Development Officer

The Development Officer is responsible for oversight, proactive planning, and successful execution of a comprehensive fundraising and development plan to position Special Kids for future success, growth, and sustainability in coordination with the Executive Director and Board of Directors. The Development Officer performs a key role in ensuring the organization fulfills its mission, a value-based organization culture, promotes a culture of giving and accomplishment of its financial goals. The Development Officer oversees the development of support materials in the areas of marketing, communications, and public relations staff, and coordinates strategic and tactical functions with other areas of the organization.

Full-time, 32 hours per week (M-Th), benefits, holidays and paid time off.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned.  

• Lead evaluation of Key Performance Indicators and fundraising trends, resulting in informed data driven, and investor centric strategies.
• Collaborate with the team in the creation, implementation, review and revision of the annual development and fundraising plan.
• Ensure attainment of department financial results by monitoring forecasted revenue and budget.
• Design strategies and tactics for growth, increased revenue and investor longevity and retention.
• Attends meetings and conferences and participates in other activities to promote professional growth.

Development and Philanthropic Communications: Develop a development focused communications strategy integrating growing the awareness of Special Kids, the impact of support and role in the communities we serve. Coordinate with marketing in the implementation of these communications through social media, e-news blasts, direct mail, and other avenues.

• Manage donor communications for high level strategic fundraising opportunities for major gifts, endowment and legacy giving.
• Create approaches consistent with the investor stewardship plan and aligned with communication strategies to communicate with all levels of donors, sponsors, vendors, in-kind donors, and volunteers.
• Encourage consistent follow up and asking donors, sponsors, and volunteers to contribute more than one time annually and convert donors to monthly donors.
• Consistently communicate fundraising goals to the team and empower team members to participate in attainment of those goals.

Annual Planning: Coordinates and implements the annual grant and funders application and reporting plans with leadership staff for funding support of Special Kids programs and services.

• Identifies and researches potential corporate and foundation sources of funding that meet the funder priorities and the needs of Special Kids.
• Develops annual requests with Special Kids organization wide to determine funding needs on an annual basis and quarterly basis or as needed.
• Collaboratively, writes, edits, proofreads, and obtains organization approval for grant and funding applications prior to submittal.

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and/or Experience                                                                                                                                                                   

Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in Business, Marketing, Mass Communication, or other related field and 3-5 years related experience and/or training in not-for-profit fundraising. A minimum of 2 years leadership experience required and experience within a not-for-profit setting preferred. Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) preferred.

Computer Skills To be successful in this job, an individual should have basic computer skills, including strong proficiency with Microsoft Excel and Word, with the ability to learn new software and web-based applications.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations                                                                                                                                               

Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) preferred. CPR certification recommended.

Additional Qualifications

• Compassion 
• Willingness
• Courage 
• Faith