Development Manager

Responsibilities

Grant Writing and Fundraising Content

• Lead the writing and coordination of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and reports for foundations, government agencies, and other institutional funders.
• Collaborate with the CDO and ADD, and the research, policy, and finance teams to craft aligned narratives, proposal support documents, and evaluation plans.
• Track proposal and reporting deadlines, ensuring timely, complete, and high-quality submissions.
• Maintain internal records of grant activity and support communication with funders.
• Assist in developing fundraising cases for support and strategy materials used across individual and institutional fundraising efforts.

Prospecting, Research, and Donor Engagement

• Support the CDO and ADD in donor and prospect research, segmentation, and tracking.
• Prepare briefing memos, cultivation strategies, and stewardship plans for donors and prospects.
• Assist with meeting follow-ups, donor correspondence, and targeted outreach campaigns.
• Maintain and update donor profiles and communications history within CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce).

Development Communications and Messaging

• Draft donor-facing materials, including pitch decks, email campaigns, digital content, and event collateral.
• Translate Data & Society’s research and programmatic work into accessible and compelling content for different donor audiences.
• Partner with the Communications team to align external messaging and support fundraising-related content across platforms, including the website and newsletters.
• Participate in message testing, data gathering, and iterative refinement based on audience engagement.

Cross-Team Collaboration and Content Alignment

• Collaborate with the Managing Editor and broader Communications team to ensure consistency in tone, voice, and style across fundraising content.
• Join regular internal meetings to share insights and ensure real-time feedback loops between development, research, and communications teams.
• Contribute to internal message guides and help reinforce shared language across teams.

Skillset

• At least 3–6 years of professional experience in grant writing, development, journalism, or nonprofit communications.
• Demonstrated success in writing grant proposals and/or securing institutional funding.
• Excellent writing and editing skills with the ability to craft compelling content across formats.
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple workstreams and deadlines.
• Experience supporting donor engagement and stewardship activities.
• Familiarity with CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce), prospect research platforms, and collaborative writing tools.
• Ability to learn about and synthesize complex ideas, and to communicate them clearly to multiple audiences.
• A collaborative, service-oriented mindset and a commitment to justice, equity, and the public interest.
• Demonstrated interest in philanthropy, social impact, or the societal implications of technology.
• Strong commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA), with an understanding of how these values inform ethical fundraising, communication, and organizational culture.