Development Manager

Special Olympics DC

Special Olympics DC (SODC) empowers children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through year-round sports, health, and community-building. We are seeking a mission-driven, results-oriented Development Manager to grow philanthropic support through events, corporate partnerships, and individual giving.

Cause Areas: Children & Youth, Disability, Education

Role Summary

The Development Manager is a mid-level fundraiser responsible for managing a portfolio of donors in the CRM, and reaching out to secure new individual donors to drive revenue growth. This role blends relationship management and data-informed fundraising. Prior experience securing four and five figure donations is required. The position reports to the CEO and collaborates closely with programs, athletes, volunteers, and board members.

Location: Hybrid

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of individual, corporate, and foundation prospects; conduct proactive cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship to meet annual revenue goals.
• Support corporate sponsorship strategy: identify prospects, develop proposals, secure commitments, and ensure timely, high-quality fulfillment and recognition.
• Create compelling donor and sponsor communications (invitations, appeals, social media assets, event scripts).
• Use CRM to track activity, prospect pipeline, and measure ROI; produce reports and post-event analyses to optimize retention and revenue.
• Secure four and five figure gifts from individual and major donors.
• Support donor pipeline with research and data gathering in collaboration with program leads.
• Uphold SODC’s values of inclusion, athlete leadership, and community impact in all fundraising activities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred; minimum 2-3 years of professional nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Demonstrated success closing sponsorships or gifts and meeting revenue targets.
• Strong relationship building skills, comfortable asking for 4 and 5 figure gifts.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to diverse audiences and representing the SODC mission.
• Proficiency with fundraising CRMs, Microsoft Office Suite, project management tools (Monday.com); data-driven mindset.
• Collaborative, organized, and adaptable; able to manage multiple priorities and balance internal and external stakeholder needs.
• Ability to successfully exercise independent judgment and discretion to reach your goals; able to effectively manage sometimes conflicting priorities in a multi-faceted, time-sensitive environment.
• Willingness to work occasional nights and weekends based on the organization’s scheduled events and other business needs.
• A passion for the Special Olympics mission

What We Offer

• Opportunity to create visible impact alongside athletes, families, and community partners.
• Supportive team culture with professional development and growth pathways.
• Competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with experience.