Solano Land Trust

Position:                        Development Assistant

Supervisor:                    Development Manager

Committees:                 Fundraising and Community Engagement Committee

Employment Type:       Half-time non-exempt, hourly position with a six-month introductory period

Compensation:             Competitive hourly rate based on skills and experience

Hours:                           4 hours per day, generally between 9:00 am to 5:30 pm M-F with some flexibility

 

 

Job Summary

The Development Assistant is responsible for providing administrative support in the organization’s Fundraising development and communications team. He or she will support development projects and processes, such as data entry and donor cultivation and support grant applications by gathering supporting documents, mailing applications etc.

 

He or she will be in charge of the technical development and maintenance of the organization’s databases (DonorPerfect and Constant Contact). This person will assist in writing appeal letters, thank you letters and emails and will support fundraising and cultivation events as needed.

 

This position requires focus, technical expertise, problem solving, detail-orientation, organization, follow-through, strong writing abilities, relationship building and the ability to work. He or she will be managing multiple, competing deadlines, and will be required to maintain a calm composure under pressure.

The Development Assistant is responsible for delivering the following results:

• A robust, accurate and well-functioning donor database; assisting the Communications Specialist and Development Manager with timely and accurate donor acknowledgement letters and regular and accurate donor progress reports including results to date, recent activity, priority contacts to be made and next actions
• Accurate and timely notetaking at committee and other relevant meetings.
• Efficient and effective support grant team meetings, including tracking grant opportunities, next steps and deadlines.

Responsibilities:

Fundraising process and Coordination/Campaigns/Events

Works closely with Development Manager to prepare fundraising reports for board packet, and board correspondence related to development.  Prepares thank you letters, end-of-year reporting, and donor acknowledgement letters. Works with Office Manager to ensure that outstanding pledges are collected in a timely manner and that finance software and the DonorPerfect database are reconciled.

Provides timely and accurate reports and information, sets meetings, and helps to manage calendars for the development team.  Uses discretion and integrity to safeguard confidential donor information to include contact information and donation history.  Helps build relationships with grantors and foundations, in addition researches new foundations and supports development of grant applications, as requested.

 

Supports fundraising and cultivation events through the development of on-line forms, tracking RSVPs, taking payments, communicating with donors and assists in creating event marketing material.

Database management and analysis (DonorPerfect software)

Maintains the donor database program to ensure accurate and timely data collection, coding, analysis, reporting and    

acknowledgement, including online and credit card giving. Leads Donor Perfect software management, and the email database, Constant Contact including data cleanup and regular maintenance.  Ensures that deadlines are logged into database and produces reports of donations and/or report deadlines, as requested.

Support Donor Cultivation

Attends donor visits and donor cultivation activities, (house parties and major donor appreciation activities, etc.) as requested.  Assists the Development Manager in the development, implementation, and tracking of the Major Donor Plan, for the cultivation, retention, and recognition of major donors.

 

Communications

Supports development of SLT publications and communications including SLT newsletters, brochures, website and social media. Assists the team of development of exciting content for social media, consistent with larger content strategy for communications.

 

Grants

Coordinates monthly grant meetings. Researches new grants to be considered by the team, organizes and keeps a table of grant opportunities up to date with deadlines, next steps and responsible staff person. Supports the fundraising team in developing and enhancing funding opportunities. 

 

SLT’s Culture

Every team member at SLT is considered a leader who embraces the role they have been assigned and encourages colleagues to be their best through effective communication, collaboration and shared values. As a small organization, we are self-starters and are flexible to the ever-changing circumstances. We operate from a place of integrity, trust, and personal responsibility with the goal of representing SLT in a positive way. We have mutual respect for one another and use discretion in all business dealings and communication.

 Required Qualifications:

• Associate’s degree (or the equivalent of five years of fundraising, communications and/or administrative support).
• Must be organized, detail-oriented and able to multi-task.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills and good judgment are essential.
• Ability to work some evenings and weekends as required to support campaigns and projects
• Positive attitude, calm under pressure and good customer service
• Knowledge of Microsoft Office and Google tools
• Excellent follow-through and follow-up
• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Adaptable and good collaborator
• Able to adhere to process, policies and procedures

 

Preferred Qualifications

• Ideally, the candidate will possess one or more years of fundraising, communications or administrative experience.
• Previous database experience is highly desirable
• Experience with Constant Contact, social media.

 

Physical Requirements

• Standing/sitting intermittently throughout the day
• Various fieldwork activities, including assisting other staff with trail maintenance and habitat restoration volunteer workdays, in varying weather conditions
• Lifting and carrying tools and field equipment
• Ability to drive for local and regional travel

Benefits

SLT provides a portion of the employee’s health, dental, and vision insurance, matches up to 3% of employee’s contribution toward their 403.b retirement account, and provides eleven paid holidays and two weeks of vacation per year.