Development Manager (Assistant Director of Philanthropy)

## Description

**Position Summary:**

The Assistant Director of Philanthropy plays a critical role in advancing Joybound’s financial sustainability by supporting and strengthening the organization’s mid-level donor program. This position is responsible for managing a portfolio of donors while also contributing to the execution and continuous improvement of a structured donor journey that increases retention, upgrades, and long-term engagement.

This role serves as a strategic bridge between direct marketing, leadership annual giving, and major gifts by helping donors progress along the giving continuum through intentional, donor-centered cultivation, stewardship, and solicitation strategies. Reporting to the Associate Director of Philanthropy, this position supports the performance, scalability, and effectiveness of Joybound’s mid-level giving system.

**KEY RESPONSIBILITIES**

**Culture**

• Interact and communicate with colleagues, volunteers, and the public in a manner that advances a culture of positivity, professionalism, trust, transparency, empathy, and excellence at Joybound.

**Donor Portfolio Management**

• Identify, qualify, cultivate, solicit, and steward a portfolio of individual donors and prospects with the capacity to give $1,000–$9,999 annually.
• Develop and execute personalized, donor-centered cultivation and solicitation strategies for a portfolio of approximately 200 donors and prospects.
• Maintain consistent, meaningful communication with donors to express gratitude, share impact, position gift solicitations, and strengthen long-term relationships.
• Conduct donor meetings, tours, and engagement experiences that deepen connection to Joybound’s mission and programs.

**Mid-Level Program Operations & Growth**

• Collaborate with the Associate Director of Philanthropy to implement and refine Joybound’s mid-level donor journey, segmentation model, and engagement framework.
• Contribute to the development of scalable systems, processes, and best practices that support donor movement, retention, and upgrade strategies across the mid-level program.
• Support the integration of mid-level donors into leadership giving and major gift pathways by building donor readiness and identifying qualified prospects for deeper engagement.
• Collaborate across development functions—including direct marketing, events, and legacy and major gifts—to ensure a coordinated and consistent donor experience.
• Support the execution and stewardship strategy of Joybound’s **Annual** **Giving Societies**, including donor recognition, welcome and renewal touchpoints, and tier-based engagement aligned with donor commitment levels.

**Performance, Metrics & Systems**

• Achieve or exceed annual performance goals related to donor retention, tier movement, engagement activity, proposal outcomes, gift size, and total revenue.
• Analyze donor data and fundraising metrics to identify trends, opportunities, and areas for continuous improvement within the mid-level program.
• Ensure timely, accurate, and complete documentation of donor interactions, plans, and outcomes in Raiser’s Edge/NXT and related systems.
• Utilize research and wealth screening tools such as iWave and other platforms to inform donor strategy and prospect development.

**Donor Communications & Culture**

• Ensure all donor-facing communications—including solicitations, acknowledgments, and stewardship materials—are donor-centered, mission-aligned, and consistent with Joybound’s values and voice.
• Attend, support, and enhance donor experiences at Joybound events and engagement opportunities.
• Practice and promote a positive, humane, and caring attitude toward people and animals, contributing to Joybound’s collaborative and mission-driven culture.
• Maintain the highest level of confidentiality regarding donor, prospect, and internal organizational information.

## Qualifications
**REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS**

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Three or more years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, with a demonstrated record of success securing individual gifts of $5,000 or more.
• Strong ability to build and advance relationships with a diverse community of donors, prospects, colleagues, volunteers, and community partners.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey impact and inspire donor engagement.
• Demonstrated comfort working within data-driven fundraising systems and performance metrics.
• Proficiency in Raiser’s Edge/NXT, iWave, Microsoft Office Suite, and related development technologies.
• Enthusiasm for the human-animal bond, with comfort working in an environment that includes animals.
• Affection for animals, concern for their welfare, and a willingness to accommodate animals in the workplace.
• Pre-employment background screening required.
• Must have a valid California Driver’s License and must not have more than two at-fault incidents in a three-year period and no major at-fault violations in the last ten years and must be insured.

Education and Experience

• Four-year college degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• CFRE or similar professional designation preferred.

**PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS**

Specific physical abilities required by this job include

• Work environment includes constant exposure to animals and animal allergens.
• Push/pull moderately heavy objects up to 25 pounds. Kneel, bend, stoop, squat, reach above and below shoulder level, grasp and turn objects, stand and/or walk frequently and repetitively throughout each shift. Flex the neck upward and downward; twist the neck and the waist. Sit for long and short periods of time using a computer.
• Drive an automobile.

**Hours:**

**Exempt:**

Full-time, exempt position requiring a minimum of 40 hours per week, including occasional evening and/or weekend work. Hours and workdays may vary according to the needs of the department.

*At Joybound, we value diversity and treat all employees and job applicants based on merit, qualifications, competence, and talent. We do not discriminate on the basis of or traits historically associated with* *race;* *color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status), domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, and any other status protected by state or federal law*