Development Manager - Muddy Sneakers

Job Description Job Title: Development Manager 

Direct Supervisor: Development Director Location: Remote, work from home within NC—preference for the Eastern North Carolina 

Hours: Full Time Equivalent (35 hrs/week) M-F, 10am-3pm “office hours” with flexible scheduling options beyond these hours. Some nights and weekends throughout the year. 

Compensation: $55,000 - $65,000 

DESCRIPTION 

Muddy Sneakers operates at the crossroads of outdoor science instruction, public education, and conservation to awaken in children a deeply felt connection to the natural world – one that inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings new life to classroom performance. We envision a world where every child has the opportunity to form a connection to nature and benefit from the wellness it provides. We are committed to becoming a national model for closing the science literacy gap, ensuring diversity thrives in the outdoors, and instilling an understanding of one's role in the greater ecosystem. In doing so, we cultivate healthier generations committed to the stewardship of our natural resources. 

We're seeking a skilled fundraiser to drive a minimum of $500,000 in revenue annually. Responsible for implementing approved strategies for new business development and existing annual campaign efforts, designed to obtain funds from individuals, foundations, corporations, and governments. 

This position is an integral part of the Muddy Sneakers Development team. 

Essential Roles and Responsibilities: ● Develops and maintains multi-channel annual campaigns and procedures while monitoring and analyzing donations received. ● Manages donor acknowledgment processes and granting organization contributions. Prepares proposals, reports, letters, brochures, and other written materials as needed and required by donors. ● Works with staff to identify potential donors through research, contact with existing donors, and other sources of information. Solicits current donors and prospects through presentations in key target markets – this may be done in conjunction with staff and board members. ● Supports the development and preparation of grant proposals, reports to funders, provides solicitation materials, and other correspondence and printed matter necessary to carry out solicitations and cultivations. ● Responsible for prospect/donor identification, cultivation, visitations, conducting events, solicitation campaigns, and using volunteer leaders: May recruit and train volunteers to network and solicit funds. ● Manage development aspects of annual special events including, but not limited to Mountainfilm, salon events, receptions, and donor shadowing. In such cases, coordinates the in-kind giving, raffles, guest invitations, seating, arrangements, menu selection, and entertainment. Additionally, oversees all logistical arrangements leading up to the event, as well as when the event has been concluded. ● Assists in creating policies and strategies for achieving required financial goals. ● Contribute to organizational storytelling, curating connections with media and influencers. ● Support the Development Department across all fundraising initiatives and efforts as requested. 

Other Roles and Responsibilities: ● Contribute to positive organizational culture through intentional and identifiable actions. ● Work effectively across all departments to ensure knowledge and alignment of funding needs and opportunities. ● Support employee engagement in the stewardship and recognition of donors across the organization. ● Work effectively within budget and help manage the resources and expenses within the department. Supervisory Duties: ● This is not a supervisory position but requires engagement with high-level donors, partners, interns, and volunteers and successful leadership skills for managing cross-departmental projects. ● The role works closely with the Development Director, Major Gifts Officer, and administrative personnel. 

Qualifications: Knowledge, skills, and ability— ● Experience in developing and stewarding individual, foundation, and corporate relationships with the ability to develop and execute donor fundraising events. ● Excellent verbal and written communication skills ● Excellent collaboration skills, organizational skills, and astute attention to detail ● Affinity for working with people and experience working successfully with a variety of constituents, high-level volunteers, partners, and team members ● Proven budget and project management in accordance with short- and long-term financial goals In addition, the Development Officer will demonstrate the following competencies: ● Project Management-identifies and thinks through all necessary steps of a project, setting appropriate deadlines, moving seamlessly between prioritized tasks, identifying required participants, and holding self and others accountable to outcomes and deadlines. ● Strategic Thinking-takes into account and analyzes various points of view and data to form a perspective appropriate for the execution of a plan that is in line with organizational priorities, including identifying or anticipating problems and implementing solutions. ● Creative and Innovative Thinking- can build partnerships that meet the community's needs effectively in alignment with the mission of Muddy Sneakers. Education or formal training— ● Professional experience of five years or more in any of the following areas highly preferred: non-profit fundraising; donor development; portfolio management; grant writing; project management; volunteer engagement. Experience— ● Proven experience with multi-channel direct mail and annual engagement campaigns, highly preferred ● Proven experience working with and engaging leadership volunteers ● Understanding of tax planning principles and techniques that favor charitable giving ● Experience specific to independent work with donors, companies, and foundations ● Knowledge of Razor's Edge NXT and Google Suite preferred 

PHYSICAL DEMANDS, WORK ENVIRONMENT, AND WORKING CONDITIONS: Work Environment— ● This position is in service of Muddy Sneakers' organization, focusing on developing community in some of our key target markets. ● This is a work-from-home, remote role, with some travel to our regional offices and throughout NC. The Development Officer is provided with a laptop computer and is asked to maintain consistent at-home office hours and schedules, while working independently and remotely with Muddy Sneakers' staff. This position must be able to work independently and integrate into major donor and professional corporate environments. ● The Development Officer is expected to work regularly with partners, donors, and the Muddy Sneakers' team throughout the state of NC. Some evening and weekend work is required. Physical Demands ● This role necessitates joining donors in the field to shadow expeditions ● Possible moving of boxes that contain programming or other materials (not a requirement) 

Benefits ● Full-time position (35+ hours/week) with a salary range of $55,000 - $65,000 per year ● 10% health insurance stipend, up to $400/month ● 3% Simple IRA match ● Competitive PTO schedule with days awarded, not accrued ● 11 additional paid office holidays as well as closure the last week in December ● Respect for work-life harmony, including consideration of flexible schedules and occasional remote work ● Pro deals, which include deep discounts on outdoor gear providing 30 - 50% off retail prices with ● established brands ● Opportunity to build a legacy through strengthening public education and connecting children to nature 

To apply: Please Submit a Resume and Cover Letter through our Breezy Platform: https://muddy-sneakers.breezy....

Muddy Sneakers is a NC-based 501(c)3 non-profit environmental education organization with programming hubs in Brevard and Salisbury, North Carolina. We partner with public schools "to awaken in children a deeply felt connection with the natural world -- one that inspires curiosity, stimulates learning, and brings new life to classroom performance." 

The Core Values of Muddy Sneakers include: Access, Belonging, Experiential Learning, Conservation, and Well-Being. We know that a rich diversity of perspectives and wisdom is imperative to our mission and can only come from a wide variety of life experiences. MS is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining exceptional people and to creating a work environment that is dynamic, rewarding, and responsive, enabling each of us to realize our potential. Our team is committed to a growth mindset and recognizes that healthy change requires intention, humility, and lifelong learning. 

Muddy Sneakers' work environment is safe and open to all employees and partners, respecting and valuing the full spectrum of race, color, religious creed, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, political affiliation, ancestry, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and all other classifications protected by law in the locality and/or state in which you are working. The requirements listed in our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules, and if you have 75% of the qualifications listed we encourage you to apply. Your experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, which helps build the competencies, knowledge, and skills that translate directly to our openings. Applying gives you the opportunity to be considered. 

This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job. Muddy Sneakers P.O. Box 10971, Raleigh NC 27605; 828-862-5560; www.muddysneakers.org