City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue (CDCK)

CDCK is seeking a Development Manager. The Development Manager’s role is to be the fundraising leader and to publicize CDCK’s lifesaving work through traditional marketing channels. This is a leadership position that reports directly to the Executive Director. 

Do you love animals and the people who love them? Are you self-motivated? Do you enjoy building relationships? This is your opportunity to join a fun, dynamic, fast -growing nonprofit organization and make a huge difference in the lives of homeless and at-risk pets.

We have high expectations and are committed to hiring a performance-minded individual who has a track record of success. Our field is a fast-paced, stressful, high-stakes industry. The successful candidate will thrive in an environment of uncertainty and ambiguity, rising to the challenges inherent in an emotionally charged industry. 

The Development Manager is responsible for all aspects of the organization’s fundraising plan with emphasis on identifying and strengthening relationships with community stakeholders, donors, volunteers, local businesses, and other supporters; actively pursuing and managing corporate leads; and increasing revenue through soliciting, cultivating, stewarding and retaining donors. This position oversees annual campaigns, and is an expert at social media engagement, marketing and event management.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a comprehensive development and marketing plan to

achieve specific goals. The plan will include a substantial focus on social media but will also include local press and conventional media (TV, radio, print media). Marketing focus will include, but not be limited to: promotion of adoptable animals, fundraising for veterinary care, adoption events, foster recruitment, volunteer recruitment and numerous other needs. 

• Establish fundraising calendar, goals, budgets, timelines, and procedures. Monitor progress toward goals and adjust to achieve them. 

• Create marketing collateral and a proactive online presence. Write and produce marketing materials as needed to support the fundraising plan.

• Function as a member of CDCK’s leadership team, which includes attending weekly staff meetings. 

• Establish and maintain consistently high standards for quality of work. 

• Create and maintain strong internal communications. Maintain ongoing communications with the Executive Director and other staff and volunteers to ensure consistent messaging, maximize the impact of campaigns, and gather content/stories to tell the story of the organization’s work.

• Keep up with emerging best practices and significant developments and trends within the field of media, marketing, fundraising, and animal welfare. 

• Be an ambassador for CDCK’s mission by supporting our efforts to establish and maintain extraordinary relationships with donors.

• Identify, solicit, cultivate, and steward donors and prospects including major donors, corporations, sponsors, and foundations through communication. 

• Construct and implement a development plan with specific timeline and dollar goals. Plan to include quarterly fundraising actions and targets, monthly donor email updates, weekly contribution acknowledgements, annual grants, sustained online giving program, donor recognition program (working with the rescue administrator to develop & execute donor stewardship best practices), planned giving program, event and in-rescue sponsorships, fundraising events and annual development budget.

• Donor Data Management – Oversee the implementation, collection, organization and maintenance of the Charity Proud donor database (working with the rescue administrator).

• Assist/perform other duties as needed. 

• Have the capacity and desire to work with volunteers, creating and recruiting teams to assist in getting the tasks completed.

Qualifications 

• Experience in the field of fundraising, annual campaigns, marketing, social media and traditional media relations.

• Bachelor’s Degree is the minimum educational requirement but may be substituted with relevant experience. Two to three years’ experience in nonprofit development/fundraising, sales, community outreach, special events and project management experience. 

• Proficiency with Google Office Suite, Microsoft Windows, and Office (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel). Comfortable learning and using new programs and information systems. 

• Proficiency with Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and other social media platforms, as well as the social media scheduler Later. 

• Knowledge of fundraising platform Charity Proud and email platform Constant Contact is a plus.

• Knowledge of Canva or other basic graphic design software is a plus.

• Ability to work with numerous team leaders and volunteers in a collaborative manner to achieve goals. 

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills (written and verbal)—personable, professional, and able to get along well with a variety of people. 

• Strong leadership skills. 

• Maturity, good judgment; performs duties in a professional manner. 

• Ability to stay calm in stressful situations. 

• Self-starter, takes initiative, ability to set goals and work independently.

• Ability to be flexible and adapt to a changing environment. 

• Ability to consistently meet deadlines. 

• Comfortable speaking/presenting to groups. 

• Commitment to CDCK’s mission and strong desire to keep abreast of animal welfare issues.

• Detailed-oriented, can effectively oversee a wide array of tasks, projects, and responsibilities.

• Operates with a sense of urgency driven by a recognition that we are in a lifesaving business.

Nature of Employment

• Part-time or Full-time (possibly exempt) position that reports to the Executive Director and requires 30 to 40 hours per week. 

• Work schedules (hours and days of the week) may vary according to the needs of the organization, which may occasionally include evenings and/or weekends. 

• The position is fully remote.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees, but are not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel. Nothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

There is no minimum period of employment guaranteed or implied by acceptance of an employment offer. It is the policy of CDCK that employment for this position is at will, which means that employment is for no specified term and the employee or CDCK may terminate that employment at any time without cause.

Compensation

• Part-time or Full-time (possibly exempt). 

• The starting salary range is $35,000 to $55,000 and is dependent upon experience and the work schedule offered. 

• Benefits include up to three weeks of paid time off (for vacation, sickness, and personal time), health benefits, 403b participation, and other benefits are negotiable.

How to Apply 

Email a one-page cover letter and resume to: CDCK Search Committee c/o Ray Gonzales of City Dogs & City Kitties Rescue at ray@citydogsrescuedc.org. Acknowledgement will be emailed upon receipt of your cover letter and resume.

About CDCK

CDCK is a non-profit organization founded in 2011. We have provided care for over 10,000 dogs and cats in need. Our goal is to provide a lifeline to as many dogs and cats in need as possible. CDCK is and plans to remain a foster-based organization even with the recent opening of the new operations and intake center. The new facility is in the Logan Circle neighborhood in Northwest DC, easy walking distance to the Metro and residential neighborhoods. 

CDCK does not and shall not discriminate based on race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, military status, or any other characteristic prohibited by law, in any of its activities or operations. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, volunteers, vendors, and clients. 

To learn more about our organization, visit www.citydogsrescuedc.org.