Development Manager

Position Title:  Development Manager
Classification:  Regular, Full-time,Exempt,  40 hour week
Reports to: Executive Director
Date: 10.15.26

Sierra State Parks Foundation

Sierra State Park Foundation (SSPF) supports the Lake Tahoe – Donner Lake State Parks in partnership with California State Parks to create a comprehensive, welcoming visitor experience through education, interpretation, preservation, restoration, and advocacy. Our mix of private philanthropy, volunteerism, leadership, and strong partnerships benefits the parks’ critical needs as we partner with California State Parks to identify, fund, and promote educational and interpretive programs and restoration and preservation projects.

Sierra State Parks Foundation is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to creating a diverse, equitable and welcoming work environment and practices non-discriminatory hiring practices.

Position Overview

The Development Manager is responsible for designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive fundraising and communications strategy that supports Sierra State Parks Foundation’s mission and long-term sustainability.

Reporting to and working with the Executive Director, this role cultivates strong relationships with individual donors, foundations, and corporate partners while overseeing events and fundraising campaigns, assisting with grants, and managing volunteers. The Development Manager leads donor stewardship, manages public-facing communications, and ensures consistent, compelling storytelling across platforms to engage the community, build support, and secure meaningful investment in SSPF’s mission.

Duties and responsibilities
The primary job duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Fundraising & Donor Cultivation
Implement and manage a comprehensive fundraising strategy, including individual giving, corporate sponsorships, events, and grants
Lead strategy for cultivation, solicitation, renewal, and multi-year commitments
Develop and steward relationships with major donors, foundations, and local businesses
Oversee donor engagement activities as strategic tools to advance the donor pipeline
Ensure consistent follow-up, clear next steps, and measurable progress towards revenue goals
Partner with the Executive Director to write and submit grants for operations, capital, endowments, and programmatic needs
Lead annual appeals, fundraising events, and targeted campaigns
Collaborate with the Executive Director and Board on donor cultivation and engagement strategies to annually update Fund Development work plan
Maintain donor database (DonorPerfect), establish clear metrics tracking engagement, and report outcomes
Ensure timely donor acknowledgment and stewardship standards. Provide concise fundraising updates to the Executive Director and Board.
Prioritize time and effort toward highest-impact revenue opportunities
Integrate planned and endowment giving into donor conversations when appropriate, without displacing near-term major gift priorities
Support the growth of planned giving efforts, including legacy and bequest conversations as appropriate

Event Planning and Management
Plan, produce, implement, and manage events, ranging from small scale to gala sized including managing budgets and monitoring costs
Acquire sponsorships and assist with grant writing for events and fundraising
Coordinate with event vendors, government agency staff, and special event permitting
Liaison with the SSPF Board Fund Development and Events committees
Ensure events and engagement activities meaningfully advance the donor pipeline

Marketing & Communications
Manage and oversee production, placement and tracking of public-facing communications to include newsletters, video production, ad placements, eblasts, blogs, social media posts, press releases, and other collateral
Manage brand visibility, storytelling, and communications in coordination with other staff
Oversee appeals, stewardship communications, and donor updates
Ensure messaging is compelling, mission-aligned, and revenue-focused

Community Engagement & Outreach
Represent SSPF at community events, fostering relationships that advance the organization’s mission
Build partnerships to increase organizational visibility and deepen community support

Personnel and Volunteer Management
Supervise the part-time Communications Coordinator, part-time Program Assistant and Volunteer Program
Oversee recruitment, training, cultivation, retention, and staffing of volunteers for outreach activities and events
Ensure that events are properly staffed (with paid staff and/or volunteers)

Qualifications

The successful candidate will possess:
Minimum 3 years of experience in fundraising, development, or nonprofit communications. Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience preferred.
Demonstrated success in individual giving, grants, and event fundraising
Strong relationship-building skills and comfort engaging donors in person and in writing
Strong writing skills, particularly in donor communications
Excellent organizational, project management, and communication skills
Knowledge of social media strategy, marketing, and public relations
Experience with donor management systems (DonorPerfect or similar CRM) and proficiency in standard office and communications software (MS Office Suite, Teams) and data storage
Ability to exercise sound judgment, discretion, and independent decision-making in an environment with shifting priorities and multiple concurrent deadlines
Understanding of the mission of the Sierra State Parks Foundation and the role of our operations in supporting the Lake Tahoe – Donner Lake California State Parks
Ability to effectively communicate with park staff, employees and management
Outstanding customer service skills and ability to build and sustain relationships with diverse stakeholders
Conservation or environmental nonprofit experience preferred

Work Environment
This position requires:
Evening and weekend work shifts in a park environment
Varied and often rustic event and park sites
Ability to work outdoors in a variety of seasonal conditions
Reliable personal vehicle for transportation to various work sites
Proof of current valid driver’s license, registration, and insurance

Physical requirements
The is a physical position that requires:
Standing for extended periods of time
Ability to lift and move event supplies and equipment weighing up to 50 pounds
Perform repetitive tasks
Manage and participate in event set-up, management and break down

Compensation and Benefits
This is a full-time position. Salary range is $75,000-$85,000 annually, depending on experience. Benefits include health insurance, phone stipend, paid vacation, sick time, and holidays, and 401k with 4% employer match.

To Apply
Submit cover letter, resume, and 3 professional references to mmyers@sierrastateparks.org by November 15, 2026.