Development Specialist

Eugene, Oregon Friends of the Children – Lane County is seeking a Development Specialist who thrives on building long‑term relationships and partnerships. The successful candidate will be a stellar communicator with a sharp head for business, a splash of creative style, and spark thrown in. They will also be self‑motivated, proactive, results driven, and deeply passionate about the mission of Friends – Lane County. The Development Specialist is responsible for partnering with the Executive Director to champion external communications, cultivate stakeholders, and meet annual revenue goals. They also ensure that marketing products and stakeholder events support and sustain the mission of Friends of the Children. Key Responsibilities Create and implement a comprehensive Communications Strategy that guides engagements with donors and stakeholders. Develop and implement strategies to maintain and develop corporate donors to strengthen connections to the organization. Collaborate with the Board of Directors and Executive Director on fundraising activities and campaigns and provide support and resources for Board member development efforts. Develop all external communications to effectively build awareness and promote financial support for the organization. Plan and implement donor engagement events, an annual giving campaign, and major gifts programs. The Ideal Candidate Will Have Passion for Friends – Lane County’s mission and a deep commitment to equity. Excellent organization, time management, delegation, and follow‑up skills. Exceptional attention to detail. Exceptional interpersonal skills. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. What You’ll Experience A collaborative, mission‑driven workplace that respects work‑life balance and offers ongoing professional development. A committed Executive Director who will partner with you on Development activities. An engaged, motivated Board that works hard, gives generously, and raises funds. Strong, cohesive local and national team support committed to innovation and high standards. What We Have To Offer Salary: $55,000 – $85,000 annually based on experience. $55,000 – $65,000 for professionals with less than 5 years of professional communications and/or development experience. Up to $85,000 for professionals who have served as Development Directors or have 5+ years of professional communications and/or development experience. Comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, paid vacation, sick leave, and 401(k). Location: Eugene, Oregon, serving all of Lane County; some evening and non‑traditional hours may be required. Essential Functions And Responsibilities All external communications, including newsletters, social media and direct communications, are consistent with organizational values and promote financial support. Sufficient stakeholder engagement strategies, including events and individual donor strategies, are deployed to sustain financial support. Visual, written, and audio assets are created that enable compelling storytelling without burdening core activities and staff. General Exude a passion for serving youth facing challenging situations. Actively participate in planning, budgeting, and managing growth through philanthropy. Develop and maintain knowledge of local and national issues related to the organization’s mission. Make appointments with the Executive Director and donor prospects, arrange onsite tours. Prepare timely materials for development meetings and conversations. Identify and utilize creative methods for gathering stories and designing materials. Ensure commitment to equity is reflected in all decisions, communications, and processes. Serve as a member of the Crisis Response Team, overseeing secondary response activities in emergencies. Communications and Relationship Building Create a comprehensive Communications Strategy that guides annual donor and stakeholder engagement, including strategies and timelines for newsletters, emails, social media posts, event communications, direct outreach (phone/text/mail) and potentially advertising. Coordinate implementation of the communications strategy with other members of the organization as necessary. Develop, maintain stakeholder contacts and lists to enable effective segmentation of interests and build stakeholder engagement in communications. Segment stakeholder lists into categories based upon strategic outreach desires. Cull donor lists quarterly, such that only people that have engaged in communications in the last 90 days remain on the list. Demonstrate and create processes for showing gratitude in a timely, appropriate, and delightful way. Create and implement strategies to have direct communications with existing, potential and corporate donors to strengthen connections to the organization. Oversee strategy, production, and implementation of newsletters and reports to generate brand awareness and inspire financial support. Oversee all direct mail campaigns and develop mailing lists. Provide leadership for key messaging in alignment with other organizational messaging. Development Participate as a key member of the Board of Directors’ Development Committee. Identify prospects and provide research to support major gift donor relationships. Update and maintain the organization’s Donor Development Tool and Donor Database. Plan and implement at least five successful donor engagement events each year, including at least one large‑scale event. Implement an Annual Giving Campaign at the end of the calendar year. Develop, implement, and sustain major gifts programs and board stewardship programs. Coordinate with the Executive Director and Board on revenue targets and achievements. Identify corporate funding sources; develop and implement a robust corporate cultivation program. Prepare timely materials for development meetings and conversations. Essential Skills And Abilities Exceptional interpersonal skills. Excellent organization, time‑management, delegation, and follow‑up skills. Willingness to attend and actively participate in team meetings, staff functions, and development events. Commitment to extreme attention to detail. Excellent project management and organization to meet deadlines during high‑volume times. Ability to work independently and in a team. Self‑starter with high initiative and willingness to learn. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Ability to design and create strong graphic communications. Required Education, Experience, And Abilities Passion for Friends – Lane County’s mission and a deep commitment to equity. Associate degree required; bachelor’s degree preferred. 3+ years of fundraising experience in a non‑profit setting or 2-3 years of professional experience in sales, marketing and/or comparable experience. Salary consideration up to $85K for professionals with 5+ years experience; starting salary $55,000-$65,000 for those with less experience. Additional Job Requirements Maintain current driver’s license, good driving record, and vehicle insurance. Maintain First Aid/CPR certification. Serve as a member of the Crisis Response Team, overseeing secondary response activities in emergencies. Working Hours This is a full‑time, exempt position. Hours may include late afternoon, evening, and some weekends. Employees will work a schedule that balances role needs and community service. Benefits Generous vacation and sick leave, paid holidays, comprehensive medical benefits, 401(k) retirement plan, ongoing professional development opportunities. Optional plans available at employee expense: supplemental life insurance, flexible spending account, and medical coverage for dependents. Compensation $55,000 – $85,000 annually based on experience. Location Eugene, Oregon. Serving all of Lane County. Equal Opportunity Employment Friends of the Children – Lane County is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to addressing discriminatory practices. The equal employment opportunity policy of Friends of the Children provides fair and equal opportunities for all employees and job applicants. Friends of the Children hires and promotes individuals solely on the basis of their qualifications for the job to be filled. #J-18808-Ljbffr Friends of the Children - Philadelphia