Development Specialist

𝐎𝐑𝐆𝐀𝐍𝐈𝐙𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖

Educare DC serves over 350 children from birth to five years – and their families – through our state-of-the-art center and through community partnerships. Building on the program foundations of Early Head Start and Head Start and accredited by NAEYC, Educare DC promotes school readiness by providing high-quality, comprehensive early learning programming for children who are historically underserved due to systemic racism, eliminating the opportunity gap often experienced by low-income communities. Educare DC is part of the 25-school Educare Learning Network that serves as a platform for broader change, inspiring high-quality programs in communities, improving public policies nationally and within each state, and demonstrating a comprehensive, research-based approach to the first five years of life and learning. Educare DC draws on a blend of private and public dollars, including federal childcare funding, Early Head Start, Pre-K, and other state and federal funding streams.

𝐏𝐎𝐒𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘

The Development Specialist will provide general administrative support to Educare DC's development department. This position supports the department goal of raising over $2.4 million each year in private funds. The Development Specialist is responsible for accurately recording all donations, supporting timely and accurate donor communications and outreach, assisting with prospect research, and maintaining the confidentiality of all donor information.

𝐋𝐎𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍

This is an on-site position based at Educare DC’s Parkside location.

𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐇𝐈𝐏

The Development Specialist reports to the Senior Director of Development.

𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐍𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒

𝑭𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈:

• Work closely with the Senior Director of Development to execute a comprehensive fundraising strategy in order to achieve annual fundraising goals.
• Support the outreach of the Senior Director of Development to individual major donors, foundations and corporations with prospect research, data entry into the database, and related administrative tasks.
• Support community level fundraising with local groups and collaborate with the Development team on all United Way and Combined Federal Campaign programs.
• Participate in charity events and other relevant fundraising events, as assigned by the Senior Director of Development.
• Support the production and implementation of year-end solicitation campaigns and annual fund stewardship activities, including creating materials, pulling send lists, mail merges, and communicating with vendors for the printing and sending of materials.
• Accurately record all gifts and pledges into the CRM database and provide tax acknowledgement letters to donors in a timely fashion, in coordination with the Development Team and Finance Team.
• Assist in sending pledge reminders and acknowledgments to donors.
• Assist in providing weekly reporting on donor/fundraising information as requested by management.
• Maintain and update donor records in the CRM database, ensuring a consistent high degree of accuracy for donor data including data entry, tracking and coding systems.
• Assist the Development team with creating new records for donors in the CRM database, entering notes for donors and attaching appropriate documentation to donor records (i.e. – award letters).
• Assist with CRM queries as needed (i.e. – looking up donor records, checking giving history, etc.).

𝑨𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆:

• Assist in the creation of materials and correspondence to support fundraising and stewardship activities, including appeal letters and emails, donor stewardship pieces, impact reports, acknowledgement letters, event invites, and email campaigns, working with external graphic designer as needed.
• Maintain Educare DC donor swag inventory and support with donor appreciation initiatives.
• Support stewardship efforts by assisting the department with gathering stakeholder testimonials.
• Support the Development team with the Grant Process (i.e. – drafting Grant Cover Sheets, emailing relevant departments, etc.), as needed.
• Other relevant duties as assigned.
• Assists in production and distribution of mailings and reports.

𝑬𝒗𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒔 & 𝑴𝒆𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔:

• Support fundraising and donor engagement events, by assisting with logistics, including the invitation and RSVP processes.
• Coordinate volunteer opportunities with existing corporate partners who are current donors. Coordinate additional volunteer opportunities, as assigned.
• Assist with meetings and tours, including scheduling support, room reservation and setup, assembling donor packets and donor swag bags.

𝐄𝐗𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐀𝐁𝐈𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐄𝐒

• A minimum of one year experience in fundraising, preferably with a proven success in fundraising efforts.
• Highly organized with remarkable attention to detail.
• Ability to efficiently prioritize, manage projects, and meet deadlines.
• Motivated self-starter, with creative problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• A commitment to continuous learning.
• Exercise discretion and maintain confidentiality in all aspects of donor, volunteer, staff, and organization information.
• Significant proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• Proficiency with fundraising databases (Bloomerang) and design tools (Canva, Adobe Suite) a plus.
• High commitment to data integrity.
• Ability to work independently with little supervision.

𝐄𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

• Bachelor's degree in a related field with one year of relevant fundraising experience.

𝐀𝐃𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐑𝐄𝐐𝐔𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐒

• Clearance of background checks as required by local, state, and federal regulations.
• Annual physical exam, drug screen and TB tests, and Covid-19 vaccination are required as a condition of continual employment as required by Educare DC, state, and federal regulations.

𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐋 𝐉𝐎𝐁 𝐅𝐔𝐍𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒

• Advanced command of the English language and grammar, both verbal and written.
• Experience working successfully with a culturally diverse staff and clients.
• Regular attendance is a necessary and essential function.
• Ability to work flexible hours as needed (i.e – to attend community meetings, conferences or events) favored

𝐓𝐎 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘

Interested candidates can apply via the Careers page on the Educare DC website. - https://www.educaredc.org/about/careers/

• LEARN & GROW: Educare DC offers professional development opportunities for all employees through personalized coaching and mentorship, dedicated professional development days, workshops, seminars and conferences. The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) reimburses staff for eligible classes related to their job.

• HEALTH & WELLNESS: Educare DC offers a competitive benefits package that includes medical, dental and vision insurance, paid time off, 8 weeks of paid parental leave for eligible staff, and more. We also support the mental health and wellness of our staff through a partnership with the Wellbeing in School Environments (WISE) Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital. Through this partnership we provide staff with wellness sessions and individual support to uplift the social/emotional wellbeing of our teaching staff, support staff, and entire school environment.

• HOLISTIC BENEFITS: Retirement accounts with company match and available enrollment slots for the children of Educare DC staff.

Excellent written and oral communication skills in English