Development Manager at Good Work Austin

Job Title: Development Manager

Type of Employment: Exempt, Full-Time, Permanent

Location: Austin, Texas (remote). This role is 100% remote but requires frequent travel to partner meetings and events within Austin, Texas (approx. 1-2 times per week). Evening and/or weekend events may be required.

Application Deadline: September 1, 2025

About Good Work Austin

Good Work Austin (GWA) is the only nonprofit organization in Central Texas dedicated to better jobs and fair treatment for food & beverage workers. Our mission is to foster healthy careers in the local food and beverage industry through professional development and advocacy for more equitable practices. Nearly six years ago, GWA was created by food and beverage business owners and workers who came together to reimagine what stable, dignified employment could look like in an industry long plagued by low wages and limited mobility.

Today, GWA works with some of Austin’s leading chefs and food businesses, strengthening the city’s vibrant food scene while building a more sustainable and equitable industry. Through our Culinary Workforce Training, Community Kitchen, and Healthy Workplaces programs, we create opportunities for workers to learn new skills, for small businesses to thrive, and for the community to benefit from healthier, more just workplaces.

Our organizational culture reflects the values we champion: respect for each person’s lived experience and life outside of work, and a balance of accountability and support. We live by our core values of Collaboration, Community, Integrity, Innovation, and Inclusion, working together with a spirit of creativity and care to create lasting change in Austin’s food and beverage industry.

This position plays a critical role in connecting that community—telling the story of our impact, building relationships with supporters, and fueling the resources that allow GWA to continue shaping the future of Austin’s food and beverage industry.

Purpose of the Position

The Development Manager will be a key member of a small but mighty team (4 FTE employees, 1 PTE employee), driving the growth and sustainability of Good Work Austin. This role blends strategy and creativity—supporting annual development planning, setting and achieving personal fundraising goals, and advancing the organization’s overall development objectives. The Development Manager will cultivate and steward relationships with donors and prospects, clearly and compellingly sharing Good Work Austin’s mission, programs, and impact.

Beyond traditional development work, this role offers the opportunity to work alongside some of Austin’s leading chefs and engage with the city’s vibrant food scene. From planning exciting events like food festivals, concerts, exclusive tastings, and intimate dinners to building meaningful donor relationships that celebrate workers and good food, the Development Manager will help shape how Good Work Austin connects with the community.

This position manages a diverse fundraising portfolio of individuals and corporations, reports directly to the Executive Director, and collaborates closely with the Board of Directors to expand Good Work Austin’s reach and impact.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

Fundraising & Donor Development (50%)

• Build, manage, and actively cultivate a diversified development portfolio of individual and corporate donors.
  
  
• Support cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship efforts to deepen relationships with current supporters and secure new funding opportunities.
  
  
• Partner with the Executive Director and Board of Directors to set annual development goals and strategies.
  
  
• Support and coordinate donor engagement activities—from lively food festivals and concerts to exclusive tastings, intimate dinners, campaigns, and other fundraising initiatives.
  
  
• Lead research to identify prospective donors, creating strategies to engage and move prospects through the development pipeline.
  
  

Relationship Management & Storytelling (30%)

• Articulate Good Work Austin’s mission, vision, and programs in a compelling way to diverse audiences.
  
  
• Develop and implement strategies to strengthen donor and partner relationships, ensuring consistent and meaningful engagement.
  
  
• Create and manage development-related materials, including donor communications, impact stories, campaign collateral, presentations, and proposals.
  
  
• Collaborate with staff to highlight organizational successes and share stories that advance fundraising and marketing goals.
  
  

Data Management, Reporting & Planning (20%)

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor and prospect records within the organization’s CRM, ensuring data integrity and consistency.
  
  
• Track and evaluate fundraising metrics to assess progress toward development goals.
  
  
• Prepare reports for the Executive Director, Board of Directors, and funders as needed.
  
  
• Support the creation and implementation of annual development plans in alignment with organizational strategy.

Required Qualifications

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively in a team environment
• Attention to detail and organizational skills
• Proficient in using technology and working in a remote environment
• 2+ years of experience in nonprofit leadership, fundraising, or programs
• Experience securing grants, major gifts, or sponsorships
• Familiarity with digital tools such as CRMs
• Deep alignment with GWA’s mission

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in event-based fundraising

Compensation & Benefits

• $70,000 Annual Salary
• Retirement Plan with 2% Employer Contribution
• $400 Monthly Health Stipend
• Unlimited PTO and 15 Paid Holidays
• Flexible Schedule and Remote Work Model