Development Specialist

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Specialist will play a key role in advancing the International OCD Foundation’s (IOCDF) long-term goal to significantly grow annual fundraising by helping to further develop and implement individual and mid-level giving strategies. The Development Specialist will have a unique opportunity to design and lead dynamic individual giving initiatives, strengthen donor relations, and help build a sustainable development program for the long term. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with a background in individual giving, strong writing skills, an understanding of fundraising best practices, and a passion for the IOCDF’s mission to support those impacted by OCD and related disorders. This role is well-suited for individuals dedicated to a career in fundraising development, with opportunities for professional growth and advancement.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide support to the Director of Development and the Development Team to meet annual fundraising goals.
• Contribute to year-round engagement, stewardship, and segmented communication strategies to increase donor retention and boost mid-level giving, including grassroots, workplace, and peer-to-peer fundraising, and the annual year-end giving campaign.
• Serve as primary writer and project manager for direct mail appeals and digital fundraising initiatives, including the annual report.
• Collaborate with the community, external vendors, and IOCDF Staff to share impactful stories and develop compelling content.
• Assist in implementing donor journeys to strengthen the donor pipeline.
• Work with the Development Team to regularly update IOCDF web and donation pages, in alignment with current fundraising trends.
• Effectively communicate with donors, responding to inquiries and cultivating relationships to advance them through the pipeline.
• Collaborate with fundraisers, advocates, and affiliates to increase giving and share impactful stories with the IOCDF community.
• Collaborate on content development to share donor impact through website, email, and social media
• Assist with segmenting and managing donor contacts in the database and wealth screening tools, including for mailing lists, maintaining data accuracy and integrity.
• Leverage fundraising systems to track individual giving and generate reports to track progress.
• Contribute to donor-focused event planning as needed.
• Stay informed on philanthropic trends, specifically in grassroots, mid-level, and annual fund giving, to drive innovation in individual giving.
• Collaborate with the Walk Team to grow fundraising and retention for OCD Walks, and assist as needed with related fundraising initiatives.

Qualifications

• A 4-year degree in a related field from an accredited college or university is preferred.
• 2-4 years of experience in a fundraising development or related role.
• Knowledge of nonprofit fundraising practices and ethical standards.
• Track record of success in growing individual giving programs.
• Proficiency with donor CRM, Salesforce NPSP preferred.
• Familiarity with online fundraising platforms, such as GoFundMe Pro (previously known as Classy) and wealth screening software.
• Strong writing skills.
• Basic experience with design tools, with Canva preferred.
• Knowledge of digital marketing for fundraising.
• Strong project management skills, with a demonstrated ability to multitask, meet deadlines, and solve problems effectively.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, with a collaborative, team-oriented mindset.

Travel & Schedule

• Travel is required for the Annual OCD Conference, typically held each July.
• This is a full-time, Boston-based position with a hybrid schedule of three days per week in the office.