Development Operations Manager

Organizational Overview

The Sentencing Project advocates for effective and humane responses to crime that minimize imprisonment and criminalization of youth and adults by promoting racial, ethnic, economic, and gender justice. The Sentencing Project engages in research and advocacy on sentencing and related issues, advocates for criminal justice policy and practice reform, and conducts broad-scale public education through media, online, and other communications. Information about The Sentencing Project is available at www.sentencingproject.org.

Job Description and Responsibilities

The Development Operations Manager is the project manager and systems anchor of our fundraising team. This role manages external consultants, maintains donor pipelines, tracks grants, and runs compliance workflows to translate strategic plans into daily execution. We are seeking a highly autonomous, solutions-oriented professional who communicates with compassion and clarity both in writing and verbally.

This position will play a key role in strengthening and scaling The Sentencing Project’s fundraising infrastructure and will have opportunities to contribute to departmental growth. The Development Operations Manager is supervised by the Development Director.

Essential Job Functions

External Consultant & Project Management

Coordinate consultant and vendor workflows to keep all projects on schedule.
Own the campaign calendar, track production timelines, and proactively resolve bottlenecks.
Review deliverables for accuracy and brand alignment prior to leadership approval.

Pipeline Tracking, Dashboards & Database Coordination

Utilize database tools and dashboards to proactively flag upcoming donor stewardship milestones.
Meticulously track donor touchpoints, update pipelines, and log relationship milestones.
Identify giving capacity, alignment, and strategic entry points for individual and institutional prospects.
Update donor profiles and notes, collaborating with the external consultant who manages data architecture.

Grants Lifecycle Management

Maintain the master grants calendar, tracking all proposal deadlines, reporting dates, and compliance requirements.
Assemble and coordinate timely submissions of grant applications, gathering necessary narratives and attachments from stakeholders.

Campaign Support & Deliverables

Coordinate direct mail, digital appeals, and annual giving campaigns alongside external consultants.
Draft donor communications, impact updates, and briefings; execute the Stewardship Matrix for timely donor acknowledgments.

Operational, Compliance & Administrative Support

Manage the state charity registration and renewal process.
Establish and maintain streamlined administrative processes to maximize team productivity and reduce operational friction.
Resolve daily operational challenges independently, using strong judgment to present viable solutions when escalation is required.

Qualifications & Cultural Fit

3 to 5+ years of experience in nonprofit development, project management, or operations. Strong familiarity with fundraising cycles is preferred.
Proven ability to manage complex workloads independently without close supervision.
A passion for ending mass incarceration and advancing criminal and racial justice reform.
A curious, adaptable mindset with a drive to stay updated on fundraising operational best practices.
Exceptional communication skills with the ability to collaborate effectively and kindly with colleagues, donors, and external consultants.

Commitment and Compensation

The salary for this position is from $75,000 to $86,500. The Sentencing Project offers an excellent benefits package, including four weeks paid vacation; accrued sick leave; parental leave; 100% employer-paid health, dental, life and disability insurance for employees (dependents covered at 65%); a flexible spending account; both a discretionary and a matching contribution to a 403(b) retirement plan; annual professional development stipend, and transportation benefits.

The position is full-time and based in Washington, DC; remote candidates will be considered but not preferred. Current office policy allows for hybrid work, with at least two days each week in person.

Application Procedure

Please submit your resume or CV, an original cover letter that articulates how your qualifications relate to this position, and a short writing sample to employment@sentencingproject.org by July 31, 2026.

The Sentencing Project is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to cultural diversity and ensures that Applicants have equal opportunity for recruitment and selection without regard to their race, color, religion, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, prior convictions, or status as a protected veteran.

We strongly encourage applicants with direct personal or familial experience with the criminal legal system. This position is not subject to a background check.

If there are any parts of the application requirements that you cannot fill out, please let us know and we will do our best to accommodate you.

Please note: We value human communication and prefer not to receive AI-drafted applications. While we believe AI can be a helpful tool, in these circumstances we want to know the real you. Thanks for your understanding.