Development Manager

Job Title: Development Manager Department: Development & Marketing Reports to: Philanthropy & Development Director Location: Remote FLSA Classification: Exempt Employment Type: Full-time About American Wild Horse Conservation STAY WILD. Keep Wild Horses and Burros Wild. American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit protecting wild horses and burros on public lands, and trusted wild horse conservation experts. Our purpose is to Keep America’s promise to wild horses and burros. We honor and uphold their federal protections under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 and work to ensure humane, sustainable management through advocacy, public reform, and on the range conservation programs. Through collaboration with lawmakers, scientists, advocates and communities, AWHC is building a future where wild horses and burros can thrive on the western landscapes that define our national heritage. We value Integrity, Grit, Humanity, and Collaboration. Position Summary The Development Manager supports AWHC’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts by managing core development operations, maintaining accurate and actionable donor data and reporting, coordinating fundraising communications and campaigns, supporting grant activity, and helping deliver successful fundraising events. This role is the daily driver of AWHC’s fundraising engine, responsible for translating development strategy into disciplined execution — ensuring that donor data is accurate, campaigns run on time, revenue is tracked rigorously, and donor relationships move forward with intention. This is a highly operational role that requires precision, accountability, and strong cross-team coordination. This person thrives in systems, values data integrity, and understands that strong infrastructure fuels strong mission impact. Core Responsibilities 1. CRM, Data Management & Development Operations Serve as the day-to-day administrator and primary operator of AWHC’s donor CRM, maintaining accurate records, gift entry, coding, acknowledgements, segmentation, and reporting. Establish and maintain reliable workflows for gift processing, donor records, prospect and solicitation tracking, recurring gifts, membership status, and donor communications. Develop and maintain dashboards, lists, reports, and data pulls that support fundraising decisions, campaign performance, donor retention, and revenue forecasting. Ensure timely gift acknowledgements, data hygiene, reconciliation, consistent documentation of donor interactions, and next steps Build and maintain development dashboards and reporting tools. Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and the donor experience; document repeatable procedures and keep development work moving efficiently. 2. Digital Fundraising & Annual Giving Coordinate digital fundraising campaigns in collaboration with Brand and Communications, including calendars, email appeals, website updates, segmentation, testing, tracking, and performance reporting. Manage acquisition, renewal, retention, and upgrade efforts through targeted outreach, timely reminders, and coordinated member communications. Help plan and execute small- and mid-dollar fundraising asks across email, direct response, online giving, and other channels with the Philanthropy & Development Director. Monitor campaign results and recommend improvements to conversion, donor retention, recurring giving, and revenue performance. Coordinate with Communications to align fundraising messages, creative assets, timing, audience, segmentation, and campaign reporting. 3. Donor Stewardship & Giving Pipeline Coordinate timely donor stewardship, including acknowledgements, impact updates, renewal communications, and recognition in accordance with donor preferences. Track donor engagement, giving history, follow-up commitments, and solicitation next steps to maintain a healthy fundraising pipeline. Support donor research, prospect qualification, and preparation for donor conversations, proposals, and asks. Help ensure donors and members receive consistent, accurate, mission-centered communications demonstrating the impact of their support. 4. Individual Giving & Fundraising Support Support the Philanthropy & Development Director in implementing AWHC’s development plan and meeting annual fundraising goals. Coordinate fundraising materials, proposals, appeals, reports, and donor follow-up Track solicitations, commitments, gifts, and campaign revenue, ensuring information is current and accessible. Provide organized, responsive support for fundraising priorities and special projects, including board and leadership support. 5. Grants Management & Reporting Support grant prospect research, application calendars, submission prep, and collection of programmatic and financial information. Coordinate grant reporting deadlines and gather updates, outcomes, attachments, and supporting materials from colleagues. Maintain accurate grant records, deadlines, correspondence, and reporting status; assist with funder stewardship and follow-up. 5. Fundraising Events: Coordination and Management Coordinate and manage operational execution of fundraising events with the Philanthropy & Development Director and internal and external stakeholders. Build and maintain event work plans, timelines, task lists, production schedules, budgets, vendor and venue coordination, registration and ticketing, guest lists, and run-of-show documents. Track event revenue, expenses, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other fundraising results; keep event records and budgets current and organized. Partner with Communications on event invitations, promotional materials, audience outreach, and event-related fundraising messages. Coordinate sponsor deliverables and recognition, guest communication, event-day logistics, and post-event follow up. Manage post-event reconciliation, reporting, donor acknowledgements, and stewardship. 6. Brand & Corporate Partnership Manage logistics, support communication, and fulfillment of corporate and event sponsorships with the Philanthropy & Development Director, including prospect tracking, benefits, stewardship, sponsorship agreements, deliverables, and materials. Ensure revenue recognition and reporting accuracy. Track activation timelines and cross-team coordination. Support Executive Director and Philanthropy & Development Director in partnership follow-up and reporting. Qualifications 3-5+ years’ experience in nonprofit development operations, membership, and/or fundraising management Demonstrated CRM expertise with donor records, segmentation, gift processing, reporting, and data health. Experience supporting digital fundraising, email campaigns, online giving, membership, or annual giving programs. Excellent organization, project management, writing, and follow-through; able to manage multiple timelines and details independently. Experience coordinating events, vendors, budgets, guest communications, auctions, and post-event follow up. Strong written communication, analytical, and reporting skills Experience managing fundraising calendars and multi-channel campaigns. Commitment to AWHC’s mission and ability to communicate with care, accuracy, and professionalism; Deep alignment with conservation, public lands, and mission-driven work. Comfort working in small, collaborative team where priorities may shift and strong systems and initiative are essential. Preferred Experience Experience with Bonterra/EveryAction or comparable nonprofit CRM platforms, particularly database administration, advanced reporting, and workflow optimization. Experience in animal welfare, conservation, environmental advocacy, public lands, or national nonprofit organizations. Familiarity with donor lifecycle strategy, retention metrics, recurring giving, membership renewal, and donor engagement best practices. Experience supporting board fundraising engagement, donor outreach, and volunteer-led fundraising initiatives. Experience using fundraising analytics to evaluate campaign performance, identify opportunities, and inform future strategies. Experience working in a fast-evolving organization where initiative, adaptability, and strong systems are essential. Key Competencies Operational discipline Strategic follow-through Systems thinking Calm under pressure Accountability and ownership Collaborative mindset

