Now Hiring: Development Manager

Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the revitalization of downtown Harrisonburg, is seeking an experienced professional to lead our fund-raising efforts. You will have an opportunity to make a difference in Harrisonburg by helping to improve quality of life, create lasting memories, and boost community pride.

Are you the type of person who:

  • Loves to be part of a collaborative team who brainstorms together and supports each other?

  • Has excellent organizational skills and reliable follow-up?

  • Doesn’t think any task is beneath you and is willing to get the job done?

  • Is a “people-person,” who is genuinely interested in meeting people and connecting? You don’t rely on email but are happy to call and email supporters?

  • Is a self-starter and motivated to achieve and exceed goals – not just to satisfy an employer but to satisfy your personal desire to achieve milestones?

  • Enjoys jobs with a lot of variety and an office culture that gives team members a lot of creative freedom?

  • Has been told you can sell ice in the winter?

  • Thrives in a fast-paced environment while handling multiple projects and tasks simultaneously?

  • Has at least five years of professional experience (and possibly experience fund-raising, or at least an enthusiastic interest in learning the business)?

If this sounds like you, we’d like to talk!

Top applicants will have a love for relationship building; be comfortable with making the ask; enjoy extending gratitude to our donor, sponsors, and partners. They will be excited to come up with fresh ideas for engagement and to move people to support us. We are open to training the right candidate for the job.

HDR is a close-knit staff of four (plus amazing interns) who enjoy working collaboratively and shaping the organization together. We are passionate about HDR’s mission and seek a colleague who will be equally dedicated to the betterment of the community and strengthening our team. If you love independent businesses more than big-box stores and historic buildings over cookie-cutter places, this might be the place for you.

This position is considered a regular, full-time, exempt employee. While much of this job will be completed during normal business hours, there will be some evening and weekend work required related to our annual events, which are all-hands-on-deck affairs.

Primary Responsibilities

The Development Manager is responsible for fund raising and has creative control over its strategy and implementation. Success in this position looks like meeting (and hopefully exceeding) our fund-raising goals and contributing to the overall vitality of our office and health of the organization.

  • Sponsorships – retain existing sponsors and help sign new ones. Ensure sponsors receive appropriate sponsorship recognition and appreciation.

  • Friendly City Fortune Raffle – manage the raffle which runs the gamut from selecting prizes & finalizing prize purchase agreements to working with sales locations and providing customer support to ticket holders.

  • Donations – serve as the lead for the Great Community Give, coordinate renewals and appreciation, and work with our team on our annual end-of-year giving campaign. Donor database management also necessary.

  • Events – take the lead on two events – Celebration Reception where you will work with the team to host our annual donor, partner, sponsor, and supporter reception event; and Downtown Happy Hour, a culinary fundraising evening downtown (experience in the hospitality and/or food & beverage industry not required but a plus)

  • Festivals/Concerts – Our events are all hands on deck affairs, and we all chip in to support our event manager, both leading up to the event and working the event day-of.

We have thorough Standard Operating Procedure documents for each area of responsibility so you can hit the ground running. We also have tons of templates - while you are encouraged to put your own spin on things, you don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Salary and Benefits:

  • Health, dental & vision coverage (with 70% of the premium paid by the employer)

  • IRA retirement savings plan with 3% employer match.

  • Salary range: $42,000-$55,000.

  • We offer 12 paid holidays (plus random days when we close the office so everyone can recharge), 11 paid days of vacation, comp time (accrued during events), paid sick leave, paid family leave, option for teleworking and flex hours, professional development opportunities.

  • A cool, dog-friendly office in the Ice House above Pale Fire.

To Apply

Please send the executive director a cover letter and resume. Please share if you have experience in fund raising as an employee or volunteer or if this is a new career for you, please explain why you are interested in this role and what you would bring to the position.