Community Development Manager

The Diabetes Family Connection exists for one reason: to make sure that no one navigating a type 1 diabetes diagnosis feels alone. Our mission is to positively transform life with diabetes through the power of community. We build that community through year-round camp programs, support opportunities, and meaningful connections that change lives and strengthen families. Making that work possible requires people who believe deeply in our mission and who are passionate about inviting others to be part of it.

The Development Manager plays a critical role in ensuring The Diabetes Family Connection has the financial resources and community partnerships needed to expand our impact across North Carolina. This role is about much more than raising dollars. It is about building authentic relationships, inspiring generosity, and connecting individuals, corporations, foundations, and community partners to a mission that changes lives every day. Every partnership developed, every grant secured, and every donor stewarded directly helps create opportunities for children, adults, and families living with type 1 diabetes to find connection, confidence, and community.

This is a role for someone who enjoys building meaningful relationships and understands that fundraising is rooted in trust, storytelling, and shared purpose. The Development Manager serves as both a strategic fundraiser and a passionate ambassador for The Diabetes Family Connection, cultivating new opportunities while strengthening existing partnerships. Success in this role requires curiosity, initiative, excellent communication skills, and the ability to connect people to something larger than themselves.

We're a small team with big ambitions. As The Diabetes Family Connection continues to grow, so does our need for sustainable and diversified funding. The right person won't simply manage fundraising efforts—they'll help shape the future of philanthropy at The DFC by developing innovative strategies, expanding corporate and foundation partnerships, and creating meaningful experiences that inspire long-term investment in our mission.

This is a remote position. The candidate must reside in North Carolina and be available to attend meetings, donor visits, programs, and events across the state as needed.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy

• Develop and implement annual fundraising strategies that achieve revenue goals while supporting The DFC's long-term strategic priorities.
• Build and grow corporate sponsorships, relational fundraising initiatives, workplace giving opportunities, and community partnerships.
• Develop compelling sponsorship materials and partnership opportunities for organizations at all giving levels.
• Track fundraising performance, campaign effectiveness, donor engagement, and revenue metrics to guide strategic decision-making.
• Collaborate with staff, volunteers, and board members to execute successful fundraising campaigns and initiatives.

Donor & Community Relationship Building

• Cultivate, steward, and strengthen relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, and community stakeholders.
• Partner closely with the Executive Director to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward major gift prospects.
• Develop and implement meaningful donor stewardship plans, including acknowledgments, impact reports, recognition, and ongoing engagement.
• Help donors understand the lasting impact of their generosity by creating opportunities to experience The DFC's mission firsthand.
• Collaborate on the development and distribution of The DFC's annual impact report.

Grant Writing and Foundation Relations

• Research, identify, and pursue grant opportunities aligned with The DFC's mission and strategic priorities.
• Write compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting materials.
• Manage grant reporting requirements, compliance, deadlines, and impact documentation.
• Maintain an organized grants calendar and pipeline.
• Engage volunteers and community partners when appropriate to support grant development.

Sharing the DFC Story

• Serve as a passionate ambassador for The Diabetes Family Connection by communicating our mission and impact through presentations, donor conversations, events, and written communications.
• Partner with the Communications & Engagement Manager to collect and share meaningful stories demonstrating the life-changing impact of DFC's programs.
• Ensure fundraising communications authentically reflect the voices and experiences of the families and individuals we serve.
• Represent The DFC professionally within the community to strengthen awareness, credibility, and engagement.

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Business, Marketing, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Demonstrated success in fundraising, including corporate partnerships, individual giving, grant writing, or business development.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to tell compelling stories that inspire action.
• Strong relationship-building and networking abilities.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills and experience using fundraising data to evaluate performance and inform strategy.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a remote team.

Preferred

• Experience working within nonprofit organizations, healthcare, youth-serving organizations, or community-based programs.
• Experience with donor management systems, Givebutter, and Microsoft Office or Google Workspace.
• Knowledge of philanthropic trends, grant funding, and corporate partnership development.
• Familiarity with type 1 diabetes or a willingness to learn and become an authentic advocate for the community we serve.

Success in This Role

• The Diabetes Family Connection has the financial resources needed to serve more individuals and families living with type 1 diabetes each year.
• Donors, corporate partners, and grant funders feel connected to our mission through meaningful relationships, exceptional stewardship, and a clear understanding of their impact.
• Corporate partnerships, grants, and fundraising initiatives consistently support and advance annual revenue goals.
• Compelling stories inspire generosity, deepen community engagement, and strengthen support for The DFC's mission.
• Fundraising data and metrics are used to evaluate success, identify opportunities, and continuously improve strategies.
• The Development Manager serves as a relationship builder, storyteller, strategist, and ambassador who connects people to a mission that changes lives.
• Every fundraising effort reflects The Diabetes Family Connection's values and reinforces that generosity creates belonging, hope, and lifelong connections for families living with type 1 diabetes.

Compensation Package

• Remote work environment with flexible scheduling. An opportunity to build a schedule that works for your life
• Strong sense of purpose and impact in the T1D community
• Supportive, collaborative team culture
• A ground-floor opportunity to grow with the organization. You’ll have direct access to leadership, your ideas will be heard and acted on, and as DFC expands, so can your role
• 3% retirement match
• Group Life, Disability, and Short-term disability insurance
• Starting in January, the opportunity to participate in a $ 400 monthly tax-free stipend to purchase health insurance.
• Flexible work hours. We trust you to manage your time and get the job done
• Performance bonus opportunities based on individual and organizational goals
• 15 paid vacation days annually, plus generous comp time for weekend hours worked
• Salary 50,00 annually

We offer flexibility, autonomy, and work that is deeply connected to a meaningful mission every day. This is an opportunity to grow within a dynamic and expanding grassroots nonprofit organization serving families across North Carolina. People who thrive at The DFC believe their work matters and are motivated by the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of children, families, and adults navigating life with T1D.

If you are looking for a role where you can bring your whole self to work, see the direct impact of your efforts in the lives of real families, and help build an organization with tremendous potential, we would love to hear from you. Apply today and tell us why this opportunity feels like more than just a job to you.

Send your resume and cover letter to Anne Sutton at ***email_hidden***.