Development Program Manager

Crystal Springs Uplands School; Hillsborough (CA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 94,000; Full time

Job summary

Crystal Springs Uplands School seeks a full-time Development Program Manager to run the Crystal Fund’s day-to-day operations, support donor research and recognition, and help manage planned giving.

Reporting to the Director of Development, this role moves fluidly between donor communications, research, and behind-the-scenes coordination and works on-site five days a week with potential remote work up to one day per week.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years of experience in development, donor relations, or nonprofit fundraising operations.
• Familiarity with donor database/CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge).
• Experience with spreadsheets and design tools such as Canva, with a willingness to learn new technology.
• Exposure to planned giving or legacy giving programs a plus.
• Strong project management, writing, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Crystal Fund Operations: Manages the day-to-day program operations, including campaign timelines, solicitation materials, donor follow-up systems, volunteer coordination, and progress tracking.
• Donor Research & Prospect Management: Supports donor research and preparation of solicitation materials, and tracks prospects through cultivation and solicitation pipeline.
• Platform & Systems Management: Oversees day-to-day operational use of Development platforms (BoostMySchool, DoubleMyDonation, iWave).
• Donor Recognition & Stewardship: Manages donor stewardship efforts such as named spaces and planned giving recognition.
• Team Support: Supports broader Development Team priorities and events including some administrative tasks.

Skills

Communication

Design sensibility

Inclusive collaboration

Interpersonal effectiveness

Personal growth

Canva

Raiser's Edge

BoostMySchool

DoubleMyDonation

iWave

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Canva

Raiser’s Edge

Canva

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Crystal Upper School - Hillsborough, CA 94010, Position Type: Full-Time, Education Level: 4 Year Degree, Salary Range: $80,000.00 - $94,000.00 Salary, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, Located in the San Francisco Bay Area, Crystal Springs Uplands School is a 6-12 co-educational, independent day school located on two distinct campuses in Hillsborough and Belmont, CA, with 125 employees. Our deeply connected culture and community celebrates scholarship, strives for balance, and fosters inclusion. The Professional Adult Community (PAC) is an experienced, collaborative group of employees who are committed to the mission and core values of the school. Crystal is full of kind, curious learners (adults and students alike) who are passionate about the school’s mission of transformative teaching and meaningful connections. We are committed to the work required to create more equitable systems and foster inclusive environments so that all members of our community can thrive together.

MISSION STATEMENT

Through transformative teaching and meaningful connections, we empower kind, curious learners to thrive together.

CORE VALUES

• We Celebrate Scholarship - The foundation of Crystal is academic excellence.
• We Seek Growth Challenges - Our culture says try it.
• We Foster Kindness & Inclusion - Crystal is a caring and diverse community.
• We Strive for Balance - A holistic approach to well-being is integral to our mission.
• We Engage with Enthusiasm - With unbounded spirit, we give our best effort every day and pay it forward to our community.
• We Lead with Humility - Being grateful and open-minded, we pursue lifelong learning.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in dynamic settings serving multiple constituents. A successful candidate in this position will:

• Share a commitment to upholding Crystal’s core values and working in an inclusive school environment
• Work collaboratively with colleagues and engage effectively with all constituents
• Bring robust organizational, project management, and communication skills

JOB SUMMARY

Crystal seeks a full-time, exempt Development Program Manager to join the Development Team. Reporting to the Director of Development, this role runs the Crystal Fund’s day-to-day operations, supports donor research and recognition efforts across the department, and helps manage the school’s planned giving program. The ideal candidate is a strong, detail-oriented project manager who can move fluidly between donor-facing communications, research, and behind-the-scenes coordination and who can work in person, on site across our Belmont and Hillsborough campuses five days a week, with the possibility of working remotely up to one day per week when workload and on-campus responsibilities allow.

Key Job Competencies

• Communication:Communicates clearly and professionally in written, verbal, and interpersonal settings, with strong listening skills.
• Design Sensibility:Strong eye for visual polish, branding and consistency, with attention to detail across written and design materials.
• Inclusive Collaboration:Works effectively across differences and with others to build partnerships, solve problems, and advance shared goals. Fosters a respectful, welcoming community through active inclusion and shared commitment to common objectives.
• Interpersonal Effectiveness:Demonstrates high self and social awareness, empathy, and curiosity to build authentic, trusting relationships with students and colleagues. Manages emotions effectively, collaborates positively, and handles sensitive situations with the highest levels of discretion and confidentiality.
• Personal Growth:Demonstrates commitment and curiosity to ongoing learning and development.

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Crystal Fund Operations:Manages the Crystal Fund’s day-to-day program operations, including campaign timelines, solicitation materials, donor follow-up systems, volunteer coordination, and progress tracking.
• Donor Research & Prospect Management:Supports donor research and the preparation of solicitation materials, and tracks prospects through the cultivation and solicitation pipeline.
• Platform & Systems Management:Oversees the day-to-day operational use of Development platforms, including BoostMySchool, DoubleMyDonation, and iWave, to support fundraising and donor engagement efforts.
• Donor Recognition & Stewardship:Manages donor stewardship efforts such as named spaces and planned giving recognition, and supports a program recognizing graduating parents and engaging alumni families.
• Team Support:Supports broader Development Team priorities and events as needed including some administrative tasks.

Travel Required

• Light travel between the Hillsborough and Belmont campuses.
• Occasional local travel for donor meetings and vendor coordination.

Other duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Required education and experience

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 2–4 years of experience in development, donor relations, or nonprofit fundraising operations.
• Familiarity with donor database/CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge), donor research tools, and volunteer program management preferred.
• Experience working in spreadsheets and design tools such as Canva, with a willingness to learn new technology and platforms as needed.
• Exposure to planned giving or legacy giving programs a plus.
• Strong project management, writing, and organizational skills.

Work Environment and Physical Demands

• Able to work in a dynamic environment, dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines, and a varied and diverse array of contacts.
• Able to work primarily in an office environment with regular use of a computer and standard office equipment.
• Occasional evening or weekend work required to support donor events and campaign milestones.
• Occasionally lifts and carries event or campaign materials weighing up to 20 pounds.

Affirmative Action/EEO Statement

Crystal Springs Uplands School provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Other Professional Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, and responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Salary and Benefits

This is a full-time, exempt position. The annual salary range for this position is $80,000–$94,000, commensurate with experience. Crystal Springs Uplands School offers a competitive full benefits package to eligible employees.

The recruitment period will remain open until sufficient resumes have been received and may close at any time a sufficient pool of highly qualified candidates has been established. The ideal start date for this position is November 16, 2026.