Development Manager at Rafiki Coalition – San Francisco, California

Company Description:

Rafiki Coalition for Health and Wellness is a San Francisco-based nonprofit dedicated to eliminating health inequities and improving the lives of Black, African American, and marginalized communities in the Bay Area. For over 35 years, we have provided a safe, welcoming space where health, healing, and hope come together. We offer a holistic range of services, including free and low-cost health screenings, HIV prevention and care, mental health counseling, housing and economic support, fitness classes, and nutrition programs. Guided by a belief that wellness is more than the absence of illness, we embrace a whole-person approach that honors the cultural, social, and emotional needs of our community.

At Rafiki, we are more than a service provider. We are a trusted partner, advocate, and resource. Our work is rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and a commitment to social justice. Every day, our team stands with our community to dismantle barriers, amplify voices, and create pathways to health and opportunity.

If you're looking to join a mission-driven organization where your work directly empowers individuals and strengthens communities, Rafiki Coalition is the place to make a meaningful impact.

Job Description:

Under the direction of the Director of Development & Communications, the Development Manager helps secure the resources Rafiki Coalition needs to sustain and grow its programs by focusing on foundation grants, corporate giving, and development operations. This role works closely with the Director of Development & Communications (DD&C), Executive Director (ED), and key contractors to build and manage a strong institutional funding pipeline while supporting a small portfolio of major donor relationships. The Development Manager is a hands-on project manager, writer, and relationship-builder who keeps proposals, reports, and sponsorship outreach on track, and who makes sure the ED and DD&C are well prepared for high-value fundraising conversations.

Rafiki is entering an exciting period of growth, including a 40th anniversary campaign, a capital campaign for its building, and an expansion of its development team and private philanthropy strategy. The Development Manager will be a key collaborator in establishing a consistent annual fundraising and stewardship program and in shaping the structure and practices of the development team as it grows.

RESPONSIBILITES

Foundation Grants

• Maintain an annual foundation fundraising plan and pipeline, including targets, deadlines, and ask amounts in collaboration with DD&C and ED.
• Coordinate the full grant lifecycle for private and community foundations (concept notes, LOIs, proposals, reports), working closely with the grants contractor, Finance, and program staff.
• Draft, edit, and package compelling proposals and reports using Rafiki's program data, stories, and budgets; ensure all submissions are complete and on time.
• Build and steward relationships with program officers and foundation staff through regular updates, calls, site visits, and events, in partnership with DD&C and ED.
• Keep accurate grant records in the CRM and shared files, including status, deadlines, award amounts, and reporting requirements.

Corporate Giving & Sponsorships

• Develop and maintain a corporate prospect list (e.g., law firms, health sector partners, local businesses) aligned with Rafiki's mission and audience.
• Create and update sponsorship menus and pitch materials for the annual soiree and other fundraising or visibility events, in partnership with the communications contractor.
• Coordinate outreach to corporate prospects (emails, calls, meetings), organizing who will make each ask (ED, DD&C, board members, or this role).
• Track corporate gifts and sponsorships in the CRM; ensure fulfillment of sponsor benefits (tickets, recognition, logos, program mentions, site visits) in collaboration with the event planner and comms/PR contractor.

Development Operations & Data

• Lead maintenance of accurate, up-to-date records for institutional funders and major donor prospects in Rafiki's CRM, including contact information, activities, and next steps, working closely with the Development Assistant on data entry and list generation.
• Oversee systems for timely acknowledgment letters and emails for grants, sponsorships, and major gifts, ensuring messages reflect Rafiki's voice and values, in collaboration with the Development Assistant who manages day-to-day preparation and mailing.
• Produce simple, regular reports and dashboards on foundation, corporate, and major-gift revenue for ED, DD&C, and Finance (e.g., pipeline status, year-to-date vs. goals).
• Partner with Finance to reconcile development records with accounting, ensuring institutional revenue is coded and tracked correctly.

Executive Director and Leadership Fundraising Support

• Prepare briefing materials for ED and DD&C ahead of key donor/funder meetings (background, giving history, current opportunities, recommended ask, suggested roles for each person).
• Capture and log meeting outcomes and follow-up tasks in the CRM; prompt ED, DD&C, and board members with clear, timely next steps (thank-yous, proposals, additional information).
• Help organize small, strategic cultivation and stewardship touchpoints for institutional funders and major donors (briefings, tours, site visits, intimate events) in partnership with contractors and program staff.

Collaboration & Internal Coordination

• Work closely with program leaders to understand program goals, outcomes, and stories, and translate them into strong cases for support.
• Coordinate with the grants contractor, communications/PR contractor, and event planner to align messaging, timelines, and deliverables across campaigns and events.
• Support DD&C in aligning institutional fundraising with Rafiki's broader development and communications strategy, including major gifts and government contracts.
• Liaise with program staff and key development consultants to facilitate academic and evaluative components of institutional fundraising. This includes report writing, proposal research, and translating community-based programming into funder aligned grant proposals.

Requirements:

QUALIFICATIONS

Experience

• 3-5+ years of nonprofit fundraising experience, with at least 2 years focused on institutional giving (foundations, corporate sponsorships, or both).
• Demonstrated experience writing successful grant proposals and/or sponsorship pitches.
• Experience managing multiple deadlines and projects at once in a fast-paced, community-rooted organization.
• Experience supervising staff, consultants, and/or volunteers.
• Skills and Competencies
• Strong persuasive writing and editing skills, with the ability to translate program work into clear, compelling narratives.
• Comfort managing pipelines, calendars, and details; able to keep many moving parts organized and on time.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with program staff, funders, and partners.
• Familiarity with donor databases/CRMs and basic fundraising reporting.
• High level of discretion and professionalism when handling confidential information.
• Commitment to racial equity, health equity, and Rafiki's mission to support Black and marginalized communities in San Francisco.

Nice-to-Have

• Experience supporting EDs or senior leaders in fundraising (meeting prep, follow-up, briefings).
• Experience with donor-facing events and/or major gift cultivation.
• Experience with academic partnership and research grants, government grants, etc.
• Knowledge of Bay Area philanthropic and corporate landscapes.

Additional Information:

Type: Full-time
Reports to: Director of Development & Communications
FLSA: Exempt

Application Instructions:

Please submit resume and cover letter. Include in the cover letter:

• Why you are interested in this position
• Your experience in fundraising with non-profit health and wellness organizations
• Grant writing experience