Development Manager

Purpose of the Position

The Development Manager’s primary responsibility is to execute the school’s planned Annual Fund campaigns, events, and donor communications strategies, grow the general donor base deepening relations with Helix family and community donors, and collaborate with members of the leadership team on identifying institutional and major donor prospects. Responsibilities includes raising funds for the Annual Fund (approx. $200,000) via fundraising campaigns, events, and direct solicitation; launching a new monthly donor program; managing donor communications (impact newsletter and fundraising campaigns); supporting the annual Luminary Gala and Paths to Possibility 5K events; and supervising the Development Operations Associate to deliver exceptional donor experiences.

Essential Functions

• Plan and execute Annual Fund events and fundraising appeals including Fall Appeal, Helix Connections, Grandparents & Special Friends Day, Giving Tuesday, Year-end Appeal, I Love Helix days, and Move-a-thon fundraising


• Be present across campus getting to know staff and interacting with students and families. Engage with parents and guardians to inspire giving & volunteering for the Annual Fund


• Build a portfolio of Annual Fund donors collaborating with Development Director on moves management and qualifying donors for major gifts pursuits


• Play an instrumental role helping execute the spring Luminary Gala and fall Paths to Possibility 5K


• Plan and launch the Helix Monthly Donor Program and grow participation via benefits including launching the Pedroncelli Helix wine club for members


• Manage and cultivate a portfolio of annual donor prospects, soliciting gifts within a giving threshold to meet Annual Fund goal of $200,000.00


• Design, write, and develop content for email, direct mail, peer-to-peer fundraising, social media, and paid advertising, collaborating with marketing manager and marketing vendor as needed


• Supervise the Development Operations Associate to manage donor CRM, gift records, email lists


• Manage and oversee donor stewardship, gift acknowledgements, thanks, recognition, and pledge agreements, ensuring a high degree of engagement and satisfaction with all donors


• Prepare development fundraising reports on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and as needed basis


• Support and collaborate with the Helix Adult Academy team on their annual fund campaign, events, and donor communications


• Research, recommend, and attend events, conferences, associations, and other community wide opportunities for Helix to participate in to broaden our exposure

Qualifications

• Education, Experience & Competencies
  
  
  
  • Bachelor’s degree
  
  
  • 4-5 years of relevant fundraising experience preferably in an independent school, NPS, college, or community fundraising environment
  
  
  • Demonstrated experience managing annual fund campaigns and events including peer-to-peer, web, and text-to-give, Galas, 5K races, private house parties, tabling events, online campaigns
  
  
  • Experience stewarding donors and soliciting/closing gifts up to $25,000; track record of raising at least $200,000 from a combination of online, event, direct mail, and in-person appeals
  
  
  • Outstanding verbal and written communication skills required to articulate goals and expectations internally, and to inspire donors to give toward Helix fundraising campaigns
  
  
  • Strong project management, organization, systems-thinking, and problem-solving skills
  
  
  • Collaborative, flexible, and energetic individual who develops and maintains effective working relationships with volunteers, prospects, donors, school families, Board members, and staff
  
  
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently
  
  
  • Experience reconciling fundraising records with accounting on a monthly basis
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Required Technical Proficiency and experience
  
  
  
  • Adept at creating professional presentations and proposals via Canva, PowerPoint, WORD
  
  
  • Direct experience and demonstrable skills writing, formatting, and managing email campaigns, and managing tags and segments in Mailchimp, Bloomerang, Constant Contact, or HubSpot
  
  
  • Experienced at producing or overseeing highly engaging social media content, reels, surveys, posts via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn
  
  
  • Proficient in Google Suite, Microsoft Office programs, popular social media platforms, fundraising platforms (Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, Bloomerang), CANVA, PowerPoint, CapCut/video editing tools
  
  
  • Minimum 3 years advanced hands-on experience in Salesforce, Blackbaud, e-Tapestry, Bloomerang, QGiv, or other comparable CRMs and fundraising platforms
  
  
  • Payment processors, portals, and protocols: Benevity, Square, PayPal, QGIV, DAFs, and the like. Experience processing gifts-in-kind, soft credits, split gifts, pledges, pledge payments.
  
  
  • Core technologies: Proficient in Microsoft Word (editing functions), Excel (filters, Pivot tables, VLookUP), Powerpoint; via CANVA, Google Suite programs, fundraising, and preference for expertise in social media content generation including creating reels with video editing tools
  
  
  • Proficiency leveraging Claude or other LLMs for research and projects, discerning appropriate limits so donor communications and campaigns retain sincerity and authenticity
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Physical Demands & Work Environment
  
  
  
  • Sit, stand, walk, and move throughout the campus and event spaces during the workday
  
  
  • Lift and carry up to 25 lbs
  
  
  • Push and pull doors, carts, boxes, or event equipment as needed
  
  
  • Maintain professional composure and emotional self-regulation during stressful, unpredictable, or confrontational situations which, though rare, may occur with students, families, visitors, or other members of the school community
  
  
  • Occasionally work evenings or weekends supporting fundraising events and school activities
  
  
  
  

Working Relationships
This position reports directly to the Development Director and supervises the Development Operations Associate. The Development Manager collaborates regularly with Marketing Manager, vendors, school staff and faculty, members of the Leadership team, and the Director and programs team at THAA.

Equal Opportunity Statement The Helix School does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, clients, volunteers, subcontractors, vendors and clients.

To Apply

Submit a cover letter with resume via job link (applications without a cover letter will not be considered). Professional references will be required.