Job Description
Development Manager
Department: Administration and Engagement
Job Status: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Supervisor: Director of Advancement
Salary: $68,000-$70,000
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, some evenings and weekends
Primary Office: Charlottesville, VA
Work Location: Hybrid
The Women’s Initiative
The Women’s Initiative (TWI) provides vital mental health services to women and members of the gender-expansive community free of charge. Our services are based on the Resilience Model of Care, which is a holistic, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to mental health services. We deliver compassionate high-quality counseling, social support, and education programs that serve thousands of people in Charlottesville and surrounding areas annually. TWI partners with a variety of nonprofit organizations such as the Shelter for Help in Emergency, Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital, the Free Clinic, the International Rescue Committee, and many others to provide collaborative care and services.
What We Do
The Women’s Initiative provides free trauma-informed, culturally responsive counseling services and resilience programs that meet the unique needs of women, and Black, BIPOC, Latiné, and LGBTQ+ communities. We develop partnerships with organizations to increase access to mental health services for all people in our community with barriers to care.
Mission
The mission of The Women’s Initiative is to provide women with effective counseling, social support, and education so they can transform challenges into positive change and growth.
Vision
All people in our community will have access to innovative, effective, evidence-based mental health care.
Values
We believe everyone has a capacity for healing. We are committed to identifying and supporting each person’s needs and strengths and providing compassionate care that maintains the highest standards of excellence in an environment that is welcoming, safe, and supportive.
Location
Our main office is located at 1101 East High St., and our satellite office is in the Sentara Outreach Clinic at 920 E High St.
Benefits
We offer competitive salaries and benefits packages for part- and full-time employees including substantial paid time off, self-care hours, professional development, supervision, and peer support.
Job Summary
The Women’s Initiative (TWI) values team resilience, morale, and performance, and credits our success to the individual efforts of our dedicated staff to execute our organizational goals. The Development Manager plays a key role in sustaining and growing The Women’s Initiative’s philanthropic revenue, with primary responsibility for grant writing and coordination, corporate sponsorships, and development operations. This role maintains a robust institutional funding portfolio, oversees clean and effective development systems, and strengthens relationships with corporate and foundation partners. The ideal candidate is a strong writer, systems thinker, and relationship-builder who thrives in a mission-driven, collaborative environment.
Cultural Humility Statement
Cultural humility works to address the assumptions and biases that lead to health disparities and inequity. The Women’s Initiative defines cultural humility as an ongoing process of critical self reflection, recognizing and mitigating power imbalances, and holding ourselves accountable at the institutional level. It is an integral component of our mission, vital to fostering resilience and building authentic and healing relationships with clients, community members, and our colleagues. Our staff members participate in learning opportunities to deepen our awareness of ways we can contribute to a more just workplace and community.
Outreach and Events
All staff are required to attend certain events including community outreach, fundraising, professional development, retreats, and other activities as needed.
Compensation and Benefits
The salary that will be offered for this position will be based on the candidate’s number of years of experience with directly related responsibilities, related education and certifications, and highly beneficial skills and talents relevant to the role.
This is a full-time exempt position. A full benefits package is offered including health insurance, 160 hours paid time off, up to $1,000 of professional development funds annually, and retirement Simple IRA including an employer match up to 3% after one year.
Equal Opportunity Employer
The Women’s Initiative is committed to providing a non-discriminatory and inclusive environment for its employees. We actively promote diversity and consider all applicants for all positions without regard to color, ethnic background, religion, sex, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, and disability status. The Women’s Initiative is a trauma-informed and culturally responsive organization that promotes a healthy work-life balance for all staff.
For more information about The Women’s Initiative, please visit www.thewomensinitiative.org.
To Apply
Send resume and cover letter to:
Susan Osmanzada, HR and Admin Manager
hr@thewomensinitiative.org
Please indicate “Development Manager Application” in the email subject line
Job Duties
Grant Writing & Grants Management (45%)
o Research, write, and submit compelling grant proposals, , government applications, and funder reports.
o Manage a detailed grants calendar, ensuring timely submissions and proactive coordination with internal teams.
o Track deliverables, reporting requirements, budgets, and program outcomes.
o Collaborate with program and finance teams to gather data, stories, and impact metrics.
o Cultivate relationships with foundation staff and institutional funders.
Corporate Sponsorships & Partnerships (20%)
o Manage an established portfolio of corporate sponsors and partners, ensuring excellent stewardship and fulfillment of sponsor benefits.
o Develop sponsorship materials and pitch decks tailored to corporate interests and TWI priorities.
o Identify and cultivate new corporate prospects for events, programs, and mission-driven partnerships.
o Coordinate sponsor recognition, onsite visibility, deliverables, and communication, working closely with events and communications staff.
o Represent TWI at corporate outreach meetings, community events, and partner engagements.
Development Operations & Systems (30%)
o Manage the donor database to ensure accurate gift entry, acknowledgments, and reporting.
o Maintain clean data and efficient workflows for gift processing, segmentation, and stewardship.
o Produce development reports, dashboards, and analysis to inform strategic decisions.
o Partner with finance staff to reconcile gifts and maintain accurate revenue records.
o Support direct mail, annual appeals, and digital fundraising operations.
o Ensure compliance with fundraising standards, donor privacy, and internal policies.
Additional Development Support (5%)
o Assist with donor communications, impact stories, and stewardship materials.
o Support fundraising and friend-raising events as needed.
o Serve as an ambassador for The Women’s Initiative in the community.
Additional Essential Functions
• Contribute to a workplace culture that empowers and supports staff members and centers individual and collective wellness.
• All staff are required to attend specific events including community outreach, fundraising, professional development, and retreats or other activities as assigned.
• Attend meetings.
• Requires prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Requires consistent in-person work during regular work hours on a schedule approved by the supervisor and occasional in-person work on evenings and weekends as needed for major programs and events.
• Requires frequent travel between the agency’s offices and occasional travel throughout the agency’s service area.
• Must maintain a valid driver’s license and arrange your own transportation.
• Lifting and carrying boxes and other items of up to 15 pounds at times.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.
Skills Required
Required Skills and Qualifications
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 2–4+ years in grant writing, development operations, corporate relations, or nonprofit fundraising.
• Exceptional writing, editing, and storytelling skills.
• Strong organizational and project management abilities; comfort managing multiple deadlines.
• Experience with donor databases and development systems.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Commitment to The Women’s Initiative’s mission, values, and equity-centered practices
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience managing corporate sponsorships or institutional giving portfolios.
• Familiarity with government grants and post-award management.
• Experience with mental health, social services, or trauma-informed organizations.
• Proficiency with Bloomerang or similar CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system.
• General proficiency in reviewing and interpreting budgets and financial documents.
Work Schedule
FLSA Status: Exempt
Work Schedule: Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, some evenings and weekends
Primary Office: Charlottesville, VA
- Work Location: Hybrid