Development Coordinator, Individual Giving & Special Projects

About The Children’s Room (TCR)

The Children’s Room is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating safe, supportive communities so that no child, teen, or family has to grieve alone. We provide free grief support services to families with children and teens ages 3½–18 who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. Our services are offered at our Arlington center, in schools and community settings, and virtually. Programs include peer support groups, parent groups, teen programming, family events, and professional training for educators and clinicians. Because grief support should be accessible to all, TCR offers all programs free of charge.

About the role - Development Coordinator, Individual Giving & Special Projects

The Development Coordinator, Individual Giving & Special Projects, is an essential member of the team focused on building lasting relationships with TCR’s individual supporters. Grounded in a relationship-centered fundraising model, this role is primarily responsible for stewarding and retaining donors who give between $250 and $2,500 annually.

Through personalized outreach, center tours, and mission-centered updates, you will ensure our supporters feel deeply connected to TCR’s impact. Additionally, you will provide the administrative and logistical backbone for special projects, including TCR’s 30th Anniversary campaign. Reporting to the Development Director, this role is a perfect opportunity for a detail-oriented professional looking to build a career in relationship-based nonprofit development.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Individual Giving & Stewardship
  • Nurture a relationship-centered stewardship plan for individual donors ($250–$2,500), with a focus on timely appreciation and personalized follow-up.
  • Facilitate donor outreach through various channels, including drafting personalized emails, preparing handwritten notes, and scheduling discovery calls.
  • Coordinate donor engagement opportunities, such as center tours or small mission-centered gatherings, to deepen supporter connection to TCR.
  • Update and maintain donor engagement records in the database, ensuring all touchpoints and "next steps" are accurately tracked to support long-term retention.
  • Assist the Development Director in preparing materials for individual donor solicitations and annual renewal strategies.
• Special Projects, including but not limited to:
  • Supporting TCR’s 30th Anniversary campaign, a landmark initiative to secure the organization's future. Coordinate logistics, including tracking timelines and supporting the Committee through meeting preparation and action-item management.
  • Assist with donor research and data tracking, ensuring all pledges are accurately recorded, and donors receive timely, mission-centered updates.
  • Support the launch of new development initiatives, such as a monthly giving program or a targeted digital appeal, by coordinating timelines and preparing outreach materials.
  • Organize the proposal calendar to track upcoming deadlines and submission requirements for donors and funders.
  • Support drafting and assembly of funder proposals and reports by gathering necessary data and supporting documentation.

Who You Are

• A Thoughtful & Personable Communicator: You find joy in the "art of the thank you." You are a natural at drafting warm, personalized notes and feel comfortable engaging in one-on-one conversations that make donors feel seen and valued.
• A Process-Oriented Project Supporter: You enjoy the steady rhythm of relationship-based fundraising. You see the beauty in a well-tracked donor "move" and take pride in ensuring no detail—or donor—falls through the cracks during a major campaign.
• A Humble Teammate: Nothing is beneath or above you. You are quick to always lend a hand or two! You are able to earn influence without authority and naturally seek to support both small projects and large strategic goals.
• An Empathetic and Collaborative Partner: You possess strong emotional intelligence, allowing you to connect with and understand diverse stakeholders, including staff, and foster effective and personable communication across all levels.
• A Discreet and Trusted Professional: You understand the importance of confidentiality and sensitivity when handling donor information and supporting high-level committee meetings.
• Mission-Oriented: You are passionate about TCR’s core belief, that grief is a natural process best supported through community. You believe in the power of bringing people together to build hope and resilience for families navigating loss.

What You'll Need

• 1–3 years of experience in development, communications, or administrative support. We value diverse backgrounds and related work experience, including internships, volunteer roles, or part-time positions.
• Impeccable organization; you are highly detail-oriented, and someone who gets a real sense of satisfaction from producing polished work and managing smooth and orderly processes.
• Strong writing and narrative skills; you can take a programmatic update and turn it into a compelling, personalized message for a donor. You have an eye for tone and can adapt your writing to feel both professional and heart-centered.
• Commitment to diversity and community accessibility; you prioritize accessibility in fundraising, always asking, "Who is missing from this space?" You value building a supporter base that reflects our local community and understand the importance of meaningful partnerships.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Medical and dental insurance with a competitive company contribution.
• 15 days of paid leave plus all federal holidays.
• Simple IRA with a 3% employer match of employee contributions.