Wabanaki Community Foundation

POSITION TITLE: Development Manager
‍REPORTS TO: Executive Director
‍TYPE: Full-Time, Exempt

The Wabanaki Community Foundation’s (WCF) mission is to honor our ancestors’ dream of health and prosperity for our people by fostering our collective traditions of respectful relationships and giving. We seek to build and steward sustainable financial resources that advance the priorities of Wabanaki communities. Rooted in collaboration, trust, and responsible stewardship, we work alongside community members and organizations to support self-determination, cultural vitality, and long-term wellbeing. Together, we are laying the foundation for thriving communities now and for future generations.

‍Position Summary
‍The Development Manager supports the growth and sustainability of the Wabanaki Community Foundation by helping to attract and engage donors in alignment with WCF’s mission, values, and community-centered approach. This is a dynamic role suited for a relationship-oriented, highly organized, and thoughtful fundraiser who is energized by working in a developing organization where priorities, potential, and innovation continue to evolve. As an early-stage foundation, this role involves building systems while actively using them and includes both strategic fundraising work and hands-on, detail-oriented tasks such as data entry. The Development Manager will work closely with the Executive Director and Board to ensure fundraising systems, relationships, and storytelling grow alongside the Foundation.

‍Responsibilities:

Fund Development
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• Build and maintain authentic relationships with donors, partners, and supporters.
• Conduct prospective donor and grant research; develop proposals.
• Support partnership opportunities as they emerge, with an emphasis on alignment and shared values.
• Participate in donor cultivation, solicitations, and stewardship.
• Assist with creating fundraising materials, narratives, and impact summaries grounded in Wabanaki values, culture, and community priorities.
• Collaborate on donor communications, cultivation, “asks”, acknowledgements, and stewardship.

Events, Convenings & Community Engagement
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• Support the planning, publicizing, and execution of fundraising events, donor gatherings, and community convenings.
• Provide logistical support for events, including coordination with venues, vendors, volunteers, and partners.
• Assist with follow-up, documentation, and relationship-building after events.

Campaign & Organizational Support
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• Establish and refine CRM and financial reporting, workflows, and tools appropriate to WCF’s needs.
• Input data in a timely manner and maintain systematic tracking and reporting with organized records of donations, grants, and associated deadlines and communications.
• Provide support to board members and volunteers, enabling them to effectively carry out their fundraising roles.
• Assist with management and active use of website, social media, and other communication channels.
• Carry out other development, communications and community engagement duties as assigned, recognizing the evolving nature of a growing foundation.

‍qualifications & experience:

Successful candidates will bring many of the following skills, experience, and attributes to the position, as well as the aptitude and enthusiasm to learn and further develop areas for growth.
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• Experience working in or alongside Wabanaki, Indigenous, and community-based organizations.
• Demonstrated commitment to community-centered, mission-driven work.
• Strong data entry and reporting, written and verbal communication skills.
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and follow-through. Experience in project management is a plus.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating closely with staff, board members and volunteers.
• Respect for confidentiality and relational trust.
• Experience with direct fundraising, grant writing, events, and donor relations preferred.
• Comfort working in a growing organization where roles and systems are still being shaped.
• Familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, GivingData, or similar) is a plus.
• Demonstrates a growth mindset, with a strong desire to learn, improve, and take on new challenges.

Education & Experience
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• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent lived/professional experience.
• 2+ years of experience in fundraising, nonprofit development, relationship management, event coordination, or related fields preferred.

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‍Compensation: This is a salaried position with compensation up to $70,000 annually, commensurate with experience. Benefits include medical insurance with a health stipend, an IRA retirement plan with up to 3% employer matching, paid holidays, vacation, transportation reimbursement, and personal days.

‍Work Environment & Schedule: This is a remote, work-from-home position. The Development Manager must reside within a reasonable proximity of the Wabanaki Communities in what is now known as Maine — Houlton Band of Maliseet, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe (Sipayik & Motahkomikuk), Penobscot Nation — to be able to easily travel among these communities and throughout the area. Travel to national meetings and events as needed. Occasional evening and weekend availability may be necessary to support meetings and events; flexibility is essential.

Commitment to Equity
We encourage applicants from all cultures, races, colors, religions, sexes, national or regional origins, ages, disability status, sexual orientation, gender identity, military, protected veteran status or other status protected by law, and to maintain a non-discriminatory environment free from intimidation, harassment or bias based upon these grounds.

If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please send a note to WCF_Careers@wabanakifoundation.org to discuss how we can meet your needs to apply for this position.

To Apply: Please submit your resume and cover letter expressing your interest and qualifications for the position to WCF_Careers@wabanakifoundation.org. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis; we encourage you to apply as soon as possible!