Manager, Individual Giving

Common Sense Media is the leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the research-backed information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the age of apps, algorithms, and AI. We rate, educate, and advocate for policies to protect and prepare kids online. Our ratings, research, and resources reach more than 150 million users globally, over 1.4 million educators, and more than 100,000 schools worldwide every year. Learn more at commonsense.org.

The Opportunity

The Manager of Individual Giving will build and manage relationships with donors to support Common Sense Media's fundraising efforts. This role is critical to sustaining a robust $5M+ annual individual giving team revenue stream, focusing on connecting and increasing donor engagement across all levels, partnering with major gift officers, and growing the current portfolio of high-potential mid-level donors at the $1K–$10K level. This position will sit on the individual giving team and work in close collaboration with the development operations team.

Location: San Francisco, California

Reports to: Senior Development Director, Bay Area Region

Salary: $85,600–$101,650

Type: Full-time, exempt

What You'll Do

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy Development

• Inform individual giving strategy discussions and contribute insights to shape long-term fundraising strategies.
• Partner with the Individual Giving team to create connected donor journeys and engagement plans across giving levels to drive overall donor acquisition, retention, and upgrades.
• Receive strategic input from cross-functional partners, including Programs, Research, and Advocacy, to strengthen campaign messages, cases for support, and impact storytelling.
• Collaborate with regional leads to develop and manage strategies for key donor relationships.
• Align with the Marketing and Advocacy teams to create strategies and pathways to identify and cultivate mid-level and major donor prospects from the membership program and the advocacy community.

Donor Partnerships and Fundraising

• Own mid-level pipeline for <$10,000 gifts focused on acquisition, retention, and upgrades. The primary focus will be on mid-level gifts of $1,000 to $10,000, while also partnering with Development Operations and Communications on annual fund engagement.
• Implement direct mail and online campaigns.
• Partner with the stewardship manager to ensure effective communications with donors and prospects.
• Draft gift opportunities and campaigns: liaise with the Program, Marketing, and Communications teams to draft compelling campaigns and giving opportunities for various donor audiences and segments.

Other Responsibilities:

• Support regional frontline fundraisers with advisory council management, aligning engagement across core regions (San Francisco, Silicon Valley, New York, and L.A.) as well as emerging markets. This may include scheduling speakers, preparing materials, and supporting meeting facilitation.
• Organize and manage cultivation activities across regions, including donor briefings, house parties, and small events, with a particular focus on strategic follow-up.
• Support individual and corporate donor prospecting through research and in-person engagement opportunities.
• Occasional travel for regional council meetings and donor engagement events.

What We're Looking For

• A bachelor's degree and 4+ years of experience in a nonprofit setting, with experience in managing strong individual giving programs.
• Demonstrated ability to cultivate and close gifts in the $1,000–$10,000 range.
• Exceptional writing and communication skills, with strong interpersonal, presentation, and public speaking abilities.
• Demonstrated success in impact storytelling, fundraising strategy, and project management, with the ability to craft compelling, impact-driven donor communications.
• Proven ability to proactively cultivate donors and steward strong, long-term relationships.
• Knowledge of current trends in philanthropy and in Common Sense Media's focus areas (education, research, and advocacy), with fluency in the evolving tech and AI landscape.
• Collaborative leader with experience managing cross-functional initiatives and working effectively across teams.
• Highly self-motivated, resourceful, and comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment.
• Proficient in Google Workspace and experienced with databases and CRM platforms, preferably Salesforce.

What We Offer

• The chance to work with talented, passionate professionals.
• A great health and welfare benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and a matching 401(k).
• An organization that offers work/life balance.
• The opportunity to secure the resources needed to reach millions of families, shape policy at the highest levels, and fundamentally change how kids experience technology. This is fundraising with purpose and impact at scale.

Common Sense Media provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified individuals and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other protected classification or characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Common Sense Media will also consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records. However, job offers are made on the condition that the applicant subsequently passes a criminal background check. If the background check indicates a prior criminal conviction, we will conduct an individualized assessment to determine whether the conviction should result in denial of employment. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider employment for qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.