Development Manager

Project Syncere•Chicago, IL

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Founded in 2008, Project SYNCERE is a forward thinking, values-based, educational organization focused on increasing the number of underrepresented youth who pursue careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). We utilize a collaborative, team-based approach to ensure we are working towards accomplishing our overall mission. Our team is committed to providing students with a pathway of opportunities to increase their interest and skills in the STEM fields, while preparing them to enter post-secondary institutions to major in STEM disciplines. Our goal is to produce the next generation of innovators and engineers who will help America retain its position as a global leader in innovation and technology. Position Overview Project SYNCERE is seeking a strategic and self-directed Development Manager to lead and manage the organization’s fundraising execution in close partnership with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. This role supports and advances the Executive Director’s grant and fundraising outreach efforts by overseeing grant development, donor cultivation, and fundraising systems, while ensuring strong coordination with the Chief Operating Officer on financial planning, compliance, and operational alignment. The Development Manager is responsible for managing the full lifecycle of grants and fundraising activities, strengthening donor relationships, and building efficient, scalable development systems. This role requires a self-directed fundraising professional who is comfortable representing the organization to funders, managing external consultants, and leveraging technology including AI tools; to increase efficiency and impact. This is an ideal opportunity for a mission-driven leader who enjoys both strategy and execution and is excited to help scale a growing nonprofit organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
4+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, including grant writing and donor cultivation
Demonstrated success securing foundation, corporate, or government funding
Experience managing multiple funding deadlines and complex grant requirements
Proficiency with Salesforce or similar CRM platforms
Strong written and verbal communication skills, including donor-facing presentations
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with leadership and Board members

Nice To Haves

Experience developing and leading fundraising strategies
Experience managing external consultants or contract grant writers
Comfort using AI tools and technology to improve workflow and productivity
Experience building donor pipelines and moving prospects through cultivation stages

Responsibilities

Fundraising Strategy & Leadership Develop and manage a comprehensive annual fundraising strategy in partnership with the Executive Director and Board
Identify and prioritize funding opportunities across foundations, corporations, government agencies, and individual donors
Prepare and present funding plans, pipelines, and progress reports to leadership and the Board
Lead fundraising goal-setting and track performance toward revenue targets
Grant Management Oversee the full lifecycle of grants, including research, proposal development, submission, reporting, and stewardship
Write select grant proposals and reports while managing external grant writers and consultants as needed
Maintain a grant calendar to ensure timely submissions and compliance
Use provided AI-supported tools to increase efficiency in drafting, editing, and managing proposals
Donor Cultivation & Solicitation Cultivate, steward, and solicit donors at all levels, including foundations, corporate partners, and individual supporters
Confidently lead funding conversations and present funding requests directly to prospective and current donors
Support the Executive Director and Board in donor engagement and relationship-building
Develop donor communication and stewardship strategies that strengthen long-term relationships
Systems & Data Management Manage Salesforce (or similar CRM) to track funding opportunities, donor engagement, and grant pipelines
Ensure accurate data entry, reporting, and dashboard development to support fundraising decisions
Use CRM data to inform strategy, forecasting, and donor engagement plans
Evaluate and implement tools (including AI platforms) that improve development operations
Consultant & Project Management Hire and manage grant writers, researchers, and other fundraising consultants
Coordinate timelines, deliverables, and quality control for externally supported proposals and reports
Ensure alignment of consultant work with organizational strategy and deadlines