Development Specialist

Key Responsibilities

• Exceed Financial Goals: Go above and beyond to surpass the financial and stewardship targets established by regional leadership.
• Forge Meaningful Relationships: Utilize your exceptional interpersonal and sales skills to cultivate authentic connections with volunteers, donors, and sponsors, primarily through face-to-face interactions.
• Empower Fundraising Initiatives: Motivate, guide, and equip fundraising efforts by leveraging various communication channels, including personal visits, written correspondence, and digital platforms.
• Lead National Initiatives: Take charge of high-profile national fundraising projects in the region, such as St. Jude Dream Home campaigns, radiothons, school-based events, promotional programs, multicultural initiatives, fitness events, peer-to-peer events, and cultivate and steward 3rd party events.
• Personalized Cultivation: Create tailored cultivation plans for volunteers, donors, and sponsors through personalized thank-you letters, in-person visits, donor appreciation events, and consistent follow-up.
• Event Management: Oversee and nurture relationships with volunteers, donors, and sponsors for events and programs within your portfolio. This includes coordinating event logistics, maintaining vendor contacts, and meticulous recordkeeping.
• Sponsorship Expertise: Champion the pursuit of leads, pitch sponsorships/recruitment, and close deals. Conduct thorough prospect research on potential sponsors, craft compelling sponsorship proposals, and maintain up-to-date contact lists.
• Marketing and Recruitment: Lead event, promotion, and partnership efforts as the primary staff member. Develop and execute marketing and recruitment strategies for events. Grow our signature event, while building a new event as part of our high-wealth strategy.
• Active Participation: Engage actively in events to ensure their success. Market Insight: Stay well-informed about market trends and regional developments to identify new opportunities.
• Reporting: Deliver necessary reports, progress updates, and forecasts to support the decision-making process.
• Collaborative Contribution: Play a role in regional meetings and contribute to the budgeting process.

Qualifications And Experience

• Three (3) years of fundraising, sales, marketing, or related experience is required, a bachelor's degree is preferred.
• Proficiency in fundraising and public relations, exceptional communication, organizational, interpersonal, and public speaking skills.
• Proven experience in face-to-face interaction with event volunteers and sponsors.
• Competence in data processing applications.
• Ability to travel frequently in assigned region and other areas as needed to support events, volunteers, and partners in the assigned territory. Involves travel up to 50% seasonally including some nights and weekends. Periodic visits to Memphis for enterprise, divisional, or donor events (on avg. 4-6 times) based on business needs.
• A valid driver's license is required for this role.