Development Manager

Growing Hope; Ypsilanti (MI); On-site; USD 44,000 - 48,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

Health insurance

Free produce

Job summary

Growing Hope in Ypsilanti, MI is seeking a Development Manager to lead fundraising, including the annual fund, grant research and writing, donor cultivation, and annual events. You will work from the Urban Farm and the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace to connect donors with the story and impact of our work.

This salaried role reports to the Executive Director and collaborates with the Program Director, Finance Director, and external consultants, emphasizing community-centered fundraising and

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in fund development.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and grant management.
• Experience with individual giving and with corporate, foundation, or major gifts.
• Experience planning and executing special events.
• Experience with fundraising software and donor databases.
• Skilled oral and written communicator, comfortable with one-on-one conversations, groups, and a variety of audiences.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Deep commitment to our mission and to community-centric fundraising.
• Ability to work with colleagues across programs, take initiative, and build consensus.

Responsibilities

• Strategy, Research & Cultivation: Identify and prioritize opportunities with foundations, corporations, government agencies, donor-advised funds, and individual donors. Develop, implement, and measure annual fundraising goals and tactics in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Grant Development, Writing & Reporting: Manage the grant calendar. Draft grant proposals and reports with program staff, track deliverables, and keep funders informed.
• Donor Communications & Annual Fund: Collaborate on newsletters, appeals, annual reports, and acknowledgments. Manage database entry, reporting, and direct mail segmentation.
• Special Events: Plan and lead annual fundraising events, including logistics, communications, and post-event evaluation of donor engagement and net revenue.
• Board, Staff & Partner Engagement: Keep the Board and Development Committee updated and engaged in fundraising. Represent Growing Hope with funders, at conferences, and collaborative bodies.
• Organizational Support: Participate in anti-racism, food sovereignty, and food justice discussions and training; attend weekly staff meetings; support budgeting; complete administrative tasks.

Skills

Fundraising

Grant writing

Donor relations

Special events

Donor databases

Communication

Attention to detail

Team collaboration

Tools

Fundraising software

Donor databases

Job description

Salary: $44,000 - $48,000 based on experience

Benefits: Paid time off and health insurance (medical, dental, vision, short-term disability, and life)

Additional Perks: Free produce, flowers, and seedlings from our Urban Farm

Start Date: To be determined, likely late Feb to Mar 1

Schedule: Salaried, average 40 hours/week . Normally Monday-Friday, with some weekend/evening responsibilities

Growing Hope is a non-profit organization rooted in Ypsilanti, Michigan, whose mission is to foster an equitable and sustainable local food system that empowers all people to grow, buy, sell, prepare, and eat nourishing food. We envision a community where all people, especially those facing barriers because of race, class, culture, language, ability, and mobility, have access to nourishing, culturally appropriate, and affordable local food. People can grow and prepare their own harvests, and may earn a living as a food grower, producer, or entrepreneur.

Organizational Culture and Values

Our culture is rooted in our values: Transformation, Education, Justice & Equity, Placemaking, and Integrity. We commit to upholding inclusive practices and policies while creating space for courageous conversations as a staff and within our community. Instead of simply providing services, we leverage the resources already within our community to partner with participants and customers. Staff take part in shared decision-making on strategy, program design, and partnerships, and this role will have a real voice in how we raise and steward money.

About the Position:

The Development Manager leads Growing Hope’s fundraising: the annual fund, grant research and writing, donor cultivation, and annual fundraising events. You’ll work from our two main sites, the Urban Farm and the Ypsilanti Farmers MarketPlace, so that donors hear the stories and see the work firsthand. This position reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Program Director, Finance Director, and program managers, plus external consultants and contractors.

We seek someone with a fundraising ethos grounded in community-centric fundraising: donors as partners; stories told with consent and dignity; and funding that serves the community’s goals rather than reshaping them. You’ll help diversify our donor base and craft narratives that reflect our equity and food sovereignty commitments.

What Success Looks Like in the First 12-18 Months

The Development Manager has run a complete annual fund cycle and one annual fundraising event; submitted and reported on grants on time with strong program partnership; maintained a clean, usable donor database with a segmentation approach that guides appeals and direct mail; grown the individual donor base and retention; and built relationships with a core group of funders and donors. Program staff feel supported rather than chased for stories and data.

Responsibilities Include:

• Strategy, Research & Cultivation (30%): Identify and prioritize opportunities with foundations, corporations, government agencies, donor-advised funds, and individual donors. Develop, implement, and measure annual fundraising goals and tactics in collaboration with the Executive Director. Build and steward donor and funder relationships, including thank-yous, site visits, and check-ins.
• Grant Development, Writing & Reporting (25%): Manage the grant calendar. Draft grant proposals and reports with program staff, track deliverables, and keep funders informed. Support the Executive Director on larger and multi-year asks.
• Donor Communications & Annual Fund (15%): Collaborate on newsletters, appeals, annual reports, and acknowledgments. Manage database entry, reporting, and direct mail segmentation. Gather program stories and data in ways that respect staff time and participants’ dignity and consent.
• Special Events (15%): Plan and lead annual fundraising events, including logistics, communications, and post-event evaluation of donor engagement and net revenue.
• Board, Staff & Partner Engagement (5%): Keep the Board and Development Committee updated and engaged in fundraising. Represent Growing Hope with funders, at conferences, and collaborative bodies.
• Organizational Support (10%): Participate in anti-racism, food sovereignty, and food justice discussions and training; attend weekly staff meetings; support budgeting; complete administrative tasks (timesheets, expense reports); engage in professional development; and support community events.

Qualifications:

• Two or more years of experience in fund development
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and grant management
• Experience with individual giving and with corporate, foundation, or major gifts
• Experience planning and executing special events
• Experience with fundraising software and donor databases
• Skilled oral and written communicator, comfortable with one-on-one conversations, groups, and a variety of audiences
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines
• Deep commitment to our mission and to community-centric fundraising
• Ability to work with colleagues across programs, take initiative, and build consensus

Qualities that will enhance the application:

• Understanding of food justice, food sovereignty, and food apartheid
• Demonstrated ability to recognize how race, ethnicity, class, sexual orientation, and gender identity intersect, and to apply that to fundraising practice
• Positive relationships with people whose experiences differ from your own
• Strong research skills and familiarity with philanthropic databases and directories
• Experience with Growing Hope’s programs, or lived experience of poverty or economic hardship
• Strong preference for candidates who live locally or intend to build long-term roots in the Ypsilanti community

Growing Hope encourages people of color and individuals with an in-depth understanding of poverty or economic hardship to apply. We welcome a diverse pool of applicants and make merit-based employment decisions. We do not discriminate against potential employees based on race, creed, age, physical ability, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or marital status. Accommodations will be made to make the application process and position accessible for qualified applicants.