Development Manager

Position Title: Development Manager

Work Location: In-person (Portland, OR)

Compensation: $70,000 Annually, Salaried

Full Time: 40 hours per week on site

Reports to: Executive Director (ED)

Job Description

Birch Community Services (BCS) is seeking an experienced, mission-driven Development Manager to provide critical support to ensure its development goals and objectives are accomplished, contributing to the effectiveness of its annual fundraising, donor prospecting and relations (individuals, foundations and corporate), capital campaigns and grants. The Manager will work closely with other BCS staff members, board members, consultants and external partners.

Above all else, applicants must embrace and model BCS's cultural values, guiding our efforts to

serve participants and the community with grace, empathy, and accountability, demonstrating a humble yet confident leadership style. The successful candidate will be proactive, resourceful, and highly dependable, capable of leading with both head and heart to ensure the organization thrives operationally and culturally.

BCS Cultural Values

• Relationship-Focused. We create value for others in a supportive community that fosters inclusiveness, true belonging, and acceptance.
• Respectful. We model a culture of honesty, grace, and humility.
• Trustworthy. We are unwavering in our dedication to serve reliably and dependably.
• Teachable. We promote combining self-awareness, ambition, curiosity, and guidance in striving toward growth through success and challenges.
• Grateful. We express appreciation for the opportunities provided and the benefit of our community.
• Safe. We empower responsibility to take a knowledgeable, deliberate, and mindful approach to a holistically safe environment.
• Solution-Oriented. We encourage a community that works humbly and collaboratively to provide creative strategies to problem-solving.
• Celebratory. We pause to reflect on successes and setbacks and rejoice in our collective growth.

Key Responsibilities & Functions

Development

• Owns the fundraising efforts, including overseeing mail appeals, fundraising events, donor meetings, etc.
• Owns all proposals and grant applications for individuals, donors and foundations in addition to comprehensive and timely stewardship reports, working with the part-time BCS Grantwriter Consultant
• Supervises Donor Specialist to approve email and paper receipts to donors and run reports as necessary
• Ensure accuracy of gift records in Donor Perfect software, maintained by Donor Specialist and reconciled by Bookkeeper
• Support and coordinate with the Marketing & Communications Specialist for the annual marketing and communications plan including social media, e-blasts and newsletters
• Generate routine and special reports involving gifts, grant outcomes and impacts
• Participate in a BCS cross-functional marketing team that coordinates all aspects of donor, participant, volunteer and community partner cultivations
• Support the ED and Board members in achieving goals with regards to major donor and stewardship strategies
• Support capital campaigns, working with the ED, contract consultant, the Board of Directors and various BCS departments
• Align with and contribute to the strategic vision of BCS. This position is designed for upward career growth in the development function. BCS currently uses a contract consulting firm for donor cultivation, advancement and capital campaign strategies

Support for the Executive Director

• Work with the ED to complete critical tasks and basic operational needs in a timely manner
• Maintain professionalism and strict confidentiality with all materials, and exercise discretion when interfacing with the business, staff and public
• Coordinate complex scheduling and extensive calendar management, as well as management of content and flow of information to development staff, key stakeholders, donors and Board of Directors
• Support the ED and Marketing & Communications Specialist in crafting communication and managing follow up with key stakeholders
• In coordination with the ED and other Leadership staff, prepare reports and presentations related to programs and development
• When required, represent the ED and the organization to donors, partners, government officials.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Minimum bachelor's undergraduate degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum three years of direct development experience including grants management, donor relations, fundraising events, and ideally having worked on at least one capital campaign
• Comfortable proactively building new relationships through networking, outreach, and donor engagement, including making direct fundraising asks and securing financial support for the organization's mission
• Superb written and verbal communication skills
• Strong time-management skills and the ability to assess and manage priorities, and organize and coordinate multiple projects at once
• Ability to effectively use AI
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and integrity
• Analytical ability, good judgment, strong operational focus, and high ethical standards
• Well organized and self directed, but also with the ability to work on a team
• Detail oriented and able to see the big picture
• Proficiency in Google Suites and donor management systems, ability to learn how to navigate Salesforce
• Desire to grow professionally into more advanced development roles at Birch

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• Ability to work in a standard office environment, including prolonged periods of sitting, standing, computer use, and telephone communication safely and independently
• With a valid driver's license, ability to travel locally and occasionally regionally to meet with donors, community partners, and event venues safely and independently
• Ability to arrange for, attend and help set up community events, networking functions, donor meetings, and fundraising activities both during and outside regular business hours as needed, including ability to stand and walk for extended periods
• Ability to communicate effectively in person, by phone, and through virtual meeting platforms
• Ability to lift, carry, and transport materials, event supplies, promotional items, and donation-related materials weighing up to 25 pounds
• Ability to occasionally work in a warehouse environment with exposure to varying temperatures, equipment traffic, and donated goods while following all safety protocols

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Benefits

• Health Insurance: Employer-paid through Kaiser Permanente.
• Retirement: Simple IRA with 3% employer match (after 1 year).
• PTO: 3 weeks vacation (increases with tenure), 5 sick days (accessible after 90 days of employment)
• Other Perks:
• $1,500 Birch Bucks annually (prorated) for employee auctions.
• Paid Costco membership.
• Access to the BCS grocery program.
• Bonus opportunities.
• FSA eligibility after 60 days.

At Birch Community Services, you'll be part of a supportive, purpose-driven team working to transform lives and strengthen communities. This position is ideal for a mission-oriented leader who thrives on building systems, guiding people, and driving meaningful results.

Birch Community Services is an equal opportunity employer.