Development Specialist

About the Institute Founded in 2014 by former U.S. Senator Olympia Snowe, the mission of the Olympia Snowe Women’s Leadership Institute is to raise the confidence and aspirations of high school girls by helping them develop the skills needed to lead in their lives, families, careers, and communities. Through a three-year, evidence-based program, the Institute partners with 37 high schools and more than 220 volunteers to serve more than 600 Olympia’s Leaders annually, with nearly 1,200 alums to date. The Institute’s programming, for Olympia’s Leaders and alums, is not revenue‑generating. Therefore, the organization relies 100% on charitable donations to keep the program free to its participants and partner schools. Position Summary Reporting to the Development Director, the Development Specialist plays an integral role in supporting the Institute’s fundraising, donor engagement, and long‑term sustainability goals. The Specialist supports strategy implementation by maintaining accurate donor and prospect data, coordinating grant proposals and reports, conducting prospect research, supporting donor and committee follow‑up, and helping ensure that development activities are timely, organized, and aligned with annual fundraising priorities. With the Institute’s programming offered at no cost to Olympia’s Leaders, alums, and partner schools, the Development team is responsible for securing the philanthropic investment needed to sustain and grow the organization’s impact. The Specialist helps strengthen this work by supporting individual, corporate, and foundation giving; contributing to stewardship and cultivation efforts; and ensuring that donor communications are grounded in meaningful stories, clear data, and the Institute’s mission. This role collaborates closely with colleagues across Programs, Alum Relations, and Stakeholder Engagement to support development mailings, mission‑centered events, donor recognition, grant reporting, and the emerging Legacy Giving Society. Key Responsibilities Development Operations & Donor Data Support the Development Director in implementing annual development plans to help meet operating revenue goals and keep the program free for participants and partner schools. Maintain accurate donor, prospect, pledge, and action records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, including data entry, report generation, tracking, and constituent recordkeeping. Support the preparation of tailored presentations and materials for prospective donors, including companies, foundations, chambers of commerce, Rotary groups, and other community partners. Coordinate annual appeal processing, including gift tracking, donor acknowledgments, database updates, and related follow‑up to support timely stewardship. Grant Management & Prospect Research Maintain the grants calendar and support timely completion of corporate and foundation proposals, reports, renewals, and related submission materials. In partnership with the Development Director, draft grant proposals and reports that communicate the Institute’s impact through clear outcomes, program data, and mission‑centered stories. Conduct prospect research to help identify corporate partners, foundations, and other funders whose giving priorities align with the Institute’s mission and strategic goals. Committee & Donor Stewardship Support Support the Development Director and committee chairs by coordinating Development Committee meetings, attending meetings, drafting minutes, and tracking follow‑up actions. Create, tailor, and update donor‑facing materials that support presentations, cultivation conversations, stewardship follow‑up, and prospective donor engagement. Attend donor and prospective donor meetings with the Development Director, committee members, or other Institute leaders, as needed, and help coordinate timely follow‑up. Coordinate donor recognition across social media, the Institute’s website, and other stewardship channels. Support additional development priorities, stewardship activities, and cross‑functional projects as requested by the Development Director or Institute leadership. Development Events & Cross‑Department Collaboration Support coordination between Development and Stakeholder Engagement by sharing development plans, event strategies, guest priorities, and stewardship goals for Institute events. Coordinate guest and invitee lists for development‑related events, maintain related records in Raiser’s Edge NXT, and collaborate with colleagues to support accurate event mailings and registration. Support development‑related preparation and follow‑up for the Annual Reception, Leadership Luncheon, regional gatherings, networking events, and other donor or stakeholder engagement opportunities. Coordinate volunteer engagement with corporate partners in advance of flagship events like Year‑End Celebrations, the Annual Reception, and Leadership Luncheon. Contribute to Institute events and significant initiatives that require cross‑department collaboration, team coordination, and mission‑aligned donor or stakeholder engagement. Qualifications Required Qualifications Education: BA/BS required Experience: At least two years of experience in development, donor relations, grant writing, nonprofit advancement, database management, or comparable roles Technical skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint); experience with Raiser’s Edge NXT or similar Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software; comfort using donor databases, spreadsheets, and basic presentation tools Travel: With notice, willing to engage in limited, in‑state travel by car Physical: This role requires sitting, standing, walking, lifting, carrying, reaching, pushing, and pulling Preferred Qualifications A belief in and commitment to the Institute’s mission Strong written and oral communication skills, with attention to detail and the ability to proofread donor‑facing materials A willingness to support relationship‑building with donors, corporate partners, foundations, committee members, volunteers, and other Institute stakeholders Familiarity with Maine communities, companies, philanthropic networks, or nonprofit partners Comfort supporting storytelling, stewardship, and mission‑centered communications that demonstrate donor impact Personal qualities of integrity, credibility, flexibility, adaptability, collaboration, and dedication to supporting high‑quality development operations aligned with the Institute’s brand Additional Information This position is based in Portland, Maine. The Institute offers an industry‑competitive benefits package that includes health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k)-retirement plan, disability insurance, paid time off, and 12 holidays when the office is closed. The salary range starts at $53,000 annually and is commensurate with experience. The successful candidate must complete a background check at the time of hire and at least every three years thereafter. Interested candidates are asked to submit a letter of interest and résumé on or before July 31, 2026, to View email address on click.appcast.io. The Institute is an equal opportunity employer and is open to all candidates who meet the criteria outlined in the job description. The Institute embraces diversity and is committed to creating and sustaining an inclusive workplace for all team members. #J-18808-Ljbffr Maine Tasting Center