Development Manager

Blackwood Educational Land Institute advances education, environmental stewardship, and community connection through immersive, place-based experiences on the land. Our work sits at the intersection of land conservation, sustainable food systems, and environmental education, inviting learners of all ages to understand where food comes from, how ecosystems function, and how thoughtful land use supports healthy communities. We are a small staff organization supported by an engaged Board of Directors and a growing community of donors who care deeply about land, food, and place-based impact.

Our team members are expected to be self‑directed, collaborative, and comfortable working across disciplines.

Blackwood Educational Land Institute is seeking a Development Manager energized by working in a mission-driven organization. This role is best suited for a development professional with 5-7 years of experience who enjoys building systems, taking initiative, and working hands‑on across all aspects of fundraising. Blackwood does not operate with large teams, multiple layers of approval, or highly resourced infrastructure. Instead, we value ownership, creativity, adaptability, and follow‑through.

The Development Manager will manage day-to-day development operations, support individual giving and donor stewardship, and partner closely with the Founder to strengthen fundraising efforts. This role requires someone who is comfortable making progress without perfect information, creating structure where little exists, and wearing multiple hats in service of the mission. This position is perfect for candidates with experience in sustainable food systems, land conservation, or environmental education nonprofits who want to see the impact of their work in a small‑team environment.

Responsibilities include grant writing, organizing fundraising campaigns, overseeing donor databases, and collaborating with the leadership team to develop strategic fundraising plans. The candidate will play a pivotal role in diversifying revenue sources to support Blackwood's mission and programs.

• Manage day-to-day development activities, including donor records, gift processing, acknowledgements, and reporting
• Build and refine development workflows and systems appropriate for a growing organization
• Generate regular reports to support Founder, Board and volunteer development committee members

• Support donor cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship in partnership with the Founder and board
• Manage donor communications including acknowledgements and impact reporting
• Identify opportunities to deepen donor relationships

• Proactively identify and track prospective foundation and institutional funding opportunities
• Write and manage grant proposals and reports, ensuring alignment with program priorities and funder requirements
• Work cross‑functionally to gather data, narratives, and budgets for submissions
• Maintain a grants calendar and track deadlines, submissions, and outcomes

• Coordinate annual appeals and targeted campaigns
• Draft development‑related communications for donors and supporters
• Translate Blackwood’s work into compelling stories for fundraising purposes
• Identify prospective grants from foundations and prepare grant applications

• Plan and execute donor engagement events, including logistics and follow‑up
• Represent Blackwood authentically and professionally in donor‑facing settings
• Work independently and collaboratively across teams
• Identify gaps and propose improvements in development operations
• Contribute ideas to strengthen fundraising effectiveness over time

• 5-7 years nonprofit development/fundraising experience
• Experience in sustainable food systems, land conservation, or environmental education preferred
• Proven track record of success in donor cultivation and fundraising
• Comfortable building systems and processes from scratch
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Fluency with CRM/donor databases