure
• Collaborates with HPA on Helix Store and Helix merchandise
• Manage relationships with development consultants, vendors, and contractors as needed

Qualifications

• Education, Experience & Competencies
  • Bachelor’s degree
  • 4-5 years of relevant fundraising experience preferably in an independent school, NPS, college, or community fundraising environment
  • Demonstrated experience managing annual fund campaigns and events including peer-to-peer, web, and text-to-give, Galas, 5k races, private house parties, tabling events, online campaigns
  • Experience stewarding donors and soliciting/closing gifts up to $25,000; track record of raising at least $200,000 from a combination of online, event, direct mail, and in-person appeals
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills required to articulate goals and expectations internally, and to inspire donors to give toward Helix fundraising campaigns
  • Strong project management, organization, systems-thinking, and problem-solving skills
  • Collaborative, flexible, and energetic individual who develops and maintains effective working relationships with volunteers, prospects, donors, school families, Board members, and staff
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently
  • Experience reconciling fundraising records with accounting on a monthly basis
• Required Technical Proficiency and experience
  • Adept at creating professional presentations and proposals via Canva, PowerPoint, WORD
  • Direct experience and demonstrable skills writing, formatting, and managing email campaigns, and managing tags and segments in Mailchimp, Bloomerang, Constant Contact, or HubSpot
  • Experienced at producing or overseeing highly engaging social media content, reels, surveys, posts via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
  • Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Office programs, popular social media platforms, fundraising platforms (Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang), CANVA, PowerPoint, CapCut/video editing tools
  • Minimum 3 years advanced hands-on experience in Salesforce, Blackbaud, e-Tapestry, Bloomerang, QGiv, or other comparable CRMs and fundraising platforms
  • Payment processors, portals, and protocols: Benevity, Square, PayPal, QGIV, DAFs, and the like. Experience processing gifts-in-kind, soft credits, split gifts, pledges, pledge payments.
  • Core technologies: Proficient in Microsoft Word (editing functions), Excel (filters, Pivot tables, VLookUP), Powerpoint; via CANVA, Google Suite programs, fundraising, and preference for expertise in social media content generation including creating reels with video editing tools
  • Proficiency leveraging Claude or other LLMs for research and projects, discerning appropriate limits so donor communications and campaigns retain sincerity and authenticity
• Physical Demands & Work Environment
  • Sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the campus and event spaces during the workday
  • Lift and carry up to 25 lbs
  • Push and pull doors, carts, boxes, or event equipment as needed
  • Maintain professional composure and emotional self-regulation during stressful, unpredictable, or confrontational situations which, though rare, may occur with students, families, visitors, or other members of the school community
  • Occasionally work evenings or weekends supporting fundraising events and school activities

Working Relationships

This position reports directly to the Development Director and supervises the Development Operations Associate. The Development Manager collaborates regularly with Marketing Manager, vendors, school staff and faculty, members of the Leadership team, and the Director and programs team at THAA.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The Helix School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors and clients.