JOIN OUR TEAM OF MISSION-DRIVEN PROFESSIONALS!

You are perfect for this job if you have a passion for our mission, a history of proven success in nonprofit philanthropy and you consider yourself a leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
Whatcom Center for Early Learning (WCEL) provides transformational services for young children and their families across Whatcom County, WA-with majestic mountains, beautiful seaside views, and a thriving outdoor recreation culture. Founded in 1973, WCEL partners with families and caregivers to provide high-quality, equitable, and comprehensive therapy, early learning, and support services to children, with a focus on those experiencing developmental delays and disabilities. WCEL is a non-profit organization with a $5 million annual budget and approximately 60 employees. For more information, please visit www.wcel.net.

LIVED EXPERIENCE BRINGS VALUABLE INSIGHT

We are working to build a team that reflects the communities that we serve and brings a range of perspectives to help strengthen our services. We strongly encourage candidates who bring lived experience related to the barriers people may face in accessing early support services including, but not limited to, experiences related to race, culture, language, disability, identity, or involvement with support systems to apply. This perspective helps us better understand the needs of our communities, improve how we deliver services, and ensure that everyone feels welcomed and supported. If you meet the qualifications and feel your experience can help us grow in this way, we would love to hear from you.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Philanthropy Specialist plays a key role in advancing the mission and vision of Whatcom Center for Early Learning by supporting and enhancing the organization’s development efforts. This position works closely with the Development Director and collaborates within the Development Team to strengthen fundraising strategies and donor engagement.

TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE SKILLS:

• Proven ability to create cohesive, high-quality graphic design work across various formats and platforms to meet agency needs
• Experience with database and software systems; preferred experience with:
• Canva, Adobe Creative Suite
• Microsoft Office Suite
• DonorPerfect CRM, Auctria, or other development/event management databases
• Instrumentl or other grant tracking and discovery platforms
• Asana or other similar project management tool
• Skilled in using and learning new technologies with ease and confidence
• Proficiency in managing and creating content for social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, with an interest in staying current on trends and best practices

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• 2+ years of experience in fundraising, grant management, and donor relationship management
• 4–5 years of relevant education, experience, or a combination of both in areas such as communications, marketing, branding, systems management, development, or nonprofit administration
• Preferred experience in website design, event planning, community outreach, and nonprofit fundraising strategy

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Vehicle in working condition, driver’s license, and auto insurance

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Coordinate individual giving initiatives, including donor segmentation and stewardship.
• Manage grant tracking, reporting, and management to ensure timely submissions and compliance.
• Collaborate on the planning and execution of fundraising events.
• Contributes to donor relations and outreach efforts, including the creation of compelling materials and communications.
• Supervises the Event Coordinator, providing guidance and support to ensure successful event execution.
• Maintains accurate records and data to support fundraising goals and donor engagement.
• Participates in strategic development planning.
  This position is designed with professional growth in mind and offers the potential to evolve over time. The ideal candidate is a collaborative team player with strong organizational skills, capable of managing a dynamic and varied workload in a fast-paced environment.
  Location: Flexible scheduling, in coordination with supervisor and in balance with the needs of the position, including options for hybrid work (at least two days a week in-person) with a desk at WCEL’s Cordata location in Bellingham, WA.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Donor Development
• Document and track stages of gift cultivation, multi-year asks, and giving campaigns, ensuring CRM systems are properly updated
• Monitor progress toward fundraising goals, providing reports and analysis to inform fundraisers leadership and other stakeholders
• Monitor gift processing and track progress toward gift intention fulfillment via reporting and analysis
• Conduct ongoing donor research to identify giving patterns and trends
• Summarize and report on program impacts to donors, stakeholders and partner organizations
• Liaise with team members to manage acquisition of new prospect leads
• Create Moves Management systems to manage communications, requests and deliverables to donors
• Create development resources, reporting, marketing collateral, and other information needed to strengthen and deepen donor engagement
• Assist with preparation and planning, including budget planning
• Understand key performance metrics for fundraisers and assist with tracking, reporting and analysis
• Coordinate development meetings and maintain development calendars
• Database Management
• Function as a subject matter expert in all related systems, such as donor database CRM and grant management software, and other donor tracking programs
• Utilize agency databases to track and maintain current donor and grantor information, and to pull data, reports and agency statistics for development planning, publications and outreach
• Grant / Project Management
• Collaborates with program staff to support implementation and evaluation of grant-funded projects
• Facilitates meetings with relevant staff to review grant requirements and deliverables
• Maintains grants calendar of deadlines, reporting, and renewal dates
• Develop policies or procedures for grant management
• Events
• Provides oversight and support for external fundraising agency events
• Guest list development for events based on donor segmentation and cultivation plans
• Communications
• Coordinates, creates, schedules and maintains website, and monitors/responds to comments and inquiries
• Coordinates printing and distribution of annual departmental and event materials within the agency and with agency partners
• Creates a wide range of visual assets, including flyers, brochures, logos, social media graphics, and other marketing materials, to support agency branding, events, and outreach efforts
• Creates and maintains brand guidelines to ensure consistency across all design materials
• Provides templates and support for internal communications such as the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS), and newsletters
• General
• Interacts with donors, families, vendors, and staff while maintaining confidentiality and HIPAA standards as required
• Improves and maintains a system for files and organizational documents, records and reports pertaining to development
• Provides administrative support for Development Director as well as departmental information and feedback loops for Leadership and Admin teams
• Contributes their unique ideas, perspectives, and lived experiences to the culture of WCEL, when able, to enhance its richness and depth.
• Perform other duties as assigned