Development Officer

West Place is recognized as a leading animal welfare organization in southern New England and we are poised to grow significantly in the near future. We are seeking a dynamic, experienced, and creative Development Officer to drive this organizational growth by building upon the existing foundation while also generating sustainable, net new funding.

Job Overview: The Development Officer will play a key role in driving the growth and financial sustainability of West Place Animal Sanctuary by overseeing and executing our current strategies as well as creating new revenue streams/sources of funding. This individual will identify, cultivate, and solicit donors while also ensuring the smooth operation of fundraising efforts, campaigns and annual appeals. The ideal candidate will possess strong communication skills, a passion for the mission, and a proven track record with development and fundraising experience, preferably including major gift programs and foundation support. This position requires a blend of strategic thinking, creativity, and excellent communication skills to effectively engage with stakeholders and promote our mission, and to meet or surpass our yearly financial needs. The right candidate will be able to attain our basic funding needs of $700,000 in 2025 and understand that though the vehicles to achieve much of this funding are already in place, the budget needs will continue to scale up each year as we grow, and additional funding such as planned giving or endowments must also be sought for the sustainability of our organization. The selected candidate must have proven experience in all of the below abilities to be considered for this position.

This is not an administrative position - it requires donor stewardship and acquisition, fundraising, event management, and the marketing and media skills needed to promote said activities.

If your resume does not set forth that you have had experience raising at least a minimum of the above current goal, please also submit a cover letter with further information. Thank you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Fundraising Strategy and Execution:
• Develop and execute comprehensive fundraising strategies to meet financial goals. Develop a variety of fundraising initiatives, including campaigns, appeals, events, and digital fundraising activities.
• Identify and meet with high-net worth individuals and solicit major gifts.
• Plan and coordinate in-person and virtual fundraising events, ensuring successful execution from concept to completion.
• Generate new revenue through enhancing our existing programs.
• Identify new donors and approach new and existing donors, including individuals, foundations, corporations, and government entities.
• Identify existing donors who possess the potential to increase their support
• Research potential funding opportunities and keep up to date on relevant industry trends.

• Donor Cultivation and Stewardship:
• Build and maintain relationships with donors, sponsors, and key stakeholders.
• Ensure appropriate donor recognition and follow-up, including thank-you letters, tax receipts, reports, and updates on the impact of donations.

• Planned Giving:
• Stay informed about estate planning opportunities that may benefit the organization’s long-term sustainability.
• Seek planned giving opportunities.

• Marketing:
• Organize and coordinate donor events, cultivation meetings, and other activities to engage and retain supporters. Implement digital marketing initiatives to promote fundraising campaigns through various channels, including social media and email marketing.
• Preparing press releases as necessary.

• Grant Writing and Proposal Development:
• Research, write, and submit grant applications to secure funds from foundations, corporations, and government sources.
• Implement new grant writing efforts, including researching potential funding sources and preparing proposals.
• Maintain records of grants applied for, including deadlines, status, and requirements for follow-up.

• Database Management and Reporting:
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of all donor interactions and contributions using DonorDock.
• Maintain a monthly calendar of goals and deadlines.
• Provide regular reports on fundraising progress, donor activity, and budget management.
• Track and analyze the effectiveness of fundraising campaigns and propose adjustments as needed.

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, business, communications, or a related field. Specific and relevant experience might be substituted for education if a good fundraiser
• Experience: At least 10 years of experience in fundraising, development, or related fields, including experience with major gifts, foundation giving, annual campaigns, and grant writing.
• Skills:
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills.
• Strong comfort level in asking for donations.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain relationships with donors and stakeholders.
• Familiarity with fundraising software, CRM systems such as DonorDock, email platform, and data management tools.
• Exceptional organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Knowledge of and passion for animal welfare.
• Proven experience in fundraising, donor development and philanthropy within the nonprofit sector.
• Proficiency in digital marketing tools.
• Strong skills in grant writing and understanding of the grant application process.
• Excellent event planning capabilities with a track record of successful fundraising events.
• Knowledge of budgeting processes related to fundraising activities.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage diverse audiences.
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.

Personal Attributes:

• Strong work ethic, with a passion for fundraising and organizational growth.
• Proactive and self-motivated, with the ability to work well under pressure.
• Strong analytical skills, with a results-oriented mindset.

Please note that our organization plans to introduce health care coverage and a 401(k) in 2025, but requires the financial growth brought by the expertise and success of this position in order to be able to do so. There will be several months this year where these are not yet available to you.

Please also note that though this schedule may be Monday-Friday, many evenings and weekends may be required for networking, events, etc. You must be able to be flexible in your schedule to best suit the needs of our organization. If you do not have evening or weekend availability, we may not be the right fit for you. Thank you.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $68,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evenings as needed
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Fundraising: 10 years (Preferred)
• Development: 10 years (Preferred)
• Planned Giving: 5 years (Preferred)
• Major Gifts: 5 years (Preferred)
• Donor acquisition: 10 years (Required)

Ability to Commute:

• Tiverton, RI 02878 (Required)

Ability to Relocate:

• Tiverton, RI 02878: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person