Job Title: Development Manager

Department: Development & Marketing

Reports to: Philanthropy & Development Director

Location: Remote

FLSA Classification: Exempt

Employment Type: Full-time

About American Wild Horse Conservation

STAY WILD. Keep Wild Horses and Burros Wild.

American Wild Horse Conservation (AWHC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit protecting wild horses and burros on public lands, and trusted wild horse conservation experts. Our purpose is to Keep America’s promise to wild horses and burros. We honor and uphold their federal protections under the Wild Free Roaming Horses and Burros Act of 1971 and work to ensure humane, sustainable management through advocacy, public reform, and on the range conservation programs. Through collaboration with lawmakers, scientists, advocates and communities, AWHC is building a future where wild horses and burros can thrive on the western landscapes that define our national heritage. We value Integrity, Grit, Humanity, and Collaboration.

Position Summary

The Development Manager supports AWHC’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts by managing core development operations, maintaining accurate and actionable donor data and reporting, coordinating fundraising communications and campaigns, supporting grant activity, and helping deliver successful fundraising events.

This role is the daily driver of AWHC’s fundraising engine, responsible for translating development strategy into disciplined execution — ensuring that donor data is accurate, campaigns run on time, revenue is tracked rigorously, and donor relationships move forward with intention. This is a highly operational role that requires precision, accountability, and strong cross-team coordination. This person thrives in systems, values data integrity, and understands that strong infrastructure fuels strong mission impact.

Core Responsibilities

1. CRM, Data Management & Development Operations

• Serve as the day-to-day administrator and primary operator of AWHC’s donor CRM, maintaining accurate records, gift entry, coding, acknowledgements, segmentation, and reporting.
• Establish and maintain reliable workflows for gift processing, donor records, prospect and solicitation tracking, recurring gifts, membership status, and donor communications. Develop and maintain dashboards, lists, reports, and data pulls that support fundraising decisions, campaign performance, donor retention, and revenue forecasting.
• Ensure timely gift acknowledgements, data hygiene, reconciliation, consistent documentation of donor interactions, and next steps Build and maintain development dashboards and reporting tools.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and the donor experience; document repeatable procedures and keep development work moving efficiently.

