Reading Partners is changing the education landscape. We are a leader in working to solve the literacy crisis in our country by leveraging community volunteers in under-resourced schools. Our diverse and expansive volunteer base provides one-on-one tutoring to students twice weekly, and our program is proven to help children master the reading fundamentals they need to unlock their potential as successful, happy and confident readers in school and in life. Our people are our heartbeat and our greatest resource; we are all passionately rallied around our mission to help children become lifelong learners by empowering communities to provide individualized instruction that works. Join our stellar team leading the charge to deepen our impact and expand our service. Watch this video to learn more about Reading Partners.

The high level:

The Development Manager (DM) is part of a team of fundraisers and relationship builders working together to support Reading Partners’ strategic growth plan through fundraising. The Development Manager’s main roles are to support the achievement of the regional fundraising goal in close partnership with the local development team by managing a portfolio of relationships that they cultivate and steward effectively, and to support internal development operations. Reporting directly to the Executive Director (ED) in Tulsa, the Development Manager develops and implements the overarching regional development strategy in close partnership with the Executive Director, creatively drives fundraising, and supports all revenue activities. The Development Manager also drives development operations internally for events, donor written communications, and works collaboratively with the Community Engagement Director (CED) to ensure excellent data management and operations. The Development Manager is a highly collaborative, goal-oriented, and driven relationship builder, who is excited by both higher-level strategy and on-the-ground operational work. 

What you’ll do:

Each year, lead and drive the overarching relationship strategy, operational plans and all revenue activities to meet or exceed fundraising goals for the region

• Maintain high renewal rates. 
• Maintain donor relationships and build new ones. 
• Maximize upgrade opportunities of individual and institutional gifts. 
• Deliver on a comprehensive annual development plan. 
• Lead strategy and implementation of all external events, including growing signature fundraising event Books, Brews and BBQ. 

Oversee institutional grants management, writing, and reporting to ensure timely submission and award

• Write and submit all grants for the Tulsa region, ensuring they are compelling and persuasive, and aligned with Reading Partners quality standards. 
• Track deadlines and ensure timely completion of materials to support institutional funding including but not limited to cultivation touch points, proposals, attachments, and reports. 
• Support the Executive Director in relationship development with institutional funders.

Drive regional development operations

• Manage board fundraising and board development/event committee
• Oversee development systems and track progress against goals in Salesforce
• Produce reports and data to drive streamlined communication internally and with board members
• Ensure timely processing of all gifts and donor follow-up (thank you calls, matching gift forms, etc.)

In close collaboration with the external relations team and Executive Director, support all external revenue activities to meet or exceed annual fundraising goals for the entire region

• Serve as an external ambassador as needed.
• Work collaboratively with regional and national departments and staff. 
• Partner with the Executive Director to provide strategic advice and direction to increase individual and institution funding streams and identify prospective government funding opportunities. 
• Deliver on a comprehensive annual development plan for FY22

Other duties as needed. 

How you’ll do it:

Strategic Planning:

• Demonstrate an ability to work collaboratively with the Executive Director to develop strategic fundraising plans, create action steps, and mobilize many stakeholders to achieve fundraising goals. 
• In close collaboration, support the Executive Director to build sustainable plans to maximize market opportunities, meet goals, and significantly grow funding. Execute work in a highly organized, analytical, and data-informed manner.

Operations Management:

• Demonstrate a growing ability to conduct research, to prospect, and to drive ongoing development efforts in rapidly growing organizations particularly in Tulsa
• Lead on a high volume of operational needs for the development department including grant writing, meeting brief creation, donor cultivation tracking, event planning, prospect research, and data aggregation. Manage data entry in Salesforce for 200+ constituents. 
• Demonstrate a strong detail orientation, a strong drive for accuracy, and the ability to manage projects independently, and as part of a team. Execute all work in a highly organized, analytical, and data-driven manner. Demonstrate the ability to prioritize, problem-solve 

New Revenue Generation:

• Demonstrate a proficient ability to conduct research, to prospect, and to drive ongoing external development efforts in rapidly growing organizations particularly in Tulsa. 
• Demonstrate excitement to steward and leverage relationships that result in meeting or exceeding target fundraising goals. 
• Boast an entrepreneurial spirit and actively seek to deepen current donor relationships and forge new ones. 

Leadership:

• Deliver on a high volume of operational needs for the development department including grant writing, meeting brief creation, donor cultivation tracking, event planning, prospect research, and data entry. 

Communication:

• Effectively write high-quality donor communications that demonstrate deep knowledge of our program and promote our mission. Demonstrate the ability to write customized and compelling grant reports, proposals and letters of intent. Through exceptional writing, serve as an ambassador of Reading Partners. 

• Externally, serve as an ambassador of Reading Partners. Quickly establish credibility when promoting Reading Partners to external audiences. Demonstrate a high degree of comfort and poise with donors, corporations, and prospects. 

Relationship Development: 

• Externally, demonstrate experience in external relations and relationships development. Regularly deliver convincing messaging and tailored experiences. Demonstrate a genuine joy in connecting with donors, and all external stakeholders.
• Internally, establish highly collaborative relationships with all team members. Demonstrate a hunger to learn, grow, support, and add great value. Regularly seek to understand all aspects of our model to convey externally.

About you!

You’ll be successful in this role if you:

• You have 2+ years of increasing responsibility in a development or related role 
• Are an exceptional and persuasive communicator in writing and verbally
• Are achievement-oriented and have a demonstrated track record of achieving aggressive fundraising goals
• Hold a Bachelor’s degree and/or equivalent experience 
• Can prove eligibility to work in the U.S. legally
• Boast a deep belief in our mission
• Root your work in our core values
• COVID-19 vaccination is required unless a medical or religious accommodation is requested and approved. Please review our Vaccination Policy.

Bonus Points if you:

• Are an AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or other national service alum/alumna
• Have a high degree of comfort with Salesforce or other fundraising database
• Have experience working in launch or growth phases of organizations
• Experience work in education or literacy

What we offer:

Reading Partners offers the full package – great benefits, a great place to work and the opportunity to have a glowing and growing career. 

• We offer a competitive salary commensurate with experience. This is a full-time, exempt, salaried position. 
• We offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, flex spending accounts, generous paid time off, commuter benefits, an Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and a 403(b) match option.
• We offer an exciting and dynamic culture, and we commit to investing in and supporting our amazing people to grow their careers with us.

The other things you need to know:

• Travel: This position travels regularly/or other amounts throughout Tulsa. This position may also involve occasional travel to Reading Partners’ National Headquarters in Oakland, CA. 
• Typical Physical & Mental Demands: Requires prolonged sitting with some bending, stooping and stretching, and eye-hand coordination and manual dexterity sufficient to operate a keyboard, telephone, photocopier, calculator and other office equipment.  Requires normal range of hearing and eyesight to communicate with volunteers and staff. Also requires flexibility to readily adapt to a changing environment.

What’s Next?

If you’re interested in joining our Reading Partners team, please submit the following application materials to our online job posting:

• A cover letter describing your interest in Reading Partners and how your past experience has prepared you for this role. Please include your salary needs. 
• Resume