Development Specialist

About the role

The Development Specialist will support and help grow Murmuration's contributed-revenue pipeline with primary ownership of grant writing and grant reporting. Reporting to the VP of Growth, the person in this role will be self-sufficient, proactive, motivated, and detail-oriented, with strong writing skills and a genuine interest in fundraising and impact storytelling.

This role partners closely with the Communications and Marketing Team on donor-facing materials, while owning the substance of fundraising writing and reporting. The Development Specialist will also help improve the team's development processes, pipeline tracking, metrics, and reporting, including keeping Funding Partner records current in Salesforce.

Job Level

P3

What You'll Do

• Research, draft, and edit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, one-pagers, and other fundraising materials, and track and document all submissions;
• Develop accurate, on-time grant reports and other donor communications for current funders, and regularly collect and package relevant impact stories and data;
• Support the development pipeline by researching prospects and funders, preparing briefing materials for meetings, and coordinating follow-ups to steward relationships;
• Partner with the VP of Growth to develop, implement, and manage a comprehensive annual and multi-year fundraising plan that drives revenue growth and long-term financial sustainability;
• Help improve the team's development processes, pipeline tracking, metrics, and reporting, including keeping Funding Partner records current in Salesforce;
• Collaborate with the Communications and Marketing team on brand-aligned, donor-facing materials such as one-pagers and pitch decks;
• and Assist with planning and executing special events and projects, as needed

Requirements

• 3+ years of experience in development, fundraising, or investor relations, with 4-5 years preferred;
• Strong skills in grant writing and proposal development with experience producing winning fundraising materials;
• Experience developing and delivering grant reports and donor communications;
• A forward-leaning, enthusiastic approach to agentic AI and LLM-powered tools, including readiness to adopt AI-assisted proposal and RFP platforms and to use these tools to help map and organize our funder and partner network;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to convey complex ideas in a compelling, digestible way;
• Experience proofreading and copyediting;
• A high degree of organization, a knack for being detail-oriented, and an ability to manage multiple priorities effectively;
• A self-motivated individual with the ability to work both independently and collaboratively;
• An interest in civic engagement, democratic participation, community organizing, etc

Nice to Haves

• A background in journalism, creative writing, PR, copywriting, and/or storytelling;
• An eye for design and an understanding of how to bring copy to life visually;
• Experience with Salesforce or a comparable CRM;
• or Experience in event planning, public programming, and/or brand activation initiatives