2. Digital Fundraising & Annual Giving

• Coordinate digital fundraising campaigns in collaboration with Brand and Communications, including calendars, email appeals, website updates, segmentation, testing, tracking, and performance reporting.
• Manage acquisition, renewal, retention, and upgrade efforts through targeted outreach, timely reminders, and coordinated member communications.
• Help plan and execute small- and mid-dollar fundraising asks across email, direct response, online giving, and other channels with the Philanthropy & Development Director.
• Monitor campaign results and recommend improvements to conversion, donor retention, recurring giving, and revenue performance.
• Coordinate with Communications to align fundraising messages, creative assets, timing, audience, segmentation, and campaign reporting.

3. Donor Stewardship & Giving Pipeline

• Coordinate timely donor stewardship, including acknowledgements, impact updates, renewal communications, and recognition in accordance with donor preferences.
• Track donor engagement, giving history, follow-up commitments, and solicitation next steps to maintain a healthy fundraising pipeline.
• Support donor research, prospect qualification, and preparation for donor conversations, proposals, and asks.
• Help ensure donors and members receive consistent, accurate, mission-centered communications demonstrating the impact of their support.

4. Individual Giving & Fundraising Support

• Support the Philanthropy & Development Director in implementing AWHC’s development plan and meeting annual fundraising goals.
• Coordinate fundraising materials, proposals, appeals, reports, and donor follow-up
• Track solicitations, commitments, gifts, and campaign revenue, ensuring information is current and accessible.
• Provide organized, responsive support for fundraising priorities and special projects, including board and leadership support.

5. Grants Management & Reporting

• Support grant prospect research, application calendars, submission prep, and collection of programmatic and financial information.
• Coordinate grant reporting deadlines and gather updates, outcomes, attachments, and supporting materials from colleagues.
• Maintain accurate grant records, deadlines, correspondence, and reporting status; assist with funder stewardship and follow-up.

5. Fundraising Events: Coordination and Management

• Coordinate and manage operational execution of fundraising events with the Philanthropy & Development Director and internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain event work plans, timelines, task lists, production schedules, budgets, vendor and venue coordination, registration and ticketing, guest lists, and run-of-show documents.
• Track event revenue, expenses, sponsorships, ticket sales, and other fundraising results; keep event records and budgets current and organized.
• Partner with Communications on event invitations, promotional materials, audience outreach, and event-related fundraising messages.
• Coordinate sponsor deliverables and recognition, guest communication, event-day logistics, and post-event follow up.
• Manage post-event reconciliation, reporting, donor acknowledgements, and stewardship.

6. Brand & Corporate Partnership

• Manage logistics, support communication, and fulfillment of corporate and event sponsorships with the Philanthropy & Development Director, including prospect tracking, benefits, stewardship, sponsorship agreements, deliverables, and materials.
• Ensure revenue recognition and reporting accuracy.
• Track activation timelines and cross-team coordination.
• Support Executive Director and Philanthropy & Development Director in partnership follow-up and reporting.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years’ experience in nonprofit development operations, membership, and/or fundraising management
• Demonstrated CRM expertise with donor records, segmentation, gift processing, reporting, and data health.
• Experience supporting digital fundraising, email campaigns, online giving, membership, or annual giving programs.
• Excellent organization, project management, writing, and follow-through; able to manage multiple timelines and details independently.
• Experience coordinating events, vendors, budgets, guest communications, auctions, and post-event follow up.
• Strong written communication, analytical, and reporting skills
• Experience managing fundraising calendars and multi-channel campaigns.
• Commitment to AWHC’s mission and ability to communicate with care, accuracy, and professionalism; Deep alignment with conservation, public lands, and mission-driven work.
• Comfort working in small, collaborative team where priorities may shift and strong systems and initiative are essential.

Preferred Experience

• Experience with Bonterra/EveryAction or comparable nonprofit CRM platforms, particularly database administration, advanced reporting, and workflow optimization.
• Experience in animal welfare, conservation, environmental advocacy, public lands, or national nonprofit organizations.
• Familiarity with donor lifecycle strategy, retention metrics, recurring giving, membership renewal, and donor engagement best practices.
• Experience supporting board fundraising engagement, donor outreach, and volunteer-led fundraising initiatives.
• Experience using fundraising analytics to evaluate campaign performance, identify opportunities, and inform future strategies.
• Experience working in a fast-evolving organization where initiative, adaptability, and strong systems are essential.

Key Competencies

• Operational discipline
• Strategic follow-through
• Systems thinking
• Calm under pressure
• Accountability and ownership
• Collaborative mindset