Development Manager

ABOUT PLAYWORKS, at Playworks we believe in the power of play to bring out the best in every kid. We are changing the school climate by leveraging the power of safe, fun, and healthy play at school every day. We create a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills by partnering with schools, districts, and after-school programs through services including digital engagement, on-site coaches, professional training for school staff who support play, and consultative partnerships.

ABOUT THE POSITION, in the role of the Development Manager, you will report to the Indiana regional leader and will serve on a Hub-wide development team. (The Hub includes Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin). This position is located in Indianapolis, IN. Using a community centric fundraising lens, you will be responsible for a portion of the regional revenue goals through identifying and attracting various funding sources including Foundation and Corporate Partnerships, Public Funding and individual donors. You will plan, coordinate and implement annual fund development plans in order to meet regional fund development and budgetary goals.

Specifically you will:

Expand the network of Playworks funders and champions (40%)

• Serve as a contact for local funders while building and maintaining lasting regional and community relationships through prospect research in addition to hosting program visits and seeking new relationships in the philanthropic community.
• Grow Playworks Indiana individual and corporate donor base by networking and engaging in the community.
• Understand and accurately articulate the story of Playworks.
• Ensure the development pipeline exceeds a 3 to 1 ratio towards an annual $600,000 fundraising goal.
• Conduct fundraising and brand awareness campaigns in partnership with local and national staff.
• Collaborate on regional communications plans and social media with the Hub-based development team.

Be responsible for making asks and stewardship of our partners (40%)

• Build and implement donor stewardship plans.
• Research, prepare, write, and submit foundation grants and corporate requests.
• Prepare and submit reports to funders including corporate and individual donors.
• Soliciting government grants as needed.
• Coordinate individual donor solicitations.
• In partnership with other development staff, coordinate, implement, and solicit gifts for the regional fundraising events including Playworks Annual Corporate Kickball Tournament and corporate engagement events.
• Promote the staffing of the regional Playworks IN Board including board communication and implementing and coordinating Board fundraising activities, mail solicitations, and donor outreach.
• Attend, assist and represent Playworks at various key fundraising events/functions, speaking engagements, tours, and other programs.

Strategy, planning and operational management (20%)

• Together with regional leadership and/or the Vice President, design, implement and track progress against an annual development.
• Attend national development calls and meetings as a representative of Indiana and the Hub.
• Manage the regional development pipeline and opportunities in Salesforce.
• Collaborate with the hub development team.

You may be a great fit for this role if you:

• Have strong knowledge of effective fundraising strategies: grant seeking and writing, individual donor cultivation, corporate employee volunteer programs and small event production.
• Have experience identifying, securing and sustaining 5 and 6 figure gifts.
• Are an experienced grant writer and have strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Understand that this is an external-facing role and will be expected to be in the community, networking and building relationships at least 40-50% of the time.
• Have experience building strong partnerships between organizations and funders.
• Possess excellent organizational and analytical skills and can meet aggressive deadlines.
• Have an existing strong network in Indiana.

Required Skills & Experience

• Proficiency in Google suite and knowledge of Salesforce.
• Excellent written and verbal skills for effective communication and the ability to facilitate small and large group presentations.
• Ability to actively listen and build mutually beneficial partnerships in the community.
• Requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience preferred.

Compensation & Benefits:

Playworks offers the full package - great benefits, a fun place to work and an opportunity to grow professionally. We offer:

• Competitive nonprofit salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, exempt position with an expected salary is $64,600.
• A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, 401(k) with 3% employer match, life insurance, employee funded pre-tax health and child care spending accounts.
• Generous flexiable time off with paid vacation, sick and holiday leave.

If working and playing and working while playing sounds like your ideal place to work, then apply online to join our team:

• A cover letter describing your interest in Playworks and how your experience has prepared you for this role.
• Resume.
• References will be requested.

Other things you need to know:

• This position may require minimal travel to various locations.
• If a Playworks employee is required to drive a vehicle for work related purposes (not commuting purposes) the employee must complete an authorization form and provide us with evidence of valid, current driver's license and proof of liability/collision/property damage insurance with minimum coverage of $50,000/ $100,000 each occurrence.

Playworks is changing the way children experience school every day by leveraging the power of safe and healthy play. We create a place for every kid on the playground to feel included, be active, and build valuable social and emotional skills. Our ambitions demand that we invest in recruiting, developing and managing a team that reflects the broad diversity of our communities.

Our core values of inclusion, respect, healthy community and healthy play are the foundation of our organization and are infused in all aspects of our work, including recruiting and retaining the best talent we can. While diversity is often used in reference to visual characteristics such as race, ethnicity, age, sex and physical appearance, we embrace a broader definition of diversity that also includes less visible factors, We also recognize that individuals can affiliate with multiple identities.

As an equal opportunity program, Playworks encourages applications from all individuals regardless of national origin, religion, gender, differing abilities (physical, mental, learning), sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, education, marital status, language, political affiliation, military experience, and any other legally protected basis. Playworks evaluates all candidates on a merit basis.