Director of Development

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts

Job Description

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to empowering urban youth through athletics, academics, and employment opportunities. We use martial arts as a vehicle to create positive, supportive relationships with our students, as well as teach key values such as persistence and determination. As the Development & Grants Manager, you will oversee grant management, support fundraising and development initiatives, and manage key administrative functions to ensure the organization’s success. This is a full-time position.


Position Summary
Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is seeking an eager, flexible, and highly motivated individual to help take a burgeoning organization to the next level. The Director of Development is a senior leadership role responsible for designing, leading, and executing Level Ground’s fundraising, development, and external engagement strategy. This role oversees grant and foundation funding, fundraising events, digital marketing, and public-facing efforts that raise awareness and financial support for the organization. The ideal candidate is a strategic thinker, strong communicator, and relationship-builder who thrives in a mission-driven environment. In addition to reporting to our Executive Director, you will work closely with a passionate and committed Board of Directors. It is imperative to regularly engage with our Program Staff and youth to ensure that fundraising efforts are aligned with the culture of our organization, and that messaging accurately represents our work and the youth that we serve.


Roles and Responsibilities
Development Management
  • Lead and execute Level Ground’s overall fundraising and development strategy, with a strong emphasis on long-term sustainability and growth
  • Support and help shape long-term fundraising initiatives, including a potential capital campaign
  • Support the development strategy and fundraising plan by defining objectives, setting targets, and creating tools to track progress and performance
  • Help steward existing donor relationships and support cultivation of new donor prospects
  • Coordinate donor and prospect correspondence, including customized cultivation materials (mailings, supplemental thank-you letters, reports, etc.)
  • Support the Administrative Coordinator in enhancing and maintaining the donor database, and provide oversight of donation processing, acknowledgment, and reporting
  • Support major fundraising efforts from start to finish, including annual appeals and special campaigns
  • Coordinate closely with Program Staff and youth to ensure data, storytelling, and messaging meaningfully and authentically represent Level Ground’s work and the young people we serve
Grants Management
  • Steward and strengthen current foundation relationships while identifying and securing new public and private funding sources
  • Broaden Level Ground’s corporate fundraising partnerships
  • Oversee all grant efforts, including partnership with Level Ground’s grants consulting firm, strategy, compliance, and research, writing, and submission as needed
  • Write and submit grant reports

Events & Special Campaigns
  • Plan, manage, and execute special events and fundraising initiatives
  • Oversee event logistics, budgets, timelines, and post-event follow-up
  • Identify opportunities for new fundraising events and donor engagement experiences

Marketing, Social Media & Awareness
  • Develop and grow Level Ground’s social media presence and digital platforms
  • Create or oversee content that tells compelling stories about Level Ground’s mission, impact, and programs
  • Ensure consistent branding, messaging, and tone across all public-facing channels

Public Relations & Networking
  • Raise awareness of Level Ground through networking, partnerships, and community engagement
  • Represent Level Ground at events, meetings, and public forums
    Build relationships with community leaders, organizations, and potential collaborators
  • Support media outreach, speaking opportunities, and other PR efforts

Financial Management & Compliance
  • Assist in the development and monitoring of annual budgets to ensure alignment with organizational priorities and strategic goals
  • Collaborate with the accountant to prepare monthly and quarterly financial statements
  • Work with the external auditor to facilitate annual audits
  • Monitor grant and funding allocations to ensure accurate documentation, reporting, and compliance with funder requirements


Organizational Compliance
  • Help maintain all essential organizational documents, including bylaws, policies, and operational records that relate to development and grants management
  • Provide support to ensure all necessary licences and insurance policies remain current and in compliance with legal requirements

Leadership & Board Support
  • Assist in strategic planning efforts by gathering data and supporting leadership decision-making
  • Provide development and financial updates to the Board of Directors, working in close partnership with the Board’s Development Chair and Treasurer



Qualifications and Skills
Level Ground is seeking an enthusiastic, adaptable, and skilled new member of our team! 

Required Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
  • 3-5 years of experience in research, grant writing, development, or educational equivalent
  • Excellent organizational and management skills, with ability to oversee multiple projects simultaneously
  • Exceptional interpersonal, oral, and written communication, including excellent writing and editing ability
  • Knowledge of and experience building strong relationships with Boston’s nonprofit, philanthropy, and social enterprise sectors.
  • Proficient computer skills, including Word, Excel, and Powerpoint, knowledge of customer relations software
  • Ability to develop and administer budgets
  • Experience with youth development programs, including leveraging qualitative and quantitative data for grant-writing purposes
  • Values youth athletics as a pathway and powerful driver of successful outcomes for youth
  • Values honesty, integrity, and empathy as the fabric of all successful social ventures and lives that value
  • Values youth development beyond traditional educational pipelines [i.e. alternatives to four-year college]
  • Values building and maintaining relationships with urban youth and youths of color
  • Enthusiasm and current practice in sports, athletics and/or fitness
  • Passionate, committed, flexible, adaptive, and fun to be around

Additional Preferred Qualifications
  • Prior experience working or volunteering with a youth serving nonprofit
  • Working knowledge of how to leverage social media to increase a nonprofit organization's visibility and enhance its profile
  • Experience working in multiracial, multicultural organizations
  • Has deep understanding of the communities of Roxbury, Dorchester, and Mattapan through firsthand experience [lives or has previous work experience in the community]
  • Experience in practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu, boxing, kickboxing, yoga, or other forms of martial arts


Salary and Benefits
The Director of Development role is a full-time position, with a competitive salary based on experience and annual bonus based on performance. Benefits include health insurance reimbursement of up to federally-allowable threshold under QSEHRA guidelines, employer-sponsored 401(k) with 4% match, professional development fund, 21 days of paid time off (PTO) annually, and unlimited sick days.

Level Ground Mixed Martial Arts is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks a diverse pool of qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, age, disability, or Vietnam era, or other eligible veteran status, or any other protected factor.