Development Manager

Development Manager

Organization:
Village Learning Place

Location:

Baltimore, Maryland | Hybrid; regular on-site and local event presence required

Position:
Full-time, regular | 40 hours per week | Salaried, exempt

Schedule:

Primarily Monday-Friday; occasional evenings and weekends

Salary: $60,000-$65,000 annually, depending on experience

Reports to:

Executive Director

Anticipated start:
Early October 2026

The opportunity

VLP is seeking a Development Manager to lead the day-to-day work that sustains and increases our fundraising efforts. This is a hands-on generalist role for a strong writer and relationship-builder who can move comfortably among grant proposals, donor stewardship, individual giving, fundraising events, communications, and development systems.

The Development Manager will join VLP at an exciting moment. As we prepare to celebrate our 30th anniversary and advance a capital campaign, this person will help strengthen the fundraising foundation, engage donors and community partners, and tell a clear, compelling story about VLP’s impact.

Fundraising and donor relationships

• Manage individual giving efforts, including annual appeals, monthly giving, donor cultivation, and stewardship plans.
• Cultivate, solicit, and steward individual, institutional, corporate, and community supporters through thoughtful outreach, meetings, communications, and events.
• Help plan and carry out fundraising strategies connected to VLP’s 30th anniversary and capital campaign.
• Create donor acknowledgments, fundraising materials, impact updates, and stewardship communications that are timely, specific, and engaging.

Grant writing and management

• Take responsibility for grant writing and reporting, from planning and drafting through submission and follow-up.
• Research prospective funders and develop clear, persuasive proposals and reports in partnership with program and leadership staff.
• Manage the fundraising calendar, submission process, supporting materials, and reporting requirements so commitments are accurate and deadlines are met.
• Maintain effective grant-writing systems and coordinate development or grant-writing consultants as assigned.

Events, engagement, and communications

• Plan and execute donor and fundraising events, including Read Between the Wines and anniversary or community-based events developed with staff and volunteer committees.
• Design strategies that deepen engagement with donors, volunteers, alumni, sponsors, and community members.
• Manage development-related communications across our website, newsletters, social media, fundraising campaigns, and event promotion.
• Collaborate with program staff to gather stories, outcomes, and data that demonstrate VLP’s impact and bring the mission to life.

Development operations and community partnerships

• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records in the donor database and ensure gifts, acknowledgments, and tax receipts are processed and tracked correctly.
• Monitor development metrics and prepare clear progress reports for the Executive Director and other organizational leaders.
• Strengthen relationships with community partners, sponsors, and corporate supporters, and represent VLP at local events and networking opportunities.
• Coordinate fundraising and communications consultants as assigned while keeping priorities, deliverables, and deadlines moving.

At least three years of relevant experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, donor relations, grant writing, communications, or a closely related field.

Excellent writing and editing skills, with the judgment to turn broad ideas, program information, and data into clear and persuasive messages for different audiences.

Experience managing multiple projects, deadlines, and details without losing sight of the larger goal.

Strong verbal communication and relationship-building skills with donors, community members, colleagues, volunteers, and partners.

Comfort working independently, collaborating across a small team, and shifting priorities when circumstances change.

Proficiency with common workplace technology and the ability to learn donor databases, project tools, and communications platforms quickly.

A…