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Development Associate

Employer
NatureServe
Location
Virginia, United States
Salary
Salary Commensurate with experience
Closing date
May 15, 2021
NatureServe seeks an entrepreneurial, goal-driven, and energetic individual with a commitment to conservation to join their growing development team.  This is an exciting opportunity for an individual interested in learning the ins and outs of nonprofit fundraising by helping to build a development program from the ground up in an established organization.  They will be entrusted to work across the organization and at all levels to execute projects as assigned, while also providing feedback and suggestions to improve organizational efficiency and impact. Location for this role is flexible, but Arlington, Virginia is preferred. 

 

JOB SUMMARY:

The Development Associate (DA) will be an integral member of NatureServe’s development team, which is charged with building a comprehensive fundraising program that advances the organization’s mission and strategic goals.  In addition to managing key development systems and processes, including gift processing, donor database maintenance and meeting preparation, the DA will have the opportunity over time to partner with the Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) to create and implement a segmented annual giving and donor communications plan.  The DA will collaborate with colleagues across the organization, including communications, operations, senior staff, scientists and researchers, to ensure the timely and efficient execution of projects.   

NatureServe offers flexibility in terms of remote work, with the expectation that the DA will travel as needed for staff and donor meetings. 

 

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

Fundraising Operations

  • Manage the gift acknowledgement process, ensuring donation are processed, recorded and receipted in a timely manner.
  • Maintain donor database, including timely and accurate input of donor data; documentation of relevant policies and processes regarding data maintenance; and preparation of fundraising data for analysis, evaluation and presentation to key stakeholders.
  • Collaborate with accounting staff to track and reconcile the development program revenue and expenses, including tracking and reporting on progress toward fundraising goals.
  • Research current and potential donors to evaluate their capacity and inclination.
  • Schedule donor meetings and prepare relevant materials for said meetings, as needed.  
  •  

     Annual Giving & Donor Communications

  • In collaboration with communications team, draft and edit content for solicitations and stewardship materials.
  • Identify audience segments and prepare distribution lists for donor communications vehicles (digital and mail).
  • Create and maintain a donor recognition program focused on retaining and upgrading existing annual giving donors.
  • Partner with communications team to source and prepare impact stories and donor stories from NatureServe colleagues and partners.
  • The essential job functions listed above are not meant to be all-inclusive and may be subject to change at any time.  

     

    QUALIFICATIONS & SKILLS:

  • Bachelor’s degree and one to three years’ experience in nonprofits, fundraising or marketing communications preferred. 
  • Exceptional project management skills, including demonstrated ability to manage complex projects with multiple deadlines and deliverables.
  • Experience coordinating the work of diverse teams.
  • Proven track record of creating and maintaining processes to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Ability to produce tangible results and work under pressure of deadlines and maintain an extremely high level of attention to detail and professionalism.
  • Ability to make decisions, solve problems, and set priorities in the face of multiple tasks and projects. 
  • Ability to work well with a wide variety of people, including organizational leaders, scientists and researchers, Board members and donors.
  •  Excellent writing skills including demonstrated ability to create correspondence and write persuasively with impeccable grammar and proofreading experience. 
  • Exceptional interpersonal communication and organizational skills. 
  • Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and in writing 
  • Experience with database management and/or donor management software preferred. 
  • Demonstrated flexibility, self-awareness, professional integrity and cultural competence - including commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion. 
  •  

    ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS 

  • Ability to travel to meetings independently with partners and clients and carry presentation equipment and documents. 
  • Ability to converse verbally and in writing with others regarding organizational goals and needs. 
  • Ability to use organizational technology and multi-phone systems. 
  • Ability to lift a minimum of 15lbs.  
  •  

    ABOUT NATURESERVE:  

    For nearly 50 years, NatureServe has been the authoritative source for biodiversity data throughout the Western Hemisphere. With an international network of nearly 100 natural heritage programs across the United States, Canada, and Latin America, NatureServe is the leading source of information on rare and endangered species and threatened ecosystems. To protect threatened biodiversity, NatureServe works with over 1,000 conservation scientists to collect, aggregate, and standardize biodiversity statistics, providing comprehensive data to the public for strategic conservation efforts. NatureServe and its network programs develop and manage the most comprehensive data for over 100,000 species and ecosystems, answering fundamental questions about what exists, where it is found, and how it is doing. 

    NatureServe offers full-time employees a comprehensive benefits package that includes:

  • 401K savings and retirement plan with matching contributions
  • Health and dental insurance
  • Short and long-term disability
  • Annual and sick leave
  • Life insurance
  • Telework/Flex work
  •  

    NATURESERVE IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

    m/f/vet/disability

    An equal opportunity, reasonable accommodations employer, NatureServe complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. If you need accommodation in the employment process or this document in an alternative format, please contact our office at 703-908-1840 or info@natureserve.org. We stand in support of equality for and advancement of all people based on their qualifications and actions alone without regard to color, gender, age, religion, national origin, or disability. 

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