Philanthropy Manager

At Aspire Living \& Learning, we don't just talk about making an impact, we live it. For more than 40 years, we've supported neurodiverse children and adults across New England and Maryland as they discover their passions, unlock their potential, and live more independently in their communities. Our person\-centered services evolve with people's needs, from education and behavioral health to residential and community\-based supports. We empower people to live lives shaped by their own interests, choices, and strengths. Join our collaborative, mission\-driven team and bring your skills to work that makes a real difference every day.

Aspire Living \& Learning is currently seeking a Philanthropy Manager who will lead the launch of Aspire's community\-centered, relationship\-based fundraising strategy to grow revenue, deepen partnerships, and increase visibility in support of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Reporting to and supported by the Associate Vice President of Growth \& Advancement, this role will focus on building philanthropic relationships with participating families, area businesses, and civic groups; securing support from diverse sources; and coordinating local engagement efforts.

The Philanthropy Manager will be an entrepreneurial, results\-driven professional with strong communication skills, a collaborative spirit, and a successful track record across fundraising strategies such as individual giving, events, and corporate partnerships. Supported by central philanthropy and marketing teams, the Philanthropy Manager will work closely with program, school, and finance teams to develop fundable opportunities and report on outcomes, helping advance Aspire's impact in the region.

Key Responsibilities:

Fundraising \& Community Engagement

• Collaborate with the Associate Vice President of Growth \& Advancement to design a comprehensive fundraising strategy to expand, engage and activate our community of supporters.
• Lead implementation of individual giving, corporate support, and community engagement initiatives, generating revenue through direct response campaigns, in\-person/virtual solicitations and written proposals.
• Cultivate strong relationships with participating families, funders, and stakeholders through personalized outreach and stewardship, fulfilling donor interest and encouraging retention and increased engagement.
• Identify and engage local and regional businesses through opportunities such as sponsorships, cause\-marketing, employee volunteerism, and workplace giving.
• Plan and execute small\-scale fundraising events and mission\-centered cultivation events.
• Contribute to organization\-wide fundraising initiatives, including major gift pipeline development, foundation/planned giving prospect identification and list building.
• Ensure consistent, values\-aligned stewardship for supporter segments.
• Collaborate with Senior Leadership to identify funding opportunities aligned with organizational priorities and gather information needed to demonstrate donor impact.
• Represent Aspire at relevant regional events to increase visibility and build community Effectively communicate our overall mission, programs and priorities.
• Partner with Marketing to develop mission\-driven content and capture localized impact stories.
• Maintain accurate donor records and capture contact activities in the database. Provide backup gift entry and acknowledgement as needed.
• Track and report on fundraising performance using data to guide strategy and forecast opportunities.
• Contribute to annual budgeting and help establish annual and multi\-year revenue and engagement goals.

Workplace Culture \& Team Engagement

• Partner with the Associate Vice President of Growth \& Advancement, senior directors and state leadership teams to encourage a culture of philanthropy at Aspire.
• Cultivate a positive and productive workplace atmosphere to enhance team morale and productivity.
• Participate in and complete training sessions as delegated by management to enhance skills and knowledge relevant to the role.
• Conduct training as required and assigned.
• Perform any additional job responsibilities assigned by supervisors or team leaders to support the organization's smooth operation.
• Accept reassignment as required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 4 years of nonprofit fundraising experience.
• Proven success meeting fundraising targets and cultivating donor relationships.
• Strong understanding of fundraising best practices and stewardship strategies.
• Experience planning and executing donor\-focused and/or community events.
• Proficient using donor databases.
• Full proficiency with Microsoft Office programs.
• Familiarity with the philanthropic landscapes in our footprint preferred.
• Working knowledge of digital fundraising tools and email marketing platforms is a plus.
• Must have satisfactory background checks.
• Valid driver's license and safe driving record.

Skills \& Abilities:

• Self\-motivated, organized, and flexible; comfortable working independently in a startup\-like environment.
• Ability to deliver excellent customer service to internal and external stakeholders.
• Effective communicator with strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong project management and time management abilities.
• Commitment to the highest levels of ethical fundraising.

Working Conditions:

• This position operates in a typical professional office environment, and requires constant use of a computer and other standard office equipment such as phones, printers, audio/visual equipment, etc.
• The person in this position frequently communicates with external and internal stakeholders in writing, in person, on video calls and over the phone, and must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.
• Occasional day and/or overnight travel may be required for site visits or professional development opportunities.
• Infrequent night, weekend or holiday work may be required to meet operational needs.
• Lift/carry up to 10 pounds; speaking; standing; sitting for long periods of time; reaching; bending; walking; reaching with arms and hands, balancing; using fingers to handle or feel. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
• These physical and mental demands are representative of the physical and mental requirements necessary for an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of the position. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable qualified people with disabilities to perform the described essential functions of this position.

Employees at Aspire enjoy working with a collaborative and dedicated team that values a culture of belonging and care. We take pride in offering a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, including:

* Comprehensive Health, Dental, \& Vision Insurance \- Choose from multiple medical plans, with vision coverage included at no extra cost.

* Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Saving Account (HSA) options \- Use pre\-tax dollars for medical and dependent care expenses.

* Lifestyle Spending Accounts with JOON \- Monthly funds for wellness, fitness, commuting, childcare, pet care, and more.

* 403(b) Retirement Plan with Employer Match \- A 100% match on contributions up to 2% of your salary.

* Generous Paid Time Off \- Paid sick, personal, and vacation days, plus holidays.

* Professional Growth Opportunities \- Access to training, leadership and management courses, mentorship, and career advancement.

* Employer\-Paid Life \& Disability Insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Telehealth Services and more!

If you want to join us in making a difference and positively impact the lives of others while charting your own path of development, then we at the Aspire team would love to hear from you.

*From $*

Aspire Living \& Learning believes it must play an active role in creating a community of employees that is diverse, inclusive and equitable. Our work benefits greatly from the contributions of people of color, people from working class backgrounds, women, LGBTQ people, and individuals with disabilities. Hence, we strongly encourage applications from people with these identities or who are members of other marginalized communities.