The Chesapeake Bay Trust (the Trust) is a nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to improving the local streams, rivers, and natural resources of the Chesapeake Bay through environmental education, community outreach, and local watershed restoration. The Trust seeks a qualified candidate to serve as the Development Associate in the Trust’s Development, Marketing, and Communications Department. This is a full-time salary position (40 hours per week) that involves some travel (mostly within Maryland) and some evening and weekend hours. The Development Associate will report directly to the Director of Development, Marketing, and Communications. 

The Development Associate will play an important role in helping to accomplish the Trust’s evolving development and fundraising goals. This full-time position is primarily responsible for managing the Development Department’s donor database and providing support for fundraising campaigns and initiatives through prospect identification and research, preparation of solicitation material, maintaining moves management system and assisting with donor cultivation and stewardship. The Development Association will provide day-today operational oversight of Development Associates’ gift processing of data entry functions. Given the recent expansion of the Trust’s development objectives, this position has tremendous growth opportunity and the person in the role has potential for advancement. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

Serve as lead on key aspects of a comprehensive giving program. 

Serve as lead on key components of donor acquisition, retention, and management for annual giving, major gifts, and capital campaigns, including: 

– Manage the donor database (Raiser’s Edge) and maintain its accuracy and integrity by ensuring 

that all information is entered and kept current including gifts entry, reports and maintenance, as well as providing support for moves management. 

– Compose, proofread, edit and prepare regular correspondence, acknowledgements, mailings, 

reports, online communications and other materials. 

– Research and maintain information and data to assist in preparing printed/electronic prospect and 

donor materials, including donor biographies and profiles. 

– Take the lead on outreach to a subset of prospects and donors (phone calls, letters, emails, etc.) 

and the facilitation of donor requests and information. 

– Assist in coordinating complex calendars to schedule meetings with prospective funders and 

donors for Executive Director and Director of Development. 

– Assist in organizing large and small-scale events with all details including registration, on-site 

efforts, volunteer solicitations, sponsorship acquisition and marketing efforts to ensure successful completion; keeps in regular contact with donors during fundraising events. 

– Assist in grant requests and proposals as necessary. 

– Mails invitations and other correspondence to potential donors, volunteers and guests in order to 

inform them of events and activities. 

Assist with other administrative tasks, contributing to departmental goals and assisting smooth day-to-day flow of development operations by accomplishing related duties as required. 

Skills and Qualifications 

  • Two or more years of related/relevant development and fundraising experience. 
  • Discretion and good judgment when dealing with confidential and sensitive material. 
  • Ability to demonstrate tact, diplomacy and initiative when working with others. 
  • Maintenance of standards of professional competence and adherence to a professional code of conduct. 
  • Strong writing and organizational skills. 
  • Ability to manage multiple priority projects at once with ease and efficiency 
  • Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office and technical understanding of database management and reporting; experience with fundraising databases, preferably Raiser’s Edge a plus. 
  • Attention to detail. The right candidate must be exceptionally thorough and detail-orientated with the ability to analyze data, research information, problem-solve and coordinate projects. 
  • Experience with various development techniques (such as exposure to endowments, capital campaigns, and major gift solicitation) is preferred. 
  • Clear understanding and commitment to the Chesapeake Bay Trust’s mission and goals. 

Salary: $46,000 – $54,000 and excellent benefits package included with professional development opportunities available. 

How to apply: Please submit a resume and cover letter to shiggins@cbtrust.org and place “Development Associate” in the subject line of the email. Your cover letter is the most important piece of your application: In your cover letter, please address your ability, based on your skills and experience, to accomplish the duties of this position. Please do not simply list your previous experience, describe your qualifications as a strong candidate for this position. Applications will begin to be reviewed on February 3, 2020, though the position will remain open until filled. No phone calls please. 

The Chesapeake Bay Trust provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age or disability in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws. We encourage applications from people of color.