Development Specialist

Position Summary

At Campagna Center, our mission is to deliver exceptional educational and social development programs for children, teens, and adults in Alexandria, VA. The Development Specialist plays a vital role in this work by helping us to identify, connect to, secure support from, and nurture relationships with the donors who make it possible. This fundraising job, which includes healthy aspects of marketing and communications, is an opportunity for an early-career nonprofit professional to make a difference in the world.

Growing into their role and working alongside the Chief Development Officer, the Specialist will at first help with, and then often lead, activities ranging from data entry and prospect research to donor engagement, including responding directly to donor requests and soliciting donations. The individual will also actively assist in, and eventually lead, the execution of dynamic, engaging, and well-managed fundraising events, including formal, gala-style events. Marketing related responsibilities will focus on helping to advance our brand, build awareness of Campagna, and establish excellent messaging for both inward-facing and outward-facing communications. Throughout, the Specialist will proactively help to integrate technology and best practices into our systems to create efficiencies, promote positive donor journeys, and keep raising the level of our performance.

Ultimately, the Development Specialist will help us build an even stronger culture of philanthropy within the Campagna community, which will result in more and better resources being delivered to the children and families we serve. A committed, entrepreneurial, and curious individual can make a real impact.

Primary Responsibilities

Donor Stewardship, Acquisition, and Solicitation

• Work with Chief Development Officer to manage donor engagement.
• Help to manage and grow Campagna’s donor portfolio.
• Help to develop and deliver online giving days (e.g., Spring2Action, Giving Tuesday).
• Evaluate donor data and donor prospect information to help shape cultivation and solicitation strategies.
• Manage donor receipting and gift acknowledgement process, working alongside the Senior Database Analyst.
• Pull data reports from the CRM system with assistance from the Senior Database Analyst to inform strategy planning and implementation of key responsibilities.

Events/Marketing to support Fundraising

• Support our fundraising events from start to finish, including managing the calendar of tasks in preparation for events, spearheading day-of activities, establishing processes for check-in and check-out, setting up and cleaning up, staffing & volunteer management, etc.
• Maintain events webpages and payment forms, with assistance from Senior Database Analyst.
• Plan and manage a calendar of electronic correspondence, including social media posts, e-blasts, e-newsletters, and physical mailings that communicate our work to donors and other stakeholders.
• Plan and coordinate media and communications around fundraising events.

General Responsibilities

• Help manage the Campagna Center web presence, e.g. posting and making edits to our website.
• Help to put together monthly e-newsletters and other semi-annual communications and collateral, both digital and physical; manage responses to communications and direct them to other staff members, when appropriate.
• Manage Campagna social media channels and help produce/collect meaningful content by engaging with staff and going on site visits.
• Build donor trust through consistent and meaningful engagement.
• Maintain the privacy and confidentiality of donor transactions.
• Maintain a cordial and professional demeanor with donors, volunteers, and colleagues.
• Ask questions, learn new things, and grow with the department.
• Other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience.
• Some fundraising experience, especially with the role’s primary responsibilities.
• Capacity to think strategically, as well as creatively.
• Ability to create, compose, and edit outstanding written material.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Detail oriented.
• Ability to plan, organize, and coordinate marketing and PR activities and special events.
• Some knowledge of marketing strategies and processes, including use of social media channels.
• Able to support and work with volunteers.
• Able to multi-task and problem solve.
• Able to manage time efficiently.
• Self-starter, capable of working independently and in a team.
• Able to flex schedule, as necessary (some evening and weekends required).
• Ability to work from the Alexandria, VA, headquarters building several days a week.

Physical Requirements

• Able to move boxes weighing up to 30 pounds across office and/or event sites for various needs.
• Able to move about inside and outside the office and event sites.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field, e.g., English, the Humanities/Liberal Arts, Marketing, Communications, etc.
• One-two years of fundraising experience, especially in a nonprofit organization.
• Microsoft Suite, WordPress website, MailChimp or other email platform, basic graphic design, and social media platforms experience.
• Proficiency with Raisers Edge (NXT) or other fundraising databases.
• Demonstrated commitment to advancing educational achievement, lifelong learning, and positive social development for children, teens, and adults.
• Alignment with the organization’s mission, vision, and core values, including a strong commitment to inclusion, equity, compassion, respect, and accountability.

Location:

• Candidate must live within driving distance of our headquarters in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia.