POSITION OVERVIEW

The Development Manager, Annual Giving will work with the Director of Individual Philanthropy to lead strategies for grassroots (under $1,000), mid-level ($1,000–$9,999), and monthly supporters. There will be a particular focus on engaging donors and prospects living in Ward 8, while designing and implementing multi-channel campaigns and supporting the management of a $2.4 million portfolio with strong growth potential.

EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, AND SKILLS REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to craft compelling, donor-centered communications across channels (appeals, newsletters, digital campaigns, stewardship materials).
• Strong writing skills with the ability to tailor messages for specific audiences, incorporating strength-based writing that highlights dignity and respect
• Candidates should be comfortable developing and executing multi-channel strategies using direct mail, email, text, phone, and social media.
• Experience creating visually appealing content with mass email services (such as Constant Contact or Mailchimp)
• Creative and able to envision new ways to authentically engage donors.
• Ability to developing innovative ways to engage donors and prospects while leveraging communications resources effectively.
• Strong attention to detail in written and visual materials.
• Ability to build and sustain meaningful relationships with grassroots, mid-level, and monthly supporters. This includes making direct asks, tailoring solicitations to donor interests, and stewarding donors with authenticity and care, particularly those living in Ward 8.
• Skills in donor segmentation, recurring giving programs, lapsed donor re-engagement, and peer-to-peer fundraising, with the ability to implement data-informed strategies that increase revenue and retention.
• Ability to maintain a donor-centric lens in planning and project management.
• Hands-on experience with grassroots and digital fundraising tactics. This includes managing recurring giving programs, welcoming and upgrading first-time donors, and leveraging peer-to-peer campaigns.
• Knowledge of database management (EveryAction or similar CRM systems) and donor tracking.
• Skills at working across teams to ensure consistency in donor engagement and reporting.
• Effective project managment skills and an ability to map out and follow through on clear action plans.
• Comfortable representing Martha’s Table at nonprofit and community events, as well as coordinating grassroots donor events.
• Ability to engage confidently with diverse audiences and authentically connect supporters to the mission.
• Demonstrated commitment to Martha’s Table’s core values of compassion, respect, teamwork, and accountability.
• Passion for the mission to support strong children, strong families, and strong communities through education, health and wellness, and family engagement in D.C.
• Openness to feedback and commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Collegial approach with the ability to build and maintain strong relationships across teams, as well as with partner organizations.
• Proactive mindset with a willingness to contribute beyond defined responsibilities, including participating in volunteer shifts and organizational initiatives.
• Ability to inspire others, generate enthusiasm, foster shared purpose, and drive collective action.
• Knowledge of multichannel direct marketing and familiarity with segmentation strategies using a large constituent database.
• Experience working effectively in complex nonprofit environments, collaborating across departments to collect information, data, and impact stories, while balancing independent initiative and teamwork.
• Strong awareness of and connection to community needs, with a demonstrated commitment to belonging, parity and empowerment.
• Experience engaging effectively with diverse populations.

EDUCATION AND TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree plus 1-2 years of experience in development, demonstrating success or 3-5 years of experience in fundraising or related field
• Training in grassroots, mid-level, and monthly donor strategies to strengthen understanding of donor pipelines with an emphasis on practical donor cultivation, retention, and stewardship techniques to build confidence managing a $2.4M portfolio is preferred.

Donor Engagement: Develop and execute a plan to qualify, solicit, acknowledge and build a relationship with individual donors in the annual giving portfolio (with a focus on monthly donors, first-time donors, and peer-to-peer donors).

• Communicate and engage with donors to thank, build a relationship, and creatively connect them to Martha’s Table’s work and mission.
• Make direct in-person asks and draft compelling written solicitations, tailoring appropriate asks to match organization’s strategic initiatives with philanthropic interests of individual donors.
• Coordinate and host donor visits.
• Coordinate regular thank-a-thons across the year to drive donor retention and engagement. This includes writing compelling scripts, motivating callers, and developing call targets (e.g., first-time donors, monthly donors, donors and prospects living in Ward 8).
• Collaborate with the Director of Individual Philanthropy on a lapsed donor strategy

Donor Engagement: Develop and execute a plan to qualify, solicit, acknowledge and build a relationship with individual donors in the annual giving portfolio (with a focus on monthly donors, first-time donors, and peer-to-peer donors).

• Communicate and engage with donors to thank, build a relationship, and creatively connect them to Martha’s Table’s work and mission.
• Make direct in-person asks and draft compelling written solicitations, tailoring appropriate asks to match organization’s strategic initiatives with philanthropic interests of individual donors.
• Coordinate and host donor visits.
• Coordinate regular thank-a-thons across the year to drive donor retention and engagement. This includes writing compelling scripts, motivating callers, and developing call targets (e.g., first-time donors, monthly donors, donors and prospects living in Ward 8).
• Collaborate with the Director of Individual Philanthropy on a lapsed donor strategy.

Content Development: Draft compelling materials that leverage effective storytelling and donor-centric communication techniques to deepen our supporters’ commitment to Martha’s Table. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Work with the Development and Communications departments to create and implement a 12-month written fundraising plan that uses stewardship and solicitation best practices to engage donors through direct mail, email, phone, text, and social media.
• Collaborate with the Development and Communications departments to draft donor-facing emails and other marketing materials (appeals, newsletters, invitations, etc across donor segments and giving circles).
• Create copy and oversee donor-focused pages on our website to align with fundraising best practices, in collaboration with the communications team.
• Support the production of print and digital quarterly newsletters that provide an on-the-ground look at our work and illustrate the impact of Martha’s Table.
• Collaborate with the Director of Individual Philanthropy to develop project plans and manage consultants/vendors for graphic design and direct mail, ensuring high-quality, on-time, and on-budget deliverables with high fundraising returns.
• Enhance messaging protocols for different segments of donors based on relationships with the organization and past giving history.

Grassroots Fundraising: Build and strengthen fundraising strategies to acquire and retain grassroots donors with a focus on monthly donors, peer-to-peer fundraising, and first-time donors within the annual giving portfolio. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Managing and growing the “Apple Corps” monthly donor program (currently more than 388 donors giving an average of $53/month); creating tailored stewardship communications for current recurring donors; and encouraging annual donors to set up recurring financial contributions.
• Developing a strategy for and implementing a dynamic welcome series for first-time donors.
• Expanding our peer-to-peer fundraising opportunities by empowering current supporters to serve as fundraising ambassadors for Martha’s Table through mini-campaigns, events, and more.

Event Support:

• Represent Martha’s Table as an ambassador at nonprofit and community events in DC (e.g., festivals, parades).
• Coordinate and support fundraising and stewardship events for grassroots donors.
• Create online fundraising pages for grassroots and special events, including charity races, the Martha’s Table Annual Benefit, organization-wide events, and peer-to-peer fundraising initiatives.
• Create and implement messaging strategies to amplify the efforts of individuals who fundraise for MT.
• Manage guest lists for grassroots events.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Collaborate with other department leaders and across the organization to engage donors through storytelling, volunteering, events, and other relationship-building activities.
• Track and report on progress for a set portfolio of annual fund donors.
• Maintain accurate notes and records in EveryAction and shared drives.
• Support gift processing and acknowledgement as needed.
• Assist with prospect research as needed.
• Attend at least 2 anchor events annually.
• Commitment to Martha’s Table’s mission and core values of compassion, respect, teamwork, and accountability.
• Embodies and serves as a model for “The Martha’s Table Experience” and our organization’s core values.
• Other duties as assigned.