Development Manager

Breakthrough • Austin, TX

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

Breakthrough seeks an experienced development professional to strengthen and grow our annual giving program, increasing donor engagement, retention and revenue to support our expanding impact across Central Texas. This role is responsible for executing high-quality, multi-channel fundraising strategies that build meaningful donor relationships and convert engagement into sustained philanthropic investment. As a key member of the Development & Communications team, the Development Manager plays a critical role in advancing organizational fundraising goals and ensuring the resources needed to support student success. We are looking for an organized, results-oriented self-starter who thrives in a high-performing team environment and is motivated to contribute to a transformational mission.

Requirements

• 3+ years of direct experience in nonprofit fundraising, including demonstrated skill and expertise in role-specific fundraising functions such as annual giving, direct mail, stewardship, campaign execution, and event management to achieve revenue goals.
• Working knowledge of fundraising principles and ability to apply fundraising practices in alignment with the ethical standards.
• Approach fundraising with a strategic, responsive, community-centered mindset, using data, sound judgment, and relationship insights to inform decisions and strengthen overall effectiveness.
• Proficient with donor databases (Virtuous CRM preferred), event software, Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; comfortable learning and adopting new technologies to enhance efficiency and donor engagement.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills that adhere to brand and messaging standards for internal coordination and collateral, external outreach, donor engagement, speaker preparation, and ethical story telling.
• Effectively engage donors and stakeholders in the organization’s mission and impact.
• Demonstrate confidence and effectiveness across a full range of donor communication channels, including phone, in-person conversations, email, and direct mail.
• Lead the planning and implementation of fundraising campaigns of varying scale for a variety of audiences and platforms.
• Lead the planning and implementation of signature efforts such as Benefit Concert, end-of-year giving, and Amplify Austin, to drive donor engagement, retention, acquisition, and revenue growth.
• Able to manage multiple projects, meet deadlines, capture data and needed documentation, and handle complex administrative and event planning tasks, engaging staff and volunteers as needed to achieve outcomes.
• Proactively develop and implement systems, timelines, and workflows that support team efficiency and accountability, while anticipating needs and adjusting priorities to advance fundraising goals and campaign success.
• Effectively support and steward mission-critical stakeholders through consistent, high-quality engagement, including responsive donor relations for annual (core) donors and strategic cultivation of key philanthropic partners.
• Demonstrate dedication to supporting all students’ growth and postsecondary success by setting and achieving ambitious, measurable goals.
• Commitment to aligning fundraising strategy with measurable outcomes that support student success.
• Operate with cultural humility and demonstrates written, verbal, and digital communication skills in 1:1, small group, and whole group settings, that foster an inclusive environment and effectively engage diverse audiences, including colleagues, students, families, alumni, volunteers, board members, community partners, donors, and other key stakeholders.
• Build trusting, effective relationships that enable collaboration, authentic partnership, and shared success across colleagues, students, families, alumni, volunteers, board members, community partners, donors, and other key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate a clear commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive work culture, embedding inclusive practices across all fundraising and stewardship efforts.
• Embrace and apply feedback, demonstrate curiosity and a growth mindset, and pursue opportunities to strengthen individual and team performance.
• Bring self-awareness and humility by recognizing personal strengths, growth areas, and positionality, while actively supporting continuous learning and development.
• Actively seek out and leverage professional development opportunities to enhance skills, stay current with best practices, and contribute to team and organizational effectiveness.
• Effectively put time and effort where it is needed most, ask for help, maximize networks and resources, and envision innovative pathways for reaching outcomes.
• Manage complexity.
• Take initiative as a self-starter, stepping in where needed and contributing effectively within a high-performing team environment.
• Share knowledge and skills generously while maintaining the judgment to seek input and support when it will strengthen outcomes.
• Bring forward new ideas, adopt innovative approaches, and leverage technology to enhance team efficiency and impact.
• Coach, provide effective feedback and training, and support the Development Associate to set priorities, build skills, meet goals, and grow toward professional aims.
• Provide proactive guidance and leadership by setting clear expectations, modeling best practices, and fostering a supportive environment that encourages accountability and continuous growth.

Nice To Haves

• Mission-driven champion committed to advancing educational equity and supporting students on their path to becoming first-generation college graduates.
• Strong, detail-oriented self-starter.
• Track record of executing effective fundraising strategies.
• Thrives in a collaborative, high-performing team environment.
• Communicates with clarity and inclusivity.
• Approaches work with curiosity, adaptability, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Takes initiative, manages multiple priorities with care and precision, and brings creativity and resourcefulness to solving challenges and advancing ambitious goals.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with staff and volunteers to manage annual giving initiatives including giving days, end-of-year fundraising, and the monthly recurring giving program.
• Develop content, generate lists, execute segmentation, lead multi-channel outreach efforts, and track results.
• Manage strategies for donor retention, renewal, reactivation, and upgrade across annual giving programs, using donor insights and campaign performance data to increase participation and revenue.
• Monitor and report on annual giving performance against revenue, participation, retention, and recurring giving goals, recommending strategies for improvement as needed.
• Track notes, engagement, interests and preferences in donor database.
• Lead execution of donor standards of service and stewardship initiatives including but not limited to writing acknowledgements and implementing workflows for specific donor segments.
• Lead stewardship projects including but not limited to sharing the student yearbook, student encouragement notes, and event invitations.
• Manage communications and logistics for fundraising and stewardship events, including the planning and execution of Breakthrough’s signature Benefit Concert, in coordination with the Development and Communications team and other Breakthrough staff.
• Supervise the Development Associate.
• Provide oversight of development operations, including data fidelity, gift processing, donor acknowledgement timelines, list and data generations, reporting, and workflow management.
• Collaborate regularly with all team members to ensure successful execution of all development strategies.
• Actively learn about Breakthrough’s programs and effectively communicate mission and priorities to donors.
• Perform other job-related duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Health, dental and vision insurance (Breakthrough pays 100% of employee premiums)
• Life insurance
• Matching 401K retirement plan
• Thirty days of PTO annually, with immediate accrual
• Additional leave benefits, including company holidays and FMLA eligibility

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed