Senior Development Operations Manager

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits; United States; Remote; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An innovative organization is seeking a Senior Development Operations Manager to enhance fundraising efforts through technology and data management. This fully remote position emphasizes the importance of donor relationships and requires a proactive approach to problem-solving. The role involves leading a tech-enabled back office, optimizing donor engagement processes, and collaborating across departments to ensure seamless integration of fundraising data. Join a passionate team committed to making a meaningful impact in the lives of those affected by chordoma, and enjoy a flexible work environment with competitive benefits.

Benefits

100% employer-sponsored health and dental insurance

401K with company matching

20 days of annual paid time off

Paid sabbaticals at 5 and 10 years

Support for professional development

Qualifications

• 6+ years of experience in fundraising operations and donor data management.
• Deep understanding of fundraising principles and donor stewardship.
• Proficiency with CRMs, especially Salesforce.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of gift acknowledgments and donor engagement.
• Maintain and improve donor database and fundraising software.
• Create reports for actionable analysis of donor trends.

Skills

Fundraising Operations

Donor Data Management

Data Analysis

Salesforce

AI Tools

Attention to Detail

Tools

Salesforce

Classy

Job description

Donors to the Chordoma Foundation are fueling progress that is transforming the outlook for those facing this rare and relentless cancer, bringing real hope to patients and their loved ones. Now, we’re seeking a Senior Development Operations Manager to help unlock even greater impact for everyone affected by chordoma.

In this role, you’ll design and lead a modern, tech-enabled development back office — including through the use of AI agents, automation tools, and contractors — that guides our frontline fundraisers in doing their best, most impactful work. You’ll arm our fundraising team with the data, insights, and processes needed to build strong, meaningful donor relationships and empower our supporters to drive forward the vision we share. At every step, you'll approach your work with warmth, care, and a thoughtful personal touch.

OVERVIEW

• New, full-time position

• Fully remote — we do not expect to return to an in-person office setting

• Occasional travel (~2 times per year) for team events

• Reports to the Chief of Staff

RESPONSIBILITIES

Donor Engagement Operations

• Take full ownership of gift acknowledgments, ensuring every donor receives timely, thoughtful recognition that reflects the indispensable role they play in advancing our mission.

• Ensure donor data is collected, structured, and maintained in a way that enables highly personalized, meaningful engagement, making every donor feel known and appreciated.

• Conduct prospect research (e.g., wealth screening) to identify potential major donors.

• Coach our frontline fundraisers by identifying prospects within our database for special attention, surfacing high-value opportunities for cultivation and stewardship, and arming them with donor research and prep for meetings, pitches, and visits.

• Own segmentation, mailing list management, and automated workflows for appeals, events, and stewardship efforts — ensuring the right messages reach the right people at the right time. Be a mail merge champion, making personalized, high-quality donor communications seamless and efficient at scale.

• Record and track pledges and pledge payments, ensuring your colleagues in development and finance have full visibility into outstanding commitments.

Fundraising Data and Metrics

• Maintain and continuously improve our donor database (Salesforce), ensuring accurate and complete records of donor interests, interactions, gifts, and communications.

• Manage and optimize our fundraising software (Classy).

• Create reports and dashboards that allow for meaningful, actionable analysis of donor trends. Track key fundraising metrics, provide visibility into pipeline movement and revenue trends, and help the team make proactive, data-driven decisions. Identify and execute opportunities to improve fundraising processes, optimize workflows, and enhance CRM data usability.

• Facilitate giving through various vehicles (e.g., donor-advised funds, stock gifts, employer matching, cryptocurrency, etc.), ensuring donors can easily contribute through their preferred channels.

• Provide training and support to fundraising team members to help them maximize Salesforce, Classy, and other relevant tools.

• Partner with colleagues in all departments to ensure seamless integration of fundraising data with finance, communications, and programs.

QUALIFICATIONS

• 6+ years of experience in fundraising operations and donor data management.

• Deep understanding of fundraising principles, donor stewardship, and how donor data drives revenue growth.

• Proficiency with CRMs (Salesforce preferred); Classy familiarity a plus.

• Experience with data analysis and reporting tools.

• Genuine enthusiasm for using AI-powered tools and agents to enhance efficiency and problem-solve — and the curiosity to continually explore what’s possible.

• Exceptional agency and ownership: identifying challenges and solving problems proactively, capably, and independently.

• Extraordinary attention to detail.

• Commitment to documentation and knowledge sharing to strengthen team processes and institutional memory.

• Skilled at leading frontline fundraisers to leverage key systems, processes, and data tools in ways that maximize impact.

• Upbeat attitude and prosocial approach.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

We offer a competitive salary and benefits package, including:

• 100% employer-sponsored health and dental insurance plans

• Life, vision, and disability insurance

• 401K account with company matching

• 11 company holidays plus 20 days of annual paid time off

• Eligibility for paid sabbaticals at 5 and 10 years of tenure

• Support for professional development, learning, and skills building

In addition, you’ll enjoy:

• A fully remote role with the ability to work from anywhere in the US

• Substantial schedule flexibility

• A highly nimble, efficient, and tech-enabled work environment

• Personable, hard-working, and high-performing colleagues who are deeply committed to our day-to-day work, the people we serve, and each other

• Genuine connections with the patients and families whose lives your work will touch

ABOUT US

At the Chordoma Foundation, we serve as an agent of change on behalf of those affected by chordoma, a rare bone cancer of the skull and spine. Our team helps patients and families facing this challenging disease get the care and support they need while we lead the search for better treatments. Through funding and driving high-impact research — including in our own laboratory — we’re bringing new treatment options to patients at an unparalleled pace. This has already culminated in more than a dozen new clinical trials, but our most impactful work lies ahead as we take on a larger role in treatment development, build the infrastructure needed to streamline future trials, and facilitate the first drug approvals for chordoma.

Our supporters make all of this possible, and your work will help make every interaction with them more personal, every touchpoint more intentional, and every relationship stronger.

Apply using the form here:https://forms.clickup.com/2355454/f/27w7y-27274/RL81GLNHL807WU681A.