Development Manager

Job Description

Job Description Join Iona Senior Services!

Iona Senior Services is seeking a creative, organized, and relationship-focused Development Manager to support fundraising strategy, donor engagement, special events, and public-facing communications.

The Development Manager plays a central role in planning and executing donor cultivation and fundraising events, while also managing strategic donor communications and digital fundraising initiatives. This position works closely with the Chief Development Officer, Development & Communications team, and Volunteer Manager to engage current and prospective donors, increase Iona’s visibility, and strengthen the organization’s donor pipeline.

This is an excellent opportunity for a development professional who enjoys combining fundraising, event management, communications, donor engagement, and project coordination in a mission-driven nonprofit environment.

Key ResponsibilitiesFundraising & Cultivation Event Management

• Serve as the primary manager for Iona’s development-related events, including the Heart of Caring Fundraising Luncheon, Legacy Circle Tea, participant art exhibitions, donor gatherings, and other special events.
• Lead planning and execution of Iona’s annual DC Caregiver Conference, including logistics, corporate sponsorships, and speaker coordination.
• Partner with Development leadership to create event strategies that strengthen donor engagement, stewardship, and pipeline development.
• Develop event materials, including invitations, programs, and run-of-show scripts.
• Coach speakers and storytellers to deliver compelling, mission-driven testimonials.
• Manage event logistics, including vendors, registration, AV, venues, ticketing platforms, invitations, and event set-up and breakdown.
• Recruit and support table hosts, committee members, and volunteers.
• Manage event budgets, vendor contracts, expenses, and financial tracking.
• Represent the Development team at cross-functional meetings and public-facing events.
• Be available for occasional evening and weekend events as needed.

Communications & Digital Fundraising

• Manage Iona’s social media platforms and coordinate cross-platform campaigns.
• Develop digital fundraising campaigns for initiatives such as Iona’s August Day of Giving, GivingTuesday, year-end campaigns, and other fundraising efforts.
• Build and manage donation and campaign landing pages using platforms such as Virtuous, RaiseDonors, and OneCause.
• Develop donor-focused communications, including impact stories, donor spotlights, and stewardship content.
• Partner with the Communications Manager to ensure development communications align with Iona’s overall brand and messaging.

Development Operations & Team Support

• Maintain accurate donor and event information in Iona’s CRM, currently Virtuous.
• Track and analyze fundraising and event metrics to support planning and decision-making.
• Supervise Development and Communications interns or part-time staff as needed.
• Support donor stewardship, database activities, and cross-functional Development projects.

What We’re Looking For

The successful candidate will be an experienced nonprofit development professional who can manage multiple projects while building strong relationships with donors, staff, volunteers, vendors, and community partners.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, event planning, and donor communications.
• Demonstrated success managing events from concept through execution.
• Experience with conference planning and execution.
• Strong organizational and project-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Excellent written, visual, and verbal communication skills.
• Experience with donor management systems such as Virtuous or a similar CRM.
• Familiarity with marketing and fundraising tools such as Canva, Hootsuite, RaiseDonors, or similar platforms.
• Ability to develop engaging digital content and donor communications.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Passion for Iona’s mission and values.

Preferred qualifications include experience working with donor committees, volunteers, and event sponsors, as well as familiarity with accessibility and inclusion best practices in digital communications and events.

Comprehensive Benefits Package

Iona offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account options
• 403(b) Retirement Plan
• Life Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Generous Vacation and Sick Leave
• Paid Holidays

About Iona Senior Services

For 50 years, Iona Senior Services has been a leader in helping older adults and their families navigate the opportunities and challenges of aging in the greater Washington, D.C. area. As a nonprofit organization, we directly support over 4,700+ individuals annually through innovative programs, including adult day health care, active wellness initiatives, support groups, and more. At Iona, we are committed to fostering a warm, inclusive, and collaborative workplace that promotes professional growth and excellence in service.