Open positions:
Development Manager
Position Summary:
The Arts Council of Princeton’s Development Manager will help strengthen and expand ACP’s annual and individual giving program by building the systems, relationships, and consistent fundraising practices the organization needs to grow.
This is a hands-on role for someone who enjoys both people and process. The Development Manager will help ACP better understand and engage its donors, strengthen stewardship, organize and maximize the use of our CRM, develop clear and consistent donor communications, and create thoughtful pathways for bringing new supporters into the organization.
A key goal of the position is to build a strong foundation for future leadership and major-gift fundraising. The Development Manager will identify and cultivate donors who have the potential to deepen their involvement over time and ensure that ACP has the systems and relationships in place to approach those donors successfully.
Reporting to the Director of Development and Community Engagement, the Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director, Donor Relations Manager, Board of Trustees, and colleagues across the organization.
About the Arts Council of Princeton:
The Arts Council of Princeton (ACP) is a nonprofit community arts organization dedicated to building community through the arts. ACP presents a wide range of inclusive and accessible arts and arts education programs, including classes, camps, and workshops; exhibitions; public art projects; performances; and free community cultural events.
Key Responsibilities:
Donor Management & CRM
• Maintain and strengthen ACP’s donor records and fundraising systems within its CRM.
• Develop and maintain clear systems for recording donor interactions, interests, giving history, relationships, and next steps.
• Regularly review donor data to identify opportunities for cultivation, stewardship, renewal, and increased giving.
• Create and document moves-management processes that keep donors moving through the pipeline and provide a consistent approach across the development team.
• Ensure donor information is accurate, current, useful, and accessible.
• Develop reports and dashboards that help staff, leadership, and the Board of Trustees understand donor activity, giving patterns, retention, and opportunities.
Donor Communications & Stewardship
• Develop and maintain a clear annual calendar and cadence for donor communications, including appeals, acknowledgments, and impact reporting.
• Work with the Director of Development and Community Engagement and Donor Relations Manager to ensure donors receive timely, thoughtful, and personalized communications.
• Establish reliable follow-up processes after events, programs, meetings, and other donor touchpoints.
• Create meaningful opportunities for donors to experience ACP’s work and understand the impact of their support.
• Support donor recognition and leadership-giving communications.
Donor Cultivation & Pipeline Development
• Segment donors by giving history, interests, engagement, and potential, and identify those with capacity and inclination to deepen their support.
• Create cultivation plans and next steps for priority donors in partnership with the Director of Development and Executive Director.
• Research and identify new individual donor prospects.
• Develop strategies that turn participants, event attendees, members, students, and families into donors and encourage first-time givers toward sustained giving.
• Prepare the Executive Director, senior staff, and Board of Trustees for donor meetings and solicitations, and track follow-up.
Annual Giving & Fundraising Support
• Support the planning and execution of ACP’s annual giving campaigns.
• Help coordinate appeals, giving campaigns, matching challenges, and other individual fundraising initiatives.
• Assist with donor research, solicitation preparation, proposal development, and follow-up.
• Support the Executive Director, Director of Development and Community Engagement, and Board members with donor meetings and solicitations.
• Track fundraising activity and ensure that follow-up is timely and documented.
Events & Donor Engagement
• Support development events and fundraisers, including donor cultivation and stewardship before, during, and after events.
• Develop processes for capturing and following up on donor and prospect interactions at events.
• Identify opportunities to use ACP programs, exhibitions, performances, and community events as meaningful donor engagement opportunities.
• Work collaboratively with program, marketing, and communications staff to connect donors with the work they make possible.
Collaboration & Team Support
• Work closely with the Director of Development and Community Engagement, Executive Director, Donor Relations Manager, communications and marketing staff, program staff, Board members, and volunteer fundraisers to create a coordinated development program.
• Contribute to the day-to-day work of a small, collaborative development team.
• Work some evenings and weekends as needed for donor meetings and development events.
Qualifications
• 3–5 years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, donor relations, communications, or a related field; equivalent experience will be considered.
• Strong organizational skills and an ability to create systems and follow through on details.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with donor databases or CRM systems and a willingness to become an expert in ACP’s systems.
• Strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build authentic relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining consistent follow-up.
• Comfortable working collaboratively in a small organization where flexibility and initiative are important.
• Genuine interest in the mission of the Arts Council of Princeton and the role of the arts in building community.
Preferred Experience
• Experience working in an arts, cultural, educational, or community-based nonprofit.
• Experience with individual giving and donor stewardship.
• Experience developing donor communications calendars, fundraising systems, or stewardship programs.
• Experience with CRM/database management and donor prospect research.
• Experience working with boards or volunteer fundraisers.
What Success Looks Like
During the first year, success in this role will be measured primarily by the strength of the foundation built for future fundraising growth. A successful Development Manager will:
• Establish a clean, organized, and consistently used CRM system.
• Create and maintain a clear annual donor communications and stewardship calendar.
• Establish reliable systems for timely and consistent follow-up with donors and prospects.
• Establish a clear process for identifying, qualifying, and cultivating potential leadership-level donors.
• Strengthen donor retention and engagement.
• Develop a clear picture of ACP’s current donor base, including opportunities for increased engagement and giving.
• Identify new channels for bringing members of the broader ACP community into the donor pipeline.
• Build strong relationships with donors and prospects and establish a consistent rhythm of meaningful donor contact.
• Help create the systems, pipeline, and relationships that will position ACP to launch or expand a successful leadership and major-gifts program in the future.
Position Details
• Exempt employee
• 40 hours per week; schedule may include occasional evenings and weekends for events and meetings
• Primarily in-person position
• Paid time off, including holiday, vacation, sick, and personal time
• Medical, vision, and dental coverage available
How to apply: Please submit a cover letter and resume to Adam Welch, Executive Director: [email protected].
