Development Manager

Development Manager

Escuela del Sol Montessori, Albuquerque, NM

Status: Part-Time, 20-29 hours per week

About Our Organization

Escuela del Sol Montessori (Escuela) is the first fully accredited Montessori school in New Mexico, with approximately 170 enrolled students from toddler through Jr. High. In addition to the Montessori school, the Escuela organization also runs Harwood Art Center, a public art center rooted in the belief that art builds and sustains community. 

As we enter an important phase of strategic growth, we are seeking an experienced Development Manager to strengthen the school’s development infrastructure and advance our long-term fundraising goals.

Position Overview

The Development Manager position is a hands-on professional role responsible for managing and growing Escuela del Sol’s established development programs while helping to identify and cultivate new opportunities — particularly in alumni engagement and individual giving.

This role works closely with the Executive Director, Head of School, Board of Trustees, and parent volunteers. The position requires regular in-person donor contact on campus, strong writing skills, and proficiency using a CRM to manage monthly donor communications, gift tracking, events, and revenue reporting.

Key Responsibilities

Fundraising Programs & Strategy

• Manage and grow Escuela’s current fundraising programs, including:
• Escuela Fund (annual fund campaign, fall/holiday timing)
• Alumni Impact Awards (annual alumni event)
• Auction benefit event
• Major gifts relationships
• Foundation and government grants for special projects
• Planned giving program (Sunflower Circle)
• Collaborate with the Executive Director, Head of School, and Board to align fundraising efforts with organizational priorities and set strategic goals.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen donor pipelines and increase participation and gift size over time.

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Build and steward relationships with individual donors through personalized outreach and meaningful engagement, through both written communications and in person.
• Lead the production of the Annual Community Report and the Escuela Fund Campaign. Create other regular donor communications, appeals, acknowledgements, and impact reports.
• Prepare briefings for Executive Director and Trustees as needed, plus major gifts materials.
• Maintain a donor-centered approach that reflects collaborative Montessori values and long-term relationship building.

Events & Community Engagement

• Support the planning and execution of key development-related events, including donor gatherings, community celebrations, and special events that advance fundraising and relationship-building.

Data & Systems Management

• Manage donor records using the school’s CRM database (Bloomerang), ensuring accurate data, gift tracking, acknowledgements, and reporting.
• Use CRM for donor segmentation, communications, event management, and analysis.

Board & Leadership Support

• Work closely with the Board’s development committee to support fundraising and provide needed data, materials, and strategic recommendations.
• Participate in relevant leadership meetings to ensure alignment across teams, including with the Harwood Art Center’s development staff.

Key Deliverables

• Escuela Fund Campaign plan and materials
• Annual Community Report
• Development-related event plans and post-event follow-up materials
• Alumni engagement and communications framework
• Monthly donor impact email communications (spring through fall)
• Funding proposals and reports
• Updates to planned giving materials
• Bloomerang database record updates
• Quarterly development reporting
• Recommendations for long-term development strategy and infrastructure

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years of direct nonprofit fundraising experience, including any combination of annual fund, major gifts, foundation, and/or government relations work with goal responsibility
• Demonstrated experience with in-person donor cultivation and stewardship
• Strong writing and editing skills for donor-facing and institutional communications
• Comfort and proficiency using a CRM for donor communications, gift tracking, reporting, and event management (Bloomerang or similar)
• Experience managing multiple fundraising programs simultaneously
• Ability to collaborate effectively with senior leadership, faculty, board members, and volunteers
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to work independently with strong follow-through

To apply, please submit a cover letter and résumé or CV to executivedirector@edelsol.org. We may request up to three professional references from candidates who move forward in the hiring process.

Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality and professional discretion, including the ability to appropriately handle sensitive information related to students, families, and all donor information. Must adhere to student privacy laws and Escuela del Sol’s staff and faculty codes of conduct.