Vacancy - Development Officer

Position Summary:

Title: Development Officer
Supervisor: Vice President of Development
Location: The Plains, Virginia
Deadline for Application: September 3, 2010

Introduction:

This is a full-time position with American Bird Conservancy (ABC) in The Plains, Virginia. The Development Officer is responsible for a broad array of development duties including: identifying and soliciting donors; writing reports; scheduling fundraising appointments and making travel arrangements; drafting letters of inquiry, proposals, and correspondence to current and potential donors; and providing general communication updates to board and staff. The Development Officer is supervised by the Vice President for Development and provides administrative assistance to the President.

ABC is looking for an outgoing, friendly, organized, and energetic person who desires a career in conservation. This position requires excellent organizational, multi-tasking and writing skills and a broad knowledge of ABC’s mission, objectives, and programs. There is regular contact, in person and via telephone and written correspondence, with ABC board members, field staff, potential and existing donors, members and the public. This work requires excellent communication and writing skills, initiative, flexibility, accuracy, attention to detail, and computer skills.

Primary Duties:

• 1) Contact and cultivate existing donors through regular updates, special appeals, field trips, donor events, and special publications, identifying donors with potential for upgrade, and developing strategies for boosting giving levels.
  
  2) Solicit new foundations, corporations, and individuals through the submission of letters of inquiry, proposals, and correspondence; prepare and assemble appropriate supporting documents.
  
  3) Solicit meetings with current and new foundations and individuals for fundraising trips for the President and Vice-President and coordinate corresponding travel arrangements.
  
  4) Identify and research new foundation, corporate, and individual donor prospects, develop fundraising strategies, and formulate focused appeals.
  
  5) Keep Board members and major donors informed of ABC programs and needs through regular updates, special appeals, field trips, donor events, and special publications.
  
  6) Assist in developing annual Development plan and budgets, and help maintain donor tracking systems including Raiser’s Edge, Central Filing System, and spreadsheets. Provide reminders to program staff of upcoming deadlines and donor-anticipated products.
  
  7) Complete other development projects as requested by the President and Vice President of Development, such as event planning, field trip organization, and membership mailings.

Position Requirements:

 Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, or marketing and at least four years experience in fundraising or related work or a combination of relevant education and experience.

 Excellent writing, communication, and organizational skills.

 Ability and willingness to contact donors.

 Proficiency with computers and software. Proficiency with Raiser’s Edge a plus.

 Ability to work independently, efficiently, accurately, while maintaining deadlines.

 Ability to work with a wide range of people at all levels. Sense of humor.

 Belief in and dedication to American Bird Conservancy’s conservation mission.

 Ability to maintain confidentiality of donor information.

Application Instructions:

Please send a cover letter and resume to Merrie Morrison, Vice President of Operations by September 3, 2010; P.O. Box 249, The Plains, VA 20198 or by email to