Development Specialist

Job Summary

Catalight is looking for a mission-driven, creative, and entrepreneurial Development Specialist to independently manage assigned development and fundraising initiatives, donor and community relationships, and related strategies that support the organization’s development objectives.  The Development Specialist will develop, recommend, and execute strategies within assigned areas of responsibility supporting fundraising, development, and communications strategy for Easterseals Northern California; while providing occasional support to our other affiliates.

Working under general direction from the Director of Development, this role is expected to exercise independent judgment and discretion in determining approaches, priorities, recommendations, and solutions within assigned development initiatives. The role analyzes fundraising and donor performance, evaluates alternative courses of action, and makes recommendations to Development leadership regarding strategies, donor engagement, sponsorships, events, resource allocation, and opportunities for improvement.

This role requires 20–25% travel throughout California, primarily Northern California, with occasional travel to other states.

Essential Job Functions

Development Initiatives and Program Management

• Support the development and implementation of approaches and workplans for assigned fundraising, donor stewardship, sponsorship, and community engagement initiatives consistent with broader organizational goals.

• Evaluate fundraising opportunities and recommend appropriate approaches for assigned initiatives, considering donor interests, organizational priorities, available resources, expected return, and reputational considerations.

• Provide recommendations and input to Development leadership regarding fundraising priorities, donor engagement strategies, sponsorship opportunities, event strategy, and use assigned resources effectively.

• Make adjustments within established goals and guidelines based on performance, donor feedback, emerging opportunities, and changing organizational needs.

• Identify development opportunities, risks, and emerging issues and recommend appropriate courses of action to leadership.
• Manage assigned relationships with donors, prospects, corporate sponsors, volunteers, and foundation/community partners, determining appropriate cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship approaches, within established organizational objectives and parameters.

• Support individualized engagement and stewardship plans for assigned key relationships based on donor interests, giving history, organizational priorities, and relationship potential.

• Represent the organization in meetings with assigned donors, sponsors, and community partners and exercise judgment in responding to opportunities, concerns, and relationship needs.

• Conduct regular outreach through email, phone, in-person meetings, and other appropriate channels as part of broader relationship approaches developed and managed by the Specialist.

Fundraising & Stewardship

• Develop and recommend approaches for assigned fundraising and stewardship initiatives designed to strengthen donor engagement, retention, and financial support.

• Determine and execute appropriate stewardship strategies for assigned donors and initiatives within established organizational guidelines.

• Evaluate prospective fundraising and sponsorship opportunities and make recommendations regarding whether and how the organization should pursue them.

Fundraising Events

• Coordinate, organize, and execute fundraising events.
• Manage assigned fundraising and stewardship events from planning through evaluation, determining appropriate approaches within established organizational objectives and approved budgets.
• Implement event plans aligned with revenue, participation, and expense goals established by Development leadership.
• Develop assigned event plans and recommend improvements designed to achieve revenue, participation, stewardship, and expense objectives, and adjust approaches as appropriate based on performance and changing circumstances.
• Evaluate event performance against financial and engagement objectives, identify material trends and opportunities, and recommend changes for future events.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to determine communication, promotional, and community engagement approaches supporting assigned development initiatives.

Analysis & Recommendations

• Generate regular donor, prospect, event, and fundraising reports.
• Analyze donor, prospect, event, sponsorship, and fundraising performance to identify trends, risks, opportunities, and areas requiring action.
• Translate data and relationship insights into recommendations for Development leadership regarding fundraising strategy, donor engagement, event strategy, sponsorships, and resource priorities.
• Monitor the effectiveness of assigned development strategies and recommend or implement approved adjustments within the scope of the role's authority.
• Conduct donor and prospect research and exercise judgment in identifying and prioritizing prospects and engagement opportunities.

Development Operations

• Maintain accurate donor information and records necessary to support development activities.
• Maintain processes for assigned development initiatives and identify opportunities to improve effectiveness, efficiency, and donor experience.
• Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Communications, Finance, Operations, and other stakeholders to resolve issues and advance development objectives.
• Perform other duties consistent with the level and scope of the position.

