Development Manager

Description Now Hiring : Development Manager Development and Communication Location: New Orleans, LA Schedule: Full-Time, Monday-Friday (occasional evening/weekends) Salary Range: 63,000.00 - 68,000.00 The Development Manager is a strategic fundraising professional responsible for advancing Lighthouse Louisiana's philanthropic goals through donor engagement, grant management, fundraising events, corporate partnerships, annual giving, and development operations. This position plays a key role in securing the resources necessary to sustain and expand Lighthouse Louisiana's mission. The ideal candidate is a relationship-driven and innovative thinker who can leverage the organization's unique strengths, community partnerships, and mission impact to grow philanthropic support. Working closely with the Vice President of Development and Communications and the Communications Specialist, the Development Manager cultivates donor and funder relationships, executes fundraising strategies, and helps strengthen the organization's visibility, impact, and long‑term sustainability. Job Responsibilities Fundraising and Donor Engagement Support the development and execution of fundraising strategies that grow philanthropic support through individual donors, corporate partners, foundations, sponsorships, annual giving, and special campaigns. Manage a portfolio of donors, sponsors, foundations, and prospects through cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention activities. Collaborate with the Vice President of Communications and Development to secure major gifts, grants, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships. Develop and implement donor stewardship plans, including donor communications, acknowledgments, recognition programs, and personalized engagement activities. Monitor fundraising performance and recommend strategies to strengthen donor retention, acquisition, and revenue growth. Grant Administration and Compliance Maintain the grants calendar and ensure timely completion of proposal, reporting, and stewardship deadlines. Track grant awards, fund allocations, reporting obligations, and funding outcomes. Support grant research, proposal development, and report preparation as needed. Fundraising Event Management Plan, coordinate, and execute fundraising, cultivation, and stewardship events, including Soiree de Lumière and other donor engagement activities. Manage event logistics, budgets, sponsorship fulfillment, vendor relationships, registrations, and post‑event evaluations. Collaborate with sponsors, volunteers, vendors, and staff to maximize event success and fundraising outcomes. Development Operations and Reporting Maintain accurate donor, sponsor, grant, and prospect records within the organization’s CRM. Ensure timely recording of gifts, donor interactions, event participation, grant activity, and stewardship efforts. Coordinate gift acknowledgments and pledge reminders to ensure timely donor recognition. Maintain the annual development calendar, including fundraising campaigns, grant deadlines, stewardship activities, communications, events, and reporting requirements. Communications and Collaboration Collaborate with the Communications Specialist to support donor communications, annual reports, newsletters, fundraising campaigns, and related materials. Represent Lighthouse Louisiana in donor meetings, community events, and networking opportunities while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical fundraising practices. Job Qualifications & Requirements Education Bachelor's degree in Nonprofit Management, Communications, Marketing, Business Administration, Public Relations, or a related field preferred. Special Knowledge and Skills Excellent organizational and project management abilities with exceptional attention to detail. Outstanding written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills. Experience Minimum of five (5) years of nonprofit fundraising, development, donor relations, grant management, sales, business development, or related experience. Demonstrated success in building and maintaining donor, client, or stakeholder relationships. Experience managing fundraising events, sponsorships, grants, and donor stewardship activities preferred. Supervisory Responsibility None. Physical Requirements Ability to move throughout the community and event venues. Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds. Ability to sit, stand, and work at a computer for extended periods. Ability to visually review printed and electronic materials. Personality Traits Professional, ethical, and mission-driven. Confident and persuasive communicator with strong interpersonal skills. Collaborative team player with a positive and proactive attitude. Working Conditions Inside office setting, with some local event settings. Must have a good driving record, current driver’s license, reliable mode of transportation, and current certificate of insurance for any personal vehicle. Work Schedule Full-time 40 hours weekly, may include evening or weekend hours. Background Check and Drug Testing Requirements Employment is contingent upon the satisfactory completion of required background checks and drug screening. This job description does not imply that these are the only duties to be performed. The individual in this position will perform such other tasks as may be required for the effective operation of the Department upon request by his/her supervisor. Accomplishments in these areas of responsibility will be the basis of the employee’s evaluation, continuation of employment and change of compensation. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Lighthouse for The Blind in New Orleans