Development Manager

The Circle of Care; Wilton (CT); On-site; USD 75,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employer-subside medical insurance

Generous paid time off

403(b) retirement plan with employer**

Professional development funding

Job summary

The Circle of Care in Wilton, CT is seeking a Development Manager to lead donor stewardship, major gift relationships, and sponsorship engagement that fuels lifesaving support for children with cancer and their families. This role partners with Co-Executive Directors and the Development team to grow philanthropic support.

As primary relationship manager, you will oversee approximately $1.8 million in annual contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations and event sponsors,

Qualifications

• Five or more years of nonprofit fundraising or development experience.
• Proven success managing donor relationships and fundraising growth.
• Experience with donor databases, CRMs, reporting, and constituent management.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and cloud-based systems; valid driver's license.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for major donors and sponsors.
• Lead sponsorship and stewardship for Circle of Care's signature events.
• Manage donor pipeline and reporting on fundraising activity.
• Collaborate with leadership to set annual fundraising goals and budget forecasts.
• Cultivate donor engagement and measure program impact.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relationships

CRM & reporting

Organization skills

Communication

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Bloomerang

GiveSmart

Microsoft Office

Job description

Development Manager
Help grow the support that makes childhood cancer families feel less alone.

Circle of Care is seeking an experienced fundraising professional to lead donor stewardship, major gift relationship management, and sponsorship engagement that directly fuels life‑changing support for children with cancer and their families.

This is an opportunity to join a collaborative, mission‑driven team where meaningful relationships, thoughtful strategy, and exceptional donor experiences translate into real impact for hundreds of families each year.

Position Snapshot

Position: Development Manager
Reports To:Co-Executive Director of Development
Status: Full-time, Exempt
Location: Wilton, Connecticut (office‑based)
Schedule: Monday–Friday with occasional evenings and weekends
Salary: $75,000–$90,000, commensurate with experience
Start Date: Open until filled

About Circle of Care

Founded in 2003, Circle of Care provides practical, emotional, and financial support to families facing childhood cancer throughout Connecticut and neighboring regions. Working alongside pediatric oncology teams at regional children's hospitals, our programs help families navigate the many challenges that exist beyond medical treatment.

Each year, Circle of Care serves more than 275 families through emergency financial assistance, educational programs, peer support, family resources, room makeovers, and other services designed to ease the childhood cancer journey. Since our founding, we have provided more than $6 million in direct assistance to over 4,100 families.

Learn more at www.thecircleofcare.org

Why This Role Matters

The Development Manager serves as Circle of Care's primary relationship manager for donors and sponsors, overseeing approximately $1.8 million in annual contributed revenue from individuals, foundations, corporations, event sponsors, and major donors.

Success in this role comes from building authentic relationships, creating meaningful donor experiences, strengthening stewardship, and helping supporters see the lasting impact of their generosity.

You’ll work closely with our Co‑Executive Directors and Development team to grow philanthropic support that allows Circle of Care to continue serving families facing childhood cancer.

Key Responsibilities

Major Gifts & Donor Stewardship

• Serve as the primary relationship manager for Circle of Care's donor community, including major donors and high-level event sponsors.

Sponsorship & Event Fundraising

• Serve as the primary contact for sponsors supporting Circle of Care's three signature fundraising events.
• Manage sponsor financial fulfillment in a timely and efficient manner.
• Ensure every sponsor receives an exceptional and personalized experience before, during, and after each event.
• Plan and execute donor cultivation, recognition, and stewardship events throughout the year.

Portfolio & Development Operations

• Manage donor pipeline activity from first introduction through stewardship.
• Track, analyze, and report on fundraising activity, donor movement, sponsorships, and pipeline performance.
• Maintain accurate donor records, constituent history, and moves‑management documentation within Circle of Care's CRM systems.
• Supervise and collaborate with the Development Operations Specialist on reporting, database integrity, and donor communications.

Strategic Leadership & Collaboration

• Work closely with leadership to establish annual fundraising goals and strategies.
• Contribute to annual budgeting and revenue forecasting.
• Advance qualified donor leads generated by staff, volunteers, board members, and community partners.
• Collaborate across Development, Programs, Marketing, and Operations departments.

What Success Looks Like

• Manage a healthy and measurable donor pipeline.
• Strengthen sponsor engagement across Circle of Care's signature events.
• Improve donor retention and long‑term engagement.
• Help achieve annual fundraising goals.

Benefits

• Employer‑subsidized medical insurance
• Generous paid time off
• 403(b) retirement plan with employer contribution eligibility after one year
• Professional development funding

Join Our Team

At Circle of Care, relationships are at the heart of everything we do. We recognize that the strongest candidates don't always meet every qualification listed. If you're excited about this opportunity and believe your experience would help advance our mission, we encourage you to apply.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer

Circle of Care is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive, and respectful workplace. We do not discriminate based on age, disability, race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, creed, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We celebrate diverse perspectives and are committed to creating an environment where every employee, volunteer, and community partner feels valued and respected.

Qualifications

Required

• Five or more years of nonprofit fundraising or development experience.
• Demonstrated success managing donor relationships and contributing to measurable fundraising growth.
• Experience with donor databases, CRMs, reporting, and constituent management.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities independently.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and cloud-based business systems.
• Valid driver's license and ability to perform light physical work.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience managing a donor portfolio generating $1 million or more annually.
• Experience with Bloomerang, GiveSmart, and other 3rd party fundraising platforms.
• Experience supervising staff or consultants.
• Experience with major gifts or planned giving.