Development Manager

The Development Manager plays a central, hands-on role in carrying out the Prison Society’s fundraising and external engagement strategy. Working in close coordination with the Executive Director and colleagues across the organization, this position is responsible for implementing fundraising activities that support individual giving, campaigns, events, foundation and corporate partnerships, and other philanthropic collaborations.

This is a highly collaborative, jack-of-all-trades development role suited to someone who enjoys both relationship-building and detailed execution. The Development Manager supports donor and foundation cultivation and stewardship, engages board members in fundraising efforts, represents the Prison Society in relevant philanthropic spaces, helps strengthen and elevate events, and works closely with the communications team to develop clear, compelling donor-facing materials.

This is a unique opportunity to have a lasting impact on human rights while working alongside a remarkable team that embodies dedication, empathy, and a spirit of collaboration.

Founded by Benjamin Rush and Benjamin Franklin in 1787, the Prison Society is entrusted with protecting the health, safety, and dignity of Pennsylvanians in prison, and with supporting their families while they care for loved ones behind bars.

This statewide organization has a small staff of 21 and a large and growing network of 200+ volunteers. On any given day, you will find the Prison Society inside correctional facilities helping incarcerated people access healthcare, running virtual support groups for moms with incarcerated sons, or on the phones of our helpline fielding hundreds of calls and letters from incarcerated people and their families who are looking for basic information on issues that impact them. You can learn more about these programs on our website.

Says outgoing Development Director Emily Cheramie-Walz, "It’s truly an honor to work on behalf of one of the oldest humanitarian organizations in the country. While it’s difficult and emotional work, it’s made easier because you’re surrounded by the most wonderful, empathetic and supportive coworkers and invested community members."

Over the last four years under the leadership of Emily and Executive Director Claire Shubik-Richards, the Prison Society's budget has tripled from $1 million to $3 million thanks to new government funding sources, major foundation commitments, and an uptick in individual giving. Emily, who has been part-time, has gotten the organization to a place where a full-time director is needed. She is excited to hand-off the reins and get her successor set up for success and, likely, one of the most fulfilling experiences of their career.

This is where you come in!

What You’ll Be Doing

• You bring our annual fundraising plan to life. You manage appeals, campaigns, donor touchpoints, and events from start to finish to make sure every effort is thoughtful, timely, and aligned with our goals.
• You oversee donor stewardship so our donors feel valued. You oversee acknowledgements and stewardship systems, ensuring gratitude is genuine, communications are timely, and relationships continue to grow.
• You are the steady hand behind our grant work. Grants are a team effort here and you keep it all moving. You manage timelines, coordinate responsibilities, research opportunities, and help elevate our collective grantmaking work.
• You keep our donor data accurate, accessible, and useful. You manage gift entry and reporting, oversee weekly acknowledgements, and share donor information across the organization—making sure every gift, pledge, and interaction is recorded with care.
• Support and engage with a truly inspiring board of directors, preparing board materials, keeping the board calendar, taking minutes, planning board events, and generally getting to know and support these diverse, caring, civic leaders.
• You help tell our story in ways that move people to give. In collaboration with our communications team, you prepare cases for support, reports, and outreach materials that clearly connect donors to our mission.

Your Core Competencies

3-5 years of progressive experience in fundraising / development, preferably in non‑profit settings.

You have a track record of carrying out fundraising activities, including experience working on annual giving programs, fundraising and volunteer events, donor databases, and institutional fundraising (grants).

You are a database wizard. You know the ins and outs of how to manage donor data, and you aren't afraid to get in the weeds of a CRM system. You have a curiosity for learning new systems and improving processes.

You masterfully juggle multiple tasks. You prioritize and reprioritize, exhibiting excellent time management and problem-solving skills. You are detail-oriented, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with excellence.

You are a team player. Like a great soccer player, you know when it's your turn to take the ball down the field and when it’s your turn to provide support to another player. You care that the whole team is performing. You value and appreciate being coached as much as you value making your work shine.

You love your to-do list. Keeping track of tasks, deadlines, and projects lights you up - as does crossing stuff off your list. You are not easily overwhelmed but rather always envisioning the future and working to get there.

You are fastidious. You pay attention to detail. Spreadsheets are your jam. You feel a sense of victory when you catch an error. You can't rest until you understand what you're working on and are able to ensure accuracy.

You are approachable, caring, positive, and outgoing. Connecting with the person who donated $10 is as meaningful to you as meeting with the $100,000 donor.

You are a compassionate and effective communicator with the ability to inspire donors and stakeholders around the mission of criminal justice reform.

What You Need to Know

• Location - This is a hybrid position where you will work remotely and in-person out of the Philadelphia office.
• Hours - This position works 40 hours per week, primarily during regular business hours of 9am-5pm.
• Manager - You will report to Claire Shubik-Richards, Executive Director of the Prison Society.
• Travel - You will travel throughout Pennsylvania to meet with various groups—foundations, partners, donors, volunteers from diverse backgrounds, and everyone in between.
• Start date - As soon as possible.
• Salary & benefits - $60,000-$65,000. A flexible spending account, medical, vision, and dental insurance coverage provided.
• Flexible time off - We encourage a healthy work-life balance and do not cap the number of days off our employees can take. In addition, we observe 11 paid holidays.

At the Prison Society, we don’t just accept difference—we celebrate it, we support it, and we thrive on it for the benefit of our staff, our mission, and our community. The Society is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. Individuals directly impacted by the criminal justice system are encouraged to apply.

If the above speaks to you, we’re excited to learn more about you!