Development Manager, North America

Room to read; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 88,000 - 106,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental coverage

Retirement plan match

PTO 22 days

Paid holidays

Home office allowance

Job summary

Room to Read in the United States is seeking a Development Manager to strengthen philanthropic revenue across North America. You will manage a portfolio of major donors, cultivate relationships, and support regional fundraising initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

The role reports to the Development Director, North America, and requires hands-on donor engagement, strategic planning, and collaboration with Marketing and Operations to expand the donor pipeline.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5-7 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gift fundraising and portfolio management.
• Demonstrated success cultivating, soliciting, and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience using fundraising CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of donors with annual fundraising goals of approximately $2 million.
• Support donor engagement strategies and maintain donor records in Salesforce.
• Assist regional fundraising planning and support fundraising events.

Skills

Major gifts

Fundraising

Donor stewardship

Portfolio management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

World Change Starts with Educated Children® IMPORTANT: All applicants must be legally eligible to work in the country where the position is located. Room to Read is not able to provide sponsorship.

Development Manager, North America
New York, NY or San Francisco, CA

Room to Read is seeking an experienced Development Manager to help grow philanthropic revenue across North America, our largest fundraising market. Reporting to the Development Director, North America, this role manages a portfolio of major donors while helping expand the organization's donor pipeline and supporting regional fundraising initiatives. This is a relationship-focused fundraising role for someone who enjoys cultivating donors, making solicitations, and building long-term partnerships. The successful candidate is proactive, collaborative, results-oriented, and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Major Gift Fundraising (65%)

  Manage and grow a portfolio of individual, family foundation, corporate, and foundation donors with annual fundraising goals of approximately $2 million. Cultivate, solicit, steward, and retain donors through meaningful engagement and relationship management. Identify new funding opportunities and develop strategies to acquire, retain, and upgrade donors. Prepare donor communications, including proposals, concept notes, stewardship reports, and correspondence. Maintain regular in-person and virtual meetings with donors and prospects.

• Donor Pipeline & Program Support (20%)

  Support the continued growth of the North American Mid-Net-Worth donor program by identifying and qualifying prospective donors for cultivation and upgrade. Partner with the Development Director and cross-functional colleagues to implement donor engagement strategies and strengthen the major donor pipeline. Maintain accurate donor records, pipeline activity, and fundraising information in Salesforce.

• Market Planning & Collaboration (15%)

  Support regional fundraising planning, forecasting, and pipeline reviews. Partner with Marketing & Communications and Global Business Operations to support donor communications and fundraising initiatives. Support fundraising events by identifying, cultivating, and stewarding prospective donors before and after events. Contribute to special projects and other departmental initiatives as needed.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 5- 7 years of progressive fundraising experience, including major gift fundraising and portfolio management.
• Demonstrated success personally cultivating, soliciting, and closing five- and six-figure gifts.
• Experience managing donor portfolios and achieving fundraising goals.
• Strong relationship-building and donor stewardship skills.
• Experience identifying and developing donor pipelines.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including proposal writing and donor presentations.
• Experience using fundraising CRM systems (Salesforce preferred).
• Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Ability and willingness to meet donors regularly throughout the New York or San Francisco area and travel as needed.

What Success Looks Like

• Consistently achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with donors and prospects.
• Expand the donor pipeline through effective cultivation and stewardship.
• Collaborate effectively across teams to advance North American fundraising priorities.
• Demonstrate initiative, accountability, and sound judgment while managing competing priorities.

We Offer

The salary range for this role is $88,000 to $106,000. Compensation may vary depending on several factors including, but not limited to, experience, skill set, and relevant education or certifications.

• 100% employer-paid premiums for your medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 50% medical and 100% dental and vision premium coverage for eligible dependents
• 22 days of PTO (+1 additional day accrued each year up to 27 days)
• 12.5 paid holidays
• Next month enrollment in a 401(k) plan with up to a 6% match
• $600/yr allowance for home office

About Room to Read

Founded in 2000 on the belief that World Change Starts with Educated Children®, Room to Read envisions a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality, where all children have room to read, learn and grow – creating lasting change. Through our Literacy Portfolio, we train and coach teachers of the early grades in literacy instruction; create and publish quality books and curricular materials in local languages; and establish children’s libraries filled with diverse children’s books that can be enjoyed at school and home. Our Gender Equality Portfolio supports adolescents, particularly girls, in developing life skills that promote gender equality, helping them to pursue lifelong learning and make informed decisions. We support young people of all genders to overcome gender biases and build the knowledge and skills to create a gender‑equal world. Room to Read collaborates with local communities, partner organizations, publishers, and governments to test and implement innovative models that can be integrated into the education system to deliver positive outcomes for children at scale. To date, Room to Read has benefited more than 50 million children in 28 countries.

Room to Read is a child-safe organization; all personnel must adhere to Room to Read’s Child Protection Policy, Child Protection Code of Conduct and Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) Policy.

Room to Read is an equal opportunity employer committed to identifying and developing the skills and leadership of people from diverse backgrounds.

Learn more at www.roomtoread.org.

Thank you for considering a career with Room to Read. I was first attracted to Room to Read because of the mission to create a world free from illiteracy and gender inequality. What I have found here is the joy in working with a group of extraordinary people towards this bold goal. In my work, I aim to shape an inclusive and supportive organizational culture where everyone feels valued and respected, and where we each thrive. Our team members are our greatest asset, and I am personally committed to creating an environment that supports both personal and professional growth and empowers individuals from everywhere in the world to contribute their best. I hope you will join us in creating a better, more equal world.

Cynthia Orme Chief People and Technology Officer