Development Manager

Full Spectrum Features NFP seeks a full-time Development Manager who is passionate about racial/gender justice and the power of cinema and storytelling to effect social change. Our development program is largely grants-driven and the Development Manager will be responsible for managing our grants calendar, researching new funding opportunities, developing grant proposals, filing grant reports and supporting donor stewardship. While we expect grants to remain a significant share of our revenue, we are also building sustainability through an individual giving program and mission- and program-related investments from foundations. This role will also provide support for these efforts by crafting messages and positioning for proposals and annual appeals.

A successful Development Manager will be proactive, able to meticulously track and meet deadlines, and communicate effectively. The ideal candidate will have exceptional writing and proofreading abilities, proficiency with office management technologies, and strong analytical and research skills.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years of experience in grant writing for nonprofits, preferably in the arts, and should have a demonstrated track record of securing funding from a wide range of sources. We are aiming to invest in a long-term hire, with an opportunity to grow into a Director-level position through our unique “Flight Plan” framework for professional development. For candidates with significant experience, we will also consider a Senior Development Manager title at the higher end of the pay scale.

Experience in the film industry is not necessary nor expected.


RESPONSIBILITIES:

  • Serve as the primary manager of all aspects of grant proposals including research, assembling information, articulating objectives/outcomes/deliverables, building timelines, assessing staffing and resource needs, budgets, standards of performance, and evaluation.

  • Oversee the creation and/or solicitation of materials necessary for grant proposals, in collaboration with development and program staff colleagues —e.g., letters of commitment from partners, contractor bids, vendor quotes, budgets, financial reports, etc.

  • Determine proposal concepts for grant and MRI/PRI requests by identifying and clarifying opportunities and needs, studying RFPs, and attending all relevant internal program and strategy meetings.

  • Attend external events, conferences, workshops, etc. to learn more about the philanthropic landscape and build strategic relationships.

  • With organizational leadership, research new funding opportunities and occasionally accompany our Co-Executive Directors in meetings with funders.

  • Meet grant deadlines by establishing priorities and internal target dates for research, writing, review, approval, and transmittal.

  • Write and file interim and final reports for all active grants.

  • Coordinate with external partners (including both organizations and artists) and contribute grant updates to all relevant meetings.

  • Maintain FSF’s internal funder tracking system (currently utilizing Notion while exploring a CRM) throughout the fiscal year and carefully track records of grant agreements and other obligations to donors and supporters.

  • Lead the planning and development of an annual individual giving appeals (in collaboration with our communications department) from concept to writing to acknowledgement.

  • Collaborate with other staff and board members to execute periodic donor cultivation and stewardship events.

  • Manage one direct report and support their growth and development at Full Spectrum Features (Development Associate, a new position to be hired in summer 2024).


QUALIFICATIONS: The ideal candidate will be organized, prompt, professional, eager to learn, and have exceptional writing and communication skills.

  • 3+ years of grant writing with a proven track record of successfully cultivating and stewarding relationships in a fast-paced environment

  • Exceptional written and verbal communication skills

  • High proficiency with technical documentation and other skills necessary for the creation of strong grant proposals

  • Field vision — i.e., the ability to understand larger cultural, economic, political, and social forces impacting the arts sector and our communities at large

  • Familiarity with Google Workspace (online calendars, cloud systems, Drive, etc.)

  • Experience exercising discretion and confidentiality with sensitive information

  • Excellent organizational skills with an ability to think proactively and prioritize work


PERSONAL QUALITIES: The following qualities are important for success as an employee at FSF:

  • Compassion - equity requires caring about people

  • Growth mindset - the ability to allow new, relevant information to shift or entirely change your opinion about something

  • Agility - the ability to pivot and respond to real-time changes and developments

  • Vulnerability - showing up as your “whole self” builds long-lasting, earnest relationships that are developed through trust

  • Radical honesty - the confidence to speak truthfully and boldly, regardless of audience

  • Curiosity & Humility - the drive to learn more (curiosity), and the ability to recognize when you do not know the extent of what you do not know (humility)

  • Field Vision - the ability to see how the work you do connects to larger systems and processes beyond yourself and your immediate work.

  • Root Cause Analysis - the ability to dig beneath the surface of day-to-day and programmatic work and uncover hard truths about underlying causes


COMPENSATION: $65,000 - $75,000 (annual salary, full-time W-2 employment, approx. 40 hours/week)


BENEFITS:

  • Employer-subsidized health insurance for employee-only (65% subsidy)

  • Employer-subsidized dental insurance (65% subsidy)

  • Employer-subsidized vision insurance (65% subsidy)

  • 401k with an automatic 3% match from company beginning 3 months after start date, regardless of Employee contribution

  • Access to Dependent Care and Health Savings Accounts

  • Generous sick, vacation, and PTO policy


JOB LOCATION:

Full-time staff roles at Full Spectrum are typically hybrid: 40% in-person, 40% remote, 20% flex. In seeking the right candidate for this role, we are open to fully remote or hybrid candidates. Remote candidates must be willing and able to travel to Chicago or film festivals/conferences up to four trips/year. Full Spectrum Features has Chicago offices in Lincoln Park and North Lawndale, with most hybrid, Chicago-based staff working three days per week in-office.


TO APPLY: Please upload your resume, two professional writing samples (ideally grant or development samples), a short cover letter here, and two references here: FSF Job Application


If you have questions about this position, please contact Jason Matsumoto - jason@fullspectrumfeatures.com.