Development Manager

Development Manager

Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum Milwaukee, WI

Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum is seeking a motivated Development Manager to lead and execute the organization's fundraising, donor relations, community engagement, and grant initiatives. This role plays a key part in supporting the cemetery's long-term sustainability and promoting it as a welcoming environment for both the living and as a final resting place.

The ideal candidate is passionate about relationship building, a strong communicator, and able to work independently while collaborating effectively with a small team. As the Development Manager, you will be directly responsible for implementing development and outreach strategies on behalf of the Forest Home Historic Preservation Association, a 501(c)(3) organization.

The Development Manager will drive the cemetery's fundraising initiatives, focusing on growing the donor base, strengthening supporter relationships, facilitating the grant submission process, and maximizing annual campaigns. This role includes leading signature fundraising events that attract thousands of visitors each year and implementing strategies to boost donor engagement and outreach.

Key Responsibilities :

• Lead Fundraising Efforts : Manage and expand individual giving, corporate sponsorships, and community partnerships to grow unrestricted and project-based revenue.
• Cultivate Donor Relationships : Develop and maintain strong, lasting relationships with current and prospective supporters, ensuring consistent engagement and stewardship.
• Grant Strategy & Management : Identify private and public grant opportunities, craft compelling proposals, and oversee submissions and reporting to maximize funding.
• Lead Special Events : Collaborate on events that engage thousands of visitors annually, enhancing community participation, donor experiences, and increasing fundraising opportunities.
• Communications & Marketing Collaboration : Drive strategic messaging, social media, and marketing initiatives to advance visibility and engagement.
• Data & Reporting Oversight : Track giving, sponsorships, and campaign metrics; provide actionable insights to leadership and the board.

Qualifications :

About Forest Home Cemetery

Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum exists to serve the community as a place of dignity and celebration for the departed. As the city's oldest operating cemetery, we proudly serve as a caretaker for Milwaukee history, architecture, and nature. It's also a place for you, the living, to experience history, nature, and life in a new and powerful way.

Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum performs hundreds of burials per year and has interment space available over the next 100 years. Modeled after the garden-style cemeteries of the Victorian era, Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum is filled with dramatic natural landscapes, curved roadways, artful plantings, and opulent monuments. It was designed as a rural retreat for urban dwellers to reconnect with the beauty and healing qualities of nature.

About Forest Home Historic Preservation Association

The FHHPA exists to support the environmental, educational, and historic preservation efforts of Milwaukee's oldest operating cemetery, Forest Home Cemetery & Arboretum. We believe in sharing our abundant natural resources with our community while educating residents about their city's rich, diverse history. As a national historic site with an internationally accredited arboretum, we seek to preserve this special place to benefit the living and the surrounding community. Through public engagement, we foster support to preserve and enhance the monuments, buildings, and grounds for future generations.