Development & Communications Assistant

This newly created position will be responsible for supporting the fundraising and marketing efforts of the company, including database management, social media, prospect research, event support, mailings, production of marketing pieces, and website maintenance.

Specific duties of the Development & Communications Assistant include:

• Maintaining and updating the donor software program (DonorPerfect), conduct gift-tracking, providing donor acknowledgement letters, and ensuring accurate record-keeping of all contributions; 
• Developing custom reports, providing analysis; and segmenting donors to target fundraising requests; 
• Assisting the Development & Communications Director in special event preparation, planning, promotion, and execution; 
• Conducting prospect research using on-line resources on potential funders and compiling donor prospect reports; 
• Organizing the annual online auction: procuring items, working with online vendor to display items, collecting payments, and distributing items to winning bidders; 
• Supporting and developing written content and images for social media and website; assisting with social media postings and website updates; 
• Synthesizing information from multiple sources and writing copy for communications and fundraising materials for website articles, donor newsletter, and e-mail communications, grant applications and reports, award nominations, fundraising proposals, and appeal letters; 
• Maintaining and updating electronic marketing software program (Constant Contact) to ensure accurate record-keeping of contacts; 
• Assisting clients in composing self-advocacy newsletters, client stories, and other communications; 
• Assisting with taking photos for company purposes and managing a photo inventory; and 
• Assisting with the creation and preparation of mailings (bulk and first class).

People who are interested in applying need to meet the following qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in communications, marketing, or public relations preferred; database management (DonorPerfect, Raiser’s Edge or similar platform) required, and involvement with people with intellectual or developmental disabilities desirable; 
• Expertise and up-to-date knowledge of WordPress, Constant Contact, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram with a working knowledge of social media management/aggregators such as Hootsuite or Sprout Social; along with documented experience in using SEO, Google Analytics, Google Tag Manager, and Google AdWords; 
• Exceptional grasp of the English language with superior grammar, spelling, proofreading, and formatting skills; along with demonstrated experience in storytelling, photography, and photo editing; 
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an ability to work independently and with a team; 
• Demonstrated ability to organize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously and complete projects within stated deadline.
• Flexibility to work occasional evenings and weekends; 
• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to: (i) continually sit, stand, walk, talk, and hear throughout each work day; (ii) occasionally stoop, bend, kneel, twist, and run; (iii) use hands to continually finger, handle, assist, grasp, and feel; (iv) occasionally reach, push, and pull with hands and arms; (v) regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds; and (vi) occasionally push and pull carts or wheelchairs used by individuals weighing 100-200 pounds; 
• Have a valid class “D” state driver’s license, reliable transportation, and meet the minimum requirements set forth in the company’s Safe Transportation Policy; and 
• Ability to pass criminal background checks and drug/alcohol tests following a conditional job offer as well as throughout the course of employment.

This is a full-time position, typically working Monday through Friday (day hours), and is benefit eligible. In addition, the new hire will be eligible to receive a $500.00 bonus once he/she completes their training period and another $500.00 bonus following their 9th month of employment.