Development Manager

Great Outdoors Foundation; West Des Moines (IA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental and vision coverage

Retirement contributions

Flexible working hours

Job summary

A nonprofit conservation organization in the United States is seeking a Development Manager to enhance fundraising efforts. You will manage donor relationships and ensure effective fundraising operations. Candidates should have at least four years of experience in fundraising and nonprofit work, along with strong communication skills. The role offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance and flexible working hours.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit, and administrative work.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for donor communications and grant writing.
• CRM experience preferred, especially in Bloomerang.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to the development and execution of annual fundraising plans.
• Manage day-to-day fundraising activities including annual giving and special events.
• Collaborate with leadership to foster a culture of philanthropy.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major donors and prospects.

Skills

Fundraising program management

Relationship building

Communication skills

Confidentiality

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Bloomerang

Asana

Job description

The Great Outdoors Foundation is a nonprofit organization that advances conservation through collaboration, innovation, and stewardship.

Exempt/Full-time

Summary of Position:

The Great Outdoors Foundation (GOF) seeks a Development Manager to support and grow its fundraising efforts. This is a hands‑on role focused on advancing fundraising efforts, managing donor relationships, and maintaining effective development operations in support of organizational goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising and Donor Stewardship

• Contribute to the development and execution of annual fundraising plans and campaigns aligned with organizational priorities.
• Manage day‑to‑day fundraising activities including annual giving, individual donors, corporate gifts, and special events.
• Collaborate with Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, Director of Marketing and CEO to foster culture of philanthropy.
• Lead and grow all fundraising efforts including gifts <$99,000, annual giving, corporate and individuals, special events and planned giving.
• Identify, cultivate, solicit and steward major donors and prospects in coordination with Vice President of Strategic Partnerships.
• Lead asset monetization and proposal development to ensure maximum revenue growth.
• Manage development tools and workflows (Bloomerang, Asana) in coordination with Operations Department to ensure consistency and follow‑through.
• Deepen relationships with current donors while identifying new prospects through networks, research and outreach.
• Coordinate with marketing on all donor communications and engagement strategies.
• Represent GOF at all events and plays a hands‑on role at GOF hosted events.

Team & Department Support

• Collaborate on department budget in coordination with Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Director of Marketing
• Contribute to departmental goal‑setting, tracking, and continuous improvement efforts.
• Report regularly to Vice President of Strategic Partnerships
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Ability to build and maintain collaborative and effective relationships with donors, volunteers, board members, staff, vendors, and partner organizations.
• Experience supporting or managing fundraising programs.
• Initiative and ability to work independently— self‑starter.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• CRM experience and/or experience/coursework in computer science or related field preferred. Experience in Bloomerang preferred.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including donor communications and grant writing.
• Commitment to the mission and values of the Great Outdoors Foundation
• Knowledge of fundraising compliance, donor privacy, and ethical fundraising standards.

Education and Experience:

Bachelor’s degree preferred with 4 years’ experience in fundraising, nonprofit, and administrative work.

Benefits & Work Environment:

The Great Outdoors Foundation offers a comprehensive benefits package, including health insurance, dental, vision, HAS, FSA, LTD, STD, Life, retirement contributions, and flexible working hours with paid time off and standard holidays.

The physical and mental demands of this position are representative of those that must be met by the employee to successfully perform the essential job results. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to achieve the essential job results.