Development Manager

Overview

About KC Pet Project
: KC Pet Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates Kansas City, Missouri’s municipal shelter in Swope Park, maintains a satellite location in Zona Rosa, and partners with 15 Petco stores across the KC Metro, serving over 16,000 pets annually. We are an innovative leader in animal welfare with progressive, lifesaving programs and support services, sustaining a lifesaving rate above 90% for more than a decade.

We aim to create a caring, safe, and humane community for the people and pets of Kansas City and the surrounding region.

Job Title
:
Development Manager
Department
:
Marketing and Development
Reports to
:
Director of Development
Category
:
Full-time, Exempt
Salary
: $50,000 - $60,000 annually

The Development Manager leads KC Pet Project’s annual signature and community fundraising events, driving revenue, engagement, and visibility. This role plans and executes a robust events portfolio while building, cultivating, and stewarding relationships with corporate sponsors and community partners. The ideal candidate is organized, experienced in development, and excels in cross-functional collaboration and donor engagement. This position reports to the Development Director and has no direct supervisory responsibilities.

• In partnership with the Development Director, plan, execute, and evaluate KC Pet Project’s signature and community fundraising events, including events such as the Love Finds a Way Gala and KC Pet Project 5K.
• Serve as the primary event lead, overseeing logistics, timelines, vendor relations, permits, audio/visual needs, setup and tear-down, volunteer coordination, and day-of execution.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Development teams to promote attendance, sponsorship, and community engagement for all events.
• Develop and steward relationships with corporate sponsors, vendors, and community partners to create meaningful event partnerships.
• Expand partnerships and identify new event sponsors and collaborators aligned with KC Pet Project’s mission and fundraising priorities.
• Ensure timely cultivation and stewardship of sponsors, participants, volunteers, and vendors before and after each event.
• Manage event budgets, registration systems, sponsorship fulfillment, and financial tracking to meet revenue goals.
• Oversee donation documentation, post-event reporting, and data analysis to evaluate event performance and inform future planning.
• Document all donor and sponsor interactions related to events in the donor database.
• Participate as an active member of the Marketing and Development Team, contributing to broader fundraising initiatives and strategy.
• Develop and maintain knowledge of KC Pet Project’s mission, programs, and fundraising priorities to effectively represent the organization to donors and partners.
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop event collateral, signage, communications, and donor-facing materials.
• Other duties as assigned by the Development Director.

Most functions will be performed at the KC Campus for Animal Care in Swope Park. Potential exposure to zoonotic diseases, high noise levels, extreme temperatures, hazardous chemicals, and sharp objects. Must be able to balance long periods of sitting at a desk, lift up to 50 lb., and sustain periods of standing, bending, stooping, reaching, and animal handling in an animal shelter environment.

• Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience.
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, event management, or development, with demonstrated success leading large-scale fundraising events.
• Proven experience securing and stewarding corporate sponsor ships and community partnerships.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple events, timelines, and stakeholders simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, donor management databases, event registration platforms, and CRM systems; experience with Virtuous, Classy, or similar platforms preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including donor-facing correspondence.
• Experience managing event budgets, tracking revenue and…