The Wayside Inn Foundation seeks to hire a part time, on-site Development Manager to manage the organization’s development and advancement activities to support its preservation and programming efforts. Dating back to 1716 and with over 100 park-like acres and 9 historic buildings, including one of the oldest operating inn in the United States, The Wayside Inn Historic Site has provided warm hospitality to travelers and served as place of meaningful inspiration to writers, poets, photographers, artists, and countless visitors for over 300 years.

The Development Manager will be responsible for all aspects of planning and executing new and existing advancement and fundraising events, efforts, and activities, and for cultivating donor relationships, including with individual and organizational donors and grantors. The role reports directly to the Innkeeper/General Manager, with additional reporting to the Board of Trustees (the “Board”) through its Advancement Committee.

Responsibilities

• Expand relationships with all current donors on a regional and national basis.
• Cultivate relationships with members, volunteers, Board trustees, and community stakeholders to maximize fundraising efforts.
• Work with Board’s Advancement Committee on development goals, plans and execution of fundraising activities, programs, calendar, and events.
• Identify and pursue grant and gift funding opportunities (includes some grant writing).
• Support the Innkeeper/General Manager, Membership Coordinator, and Program Coordinator with visitor and membership related engagements and programs for fundraising goals.
• Monitor, manage, and track fundraising activities, donations, and goals and prepare monthly development reports (includes responsibility for collecting, compiling, integrating, and curating the organization’s donor databases on Excel and PastPerfect).
• Identify development opportunities that will drive fundraising and long-term and sustainable financial growth.
• Work with Board’s committees to identify specific projects for development/donor support and seek and secure support for need-based gifts and long-term development initiatives (“signature events,” capital campaign, special gifts, endowment, etc.).
• Create and manage a development budget and work with Board and staff to track donations to and disbursements from designated development accounts/funds.
• Prepare and manage development messaging and content on website, social media, and collateral.
• Plan, implement and manage annual appeal and special needs-based fundraising appeals.
• Serve on the board’s Advancement Committee and attend quarterly Board meetings as needed.

The position is part-time, for up to 16 hours per week and is an in-person/on-site role, working in The Wayside Inn offices in Sudbury, MA for two (2) fixed days (TBD) a week. Attendance may also be occasionally required outside of normal business hours on an as-needed basis to attend evening/weekend fundraising programs, events or meetings (time to be allocated from the 16 hours/week).

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, History, or a related field.
• Proven (minimum 5 years) experience in fundraising and development roles within the nonprofit sector, preferably with a history or preservation related organization.
• Deep understanding of nonprofit fundraising principles, strategies, and best practices, particularly in the areas of individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and grant writing.
• Demonstrated success in securing major gifts ($10k or greater), grants, and sponsorships from diverse funding sources.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling fundraising appeals, grant proposals, and donor communications to inspire giving.
• Proficient in using donor management software and databases to track donor interactions, contributions, and reporting (PastPerfect).
• Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, projects, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills, with the ability to analyze and present fundraising data, identify trends, and develop data-driven fundraising and donorship strategies.
• Passion for historic building and land preservation.
• Ability to work collaboratively with cross-functional teams and build relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, take initiative, be resourceful, and problem-solve.
• Must be an energetic, positive-thinking, and enthusiastic team player and possess high integrity to appropriately represent the organization.

Compensation: $25-30/hour (no benefits) 

How to Apply: If interested, please forward your resume and cover letter to TWIF@wayside.org.

About This Organization:

The Wayside Inn Foundation is a nonprofit charitable Massachusetts corporation created in 1944 to own, operate, and preserve the Wayside Inn Historic Site, a campus of 9 historic buildings on more than 100 acres. Its mission promotes early American humanities through hospitality, education, and programming, and continues an innkeeping tradition dating back to 1716. The site provides an opportunity for visitors from near and far to gather, engage, and find meaning, relevance, and inspiration through a place-based exploration of history.