Development Manager

Nationally Recognized Durham Nonprofit is hiring a Development Manager

Located in the thriving city of Durham, NC, SwingPals is a unique organization that impacts the lives of nearly 2,000 middle school-aged (6th – 8th grade) children through its school-based programs each school year. Since its inception in 2010, SwingPals has reached over 11,000 students, most of whom face economic and social adversity. SwingPals focuses on improving the physical and mental wellbeing of students in Durham Public Schools (DPS), offering paradigm shifting programming in schools, after-school, and home-based so students may unlock their potential.

The Freedom To Be – A SwingPals Story – is a powerful testimony to a great need in society that SwingPals is addressing. Children need the mindfulness skills to process potential  roadblocks to learning, and SwingPals provides an opportunity to learn these skills. SwingPals envisions and is motivated to ensure every Durham public school child, whose family lacks resources, feels valued, respected, and is free to pursue their potential for a healthy, safe, confident, and fulfilling life. Families are intentionally included in this process. 

The SwingPals program is about mindfulness and emotional regulation. The SwingPals methodology is backed by science, where students are coached to focus their minds, achieve emotional balance, respond positively to stress, and assist students with decision-making and confidence. SwingPals provides students with an in-depth process to develop emotional regulation skills and enhance self-awareness to make good choices and access their full potential. As seen through this video, it is a paradigm shifting methodology. The SwingPals approach uniquely uses golf as a tool and resource to support mindfulness practices, but it is NOT a junior golf program. The model is aligned with the national movement to introduce effective social and emotional programming in schools and was recognized by Golf Digest as one of ten programs in the Nation for having a significant impact in their community. 

 About the Organization: 

This school year, through coaching mindfulness, emotional regulation, and physical coordination in schools, SwingPals will positively impact the health and well-being of close to 2,000 students. SwingPals delivers programming in six of the nine Durham Public Middle Schools where students have the least family resources, many of whom reside in single-parent homes, foster care, or in communities with widespread drug use, gangs, teen pregnancy, and poverty. These schools have markedly high percentages of students testing at or above grade level in reading and math and have the highest rates of absenteeism and disciplinary actions. 

Learning for these children is greatly affected as they endure the effects of these adversities. Their needs call for innovative and transformative programs like SwingPals, with an established and successful track record, to develop young leaders beginning in middle school. The SwingPals year-round after-school program is available to students through 12th grade. The program addresses these societal and cultural issues by working with students in school, at home (virtually), and at the Hillandale Golf Course. SwingPals uses bio-feedback tools to help students transition from experiencing negative emotions to positive emotions. Students benefitting from SwingPals in-school programs are 50% female, 50% male, 45% African American, 34% Hispanic, 13% White, and 8% other. Sixty-five percent of participants are eligible for free/reduced lunch as determined by federal income levels. 

Position Description:

The Development Manager will lead and manage SwingPals' day-to-day fundraising and donor engagement activities, helping to build a sustainable philanthropic foundation that supports the organization's mission and long-term growth. This position will be responsible for developing and implementing annual fundraising strategies, cultivating and stewarding donor relationships, coordinating corporate and institutional partnerships, and overseeing development operations and reporting systems.

This position will work closely with the Executive Director, Director of Operations, and Board Development Committee

The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial and highly organized development professional with approximately two to five years of fundraising or nonprofit experience who will bring energy and excitement to building systems, fostering relationships, and helping a growing organization expand its impact.

Job Responsibilities

• Work with ED and DOO to develop and execute an annual fundraising plan aligned with organizational goals. 
• Help design and implement yearly stewardship strategies and track progress toward fundraising goals
• Cultivate and steward relationships with current and prospective donors.  Including the coordination of donor meetings, calls, and engagement opportunities and preparing materials as necessary
• Plan and support fundraising events
• Coordinate content creation for grant proposal submissions and reporting
• Maintain and track grant calendar and ensure deadlines are met
• Manage the Salesforce development database.  Maintain accurate donor records by tracking gifts, pledges, and donor interactions and generate reports as needed
• Prepare materials for fundraisers, donor briefings, etc.
• Help develop compelling donor-facing content, including impact stories, newsletter content, and overall campaign messaging
• Create and implement a Development Communications Calendar
• Create a supporting communications plan along with ED to correlate with yearly fundraising strategy

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience
• 2 – 5 years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, donor relations, communications, or related field.
• Skilled using CRM systems or donor databases (Salesforce experience strongly preferred)
• Proven organizational and project management skills
• Works well independently and in a team environment
• Proficient with Microsoft Suite of 365

The successful candidate:

• Enjoys working in a high energy collaborative environment
• Understands and is fully committed to the SwingPals vision and mission
• Has very strong communication skills, is comfortable interfacing with an array of stakeholders, and enjoys creating and building relationships
• Is motivated, goal oriented, and confident in joining a team at a pivotal growth point