Qualifications

Minimum Education, Experience & Training Equivalent to:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration (marketing or communications focus preferred), fundraising, or a related field; or 4+ years of equivalent experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.

• Proven experience in non-profit fundraising, development, relationship management, event planning, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience independently managing projects, donor relationships, or fundraising initiatives with general supervision.

• Experience analyzing information, evaluating alternatives, exercising sound judgment, and making recommendations on development, donor, sponsorship, and fundraising matters.

• Skilled in prioritizing competing objectives and determining appropriate approaches within established organizational goals and policies, including recognizing when leadership input or escalation is needed.

• Uses financial, relationship, reputational, and organizational considerations to inform recommendations and decisions.

• Experience building and maintaining relationships with donors, volunteers, sponsors, community partners, and other stakeholders.

• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, including managing multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholder relationships in a fast-paced environment.

• Familiarity with donor databases and fundraising principles.

• Experience interpreting fundraising and donor data, identifying trends and opportunities, and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

• Commitment to the organization’s purpose and social impact.

Requests:

• Must be able to communicate effectively within the work environment, read and write using the primary language within the workplace.

• Visual and auditory ability to work with clients, staff and others in the workplace continuously.

• Frequent speaking and listening (25-75%) to clients, staff, and others in the workplace.

• Utilize computer and cell phone for effective communication.
• Travel throughout California, mostly northern California, 20-25%, and occasionally to other states.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (organized by our company values): 

Community oriented: 

• Appreciates and demonstrates collaboration across teams. 
• Serves as a role model, bringing our core values to life in your work. 
• Work in an exciting, fast paced high energy environment while effectively multitasking and managing day-to-day responsibilities without supervision.
• Personable; able to work comfortably with individuals at all levels within the organization.
• Excellent verbal and writing communication skills; frequent proofreading and checking documents for accuracy.
• Propensity for innovation and the pursuit of improvement.

Equity informed:

• Approaches work with a growth mindset, welcome feedback, and understand that humans all have biases and are imperfect as a baseline. 
• Sensitivity to working with an ethnically, linguistically, culturally, and economically diverse population.

Bold:

• Navigates ambiguity with an excitement for problem solving. 

• Highly self-motivated, accountable, and results-oriented.

• Commitment to meet agreed upon deadlines on time or ahead of schedule. 

• Transparent on action, pursuits, and outcomes.

• A commitment to the values of the organization while demonstrating good judgment, flexibility, patience and discretion when dealing with confidential and sensitive matters.

Wellbeing driven: 

• Willingness and commitment to self-reflection and re-thinking.  

• Ability to understand your physical, mental, social, and financial wellbeing needs with a willingness to co-create boundaries that allow you to sustainably show up and honor your humanity.

• Capacity to contribute to and help cultivate effective + sustainable wellbeing driven spaces.

Conditions of Employment

• Ability to obtain and maintain criminal record clearance through the Department of Justice (DOJ). The People & Performance Department must analyze DOJ/FBI live scan reports in accordance with applicable Federal, State, and Local laws, as well as fitness for the position.

• Ability to obtain and maintain clearance through the Office of Inspector General.

• Able to travel to multiple work sites, events and donor meetings. Reliable transportation needed.

• Must attend any required training.

About Us

At Catalight, we embrace people’s differences — both visible and invisible. And we believe everyone deserves to be understood, respected and celebrated for their many contributions. That’s why we have a bold vision to break down barriers and biases to create a more equitable world, so people with developmental disabilities can choose their own paths.

We do this by providing access to innovative, individualized care services, clinical research and advocacy and, through the work of our affiliate partners, Easterseals Northern California and Easterseals Hawaii, we provide services to people with disabilities and their families to support them across their care journey.

Our purpose-driven teams are creating a pathway to a more impactful future. Empowering others and fostering an inclusive environment that embodies our core values to ensure we grow responsibly.

Time Type:

Compensation:

The statements contained in this job description reflect general details as necessary to describe the principal functions of this job. It should not be considered an all-inclusive listing of work requirements. Individuals may perform other duties as assigned, including work in other functional areas as deemed fit for the organization.

Catalight is an equal opportunity employer.