Development Manager (Grants & Institutional Giving focus)

Reporting to: Development & Communications Director

About Craft Alliance Founded in 1964, Craft Alliance is a nonprofit art center with a mission of building community through craft. Located in the Delmar Maker District of St. Louis, Missouri, Craft Alliance currently offers exhibitions, education classes for all skill levels, free community programs, artist residencies, and a gallery shop.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Development Manager is a key storyteller and strategist for Craft Alliance, primarily responsible for securing institutional support through expert grantwriting and relationship management. This role manages the full lifecycle of corporate, foundation, and public grants while assisting the Development & Communications Director in implementing a comprehensive development program.

Working closely with the Executive Director and Board of Directors, the Development Manager ensures that the organization’s mission is compellingly articulated to institutional funders to meet the ambitious goals of the Strategic Plan. While additional duties may be assigned from time to time, the following is a list of the core roles and responsibilities:

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Grantwriting & Institutional Giving (Primary Focus)

* Grant Lifecycle Management: Lead the preparation, writing, and submission of high-quality grant proposals, letters of inquiry (LOIs), and reports for private foundations, corporate giving programs, and public agencies (local, state, and federal).
* Strategy & Research: Proactively identify and research new institutional funding prospects. Maintain an annual grants calendar to ensure 100% on-time submission of proposals and reports.
* Compliance & Reporting: Work with program staff to gather data and narratives for grant reporting; ensure all grant-funded project requirements and recognition credits are met.
* Corporate Partnerships: Solicit corporate prospects for both programmatic grants and event sponsorships, aligning corporate social responsibility goals with Craft Alliance initiatives.
Individual Giving & Stewardship

* Portfolio Management: Manage a portfolio of individual donors ($250–$500 range), focusing on cultivation and retention through personalized communications.
* Data Integrity: Manage assigned donor information in the database, tracking giving history and entering interactions to identify high-value prospects for the “donor journey.”
* Progress Tracking: Prepare monthly institutional giving and individual donor progress reports for the Development Team.

Board & Staff Engagement

* Culture of Philanthropy: Work across departments to translate program needs into fundable opportunities, ensuring an optimal fit between organizational goals and donor interests.
* Collaborative Marketing: Partner with the Marketing Team to integrate development messaging into sponsorship decks and collateral materials.
* Organizational Support: Demonstrate a commitment to teamwork and the Craft Alliance mission, complying with all policies and assisting with special events as required.

REQUIRED SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

* Education: Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
* Experience: 3–5 years of professional experience in nonprofit development, with proven success in grantwriting and institutional fundraising.
* Technical Writing: Exceptional writing skills with the ability to synthesize complex program information into clear, persuasive proposals.
* Strategic Thinking: Ability to analyze donor data and grant trends to forecast revenue and identify growth opportunities.
* Systems Proficiency: Experience with CRM/Donor databases (e.g., DonorView, Bloomerang, Raiser’s Edge), Microsoft Office Suite (strong Excel skills required), and grant research tools, including AI.
* Project Management: Highly organized with the ability to manage multiple deadlines and cross-functional contributions from staff and volunteers.
* Financial Literacy: Familiarity with nonprofit budgeting and a willingness to work with the finance department on grant reconciliation.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

* A sincere passion for the arts and Craft Alliance’s role in the St. Louis community.
* An engaging communication style capable of building rapport with diverse stakeholders.
* Unfailing discretion and ethical judgment when handling sensitive donor information.
* A “best-in-class” approach to detail and excellence.
Status: Exempt/Full-Time

Benefits

Paid Time Off (PTO), health, vision, and dental insurance, discounts on educational classes, workshops, and camps, discounts on purchases in the shop and gallery.

Why Join Craft Alliance?

You will have the unique opportunity to shape the creative landscape of our region. We offer a competitive nonprofit salary, a flexible and creative work environment, and the chance to work alongside a community of passionate makers.

Craft Alliance Craft Alliance is a nonprofit visual arts organization nurturing and inspiring creativity as we educate and enrich our community through contemporary craft. Nationally recognized as one of the premier craft organizations in the country, Craft Alliance is the only organization of its kind in the region solely dedicated to contemporary craft. Craft Alliance offers classes in craft techniques, artist residencies, community programs, exhibitions, and a gallery shop. Craft Alliance has studios for ceramics, metals, blacksmithing, fibers, glass, wood, print and paper arts, and an Artists-in-Residence program.

Craft Alliance is committed to embracing diversity in all its forms, fostering an inclusive work environment where a wide-range of characteristics, backgrounds, and perspectives thrive. We believe that by valuing and leveraging this diversity, we drive innovation, creativity, and the success of our organization. We strive to promote diversity and inclusion on our board, among our staff and volunteers, and in our programming.

Craft Alliance is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Research shows that people from historically excluded communities apply to jobs only when they check every box in the posting. If you’re currently reading this and hesitating to apply for that reason, we encourage you to go for it! Let us know how your lived experience and passion set you apart.

To apply, please send cover letter, resume, and three references (including relationship and contact info – they will not be contacted unless you move forward through the interview process) in a single PDF to Bryan Knicely, Executive Director at bryan.knicely@craftalliance.org with the subject line Development Manager. Your cover letter should outline your skills as they align with this position along with your passion for craft. More information about Craft Alliance may be found at www.craftalliance.org.