Senior Development Manager

Building Bright Futures is a nonprofit that works to improve the well-being of each and every child and family in Vermont, from the prenatal period through age 8. We bring together a network of policymakers, early childhood professionals, educators, health and mental health providers, business leaders, families, and other partners to share insights and problem-solve through:

• 12 Regional Councils
• 7 committees advancing Vermont’s Early Childhood Strategic Plan 2030
• A 23-member State Advisory Council

We empower and elevate family and community voices as partners in decision-making and centralize and disseminate early childhood data to inform policy and public understanding.

The Senior Development Manager is a full-time position with a competitive salary and flexible work schedule. This role leads Building Bright Futures’ (BBF) fund development strategy and implementation, and plays a key role in external communications and relationship-building.

Candidates must be available for regular meetings during the workday and occasional evenings and weekends for donor or partner events. While most BBF meetings are virtual, for this fund development position, frequent in-person meetings and events across Vermont will be required. This is a home-based position with the option to work in BBF’s Williston headquarters.

The Senior Development Manager is supervised by the Policy and Program Director and works in close partnership with the Executive Director on donor strategy, cultivation, and stewardship.

Salary range: $82,000 - $88,000 annually, starting salary dependent on experience. Benefits include generous paid time off (including Fridays off June through August), healthcare insurance, dental insurance, and retirement.

• Build and manage BBF’s fundraising infrastructure and systems, including donor records, prospecting, pipeline management, forecasting, and reporting.
• Lead the full lifecycle of fundraising across foundations, individual donors, and partners.
• Manage the grants and fundraising calendar and collaborate with staff to ensure high-quality, timely proposals and reports.
• Lead BBF’s annual giving and campaign strategy, including the annual appeal, donor acknowledgements, and stewardship systems.
• Write and/or project-manage key fundraising materials, including proposals, reports, campaign narratives, and cases for support.
• Partner closely with the Executive Director and Directors team on fundraising strategy, prioritization, and key donor relationships.
• Develop and implement strategies to expand BBF’s regional and national funder relationships and prospect pipeline.

• Design and lead quarterly organizational updates and briefings for funders and key partners, including preparing narratives, talking points, and supporting materials.
• Lead donor-facing communications and storytelling in support of fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship.
• Oversee BBF’s social media presence and support development of newsletters, email campaigns, website content, and special announcements, in collaboration with program, policy, and data staff and consultants to translate complex work into compelling stories.
• Translate complex policy, data, and systems work into compelling, accessible narratives for external audiences.

• Serve as a key cross-functional partner to the Executive Director, Policy & Program Director, and broader team to advance organizational sustainability and growth.
• Strengthen internal systems and shared practices that support coordinated fundraising planning and accountability.
• Contribute to long-term strategy related to funding diversification and external positioning.
• Support a culture of shared ownership, learning, and continuous improvement around development work.

• Evaluate, implement, and manage core fundraising tools, including a donor CRM and related platforms.
• Maintain accurate records and documentation for grants, donors, and campaigns.
• Support reporting and analysis to inform leadership and board decision-making.