Development Specialist

Are you passionate about working for an organization that serves to empower and uplift students through the education system by removing barriers and helping students realize their fullest potential? Our mission is to surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life. We achieve our mission by hiring bright, creative, and innovative team members who demonstrate a passion for what they do.

If this is you, are you All In For Kids?

Who we want:

Communities In Schools of Central Texas is hiring a Development Specialist, a vital member of the development team. The Development Specialist is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing all donor cultivation events as well as all agency direct appeal fundraising campaigns. The Development Specialist will also work closely with the Associate Director of Development to coordinate event logistics for CIS’ signature fundraising event and serve as a liaison to CIS Volunteer and Communications Departments.    

Who you are:

First and foremost, we are looking for amazing people who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission, and are highly motivated to change children's lives through education.  You will be right at home here if you cultivate strong relationships and push yourself, your work, and the people around you to the next level.

This is an exciting time to join Communities In Schools. Last fall we moved into our new 30,000 sq ft headquarters, funded through contributions.

What we offer:

CIS offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position. The starting salary range for this position is $4,166.67 - $5,458.34 /mo. Salaries are determined by qualifications and relevant experience. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and midpoint depending on experience and in alignment with internal equity.

Some of our benefits:

• Generous time off includes 4+ weeks of holiday and 2 weeks of vacation time
• CIS pays for 100% of the employee premium for the base medical insurance plan and we provide subsidy to support coverage for spouse/domestic partner and children
• Dental and vision plans, disability, life insurance, parenting benefits, flexible spending account options
• Professional development
• 403(b) retirement plan with an employer match
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• We offer an inclusive environment where staff are encouraged to bring their whole selves to work every day

What you’ll bring:

• Demonstrated project management experience with strong attention to detail and deadlines 
• Demonstrated track record executing superior events and diverse direct appeal campaigns  
• Demonstrated proficiency using computer applications including MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Canva, (events registration systems and donor database software preferred).  
• Minimum of two years of experience in event planning, fundraising, donor relations, or a related field  
• Minimum of two years of direct mail and/or peer to peer campaign design and execution experience  
• Bachelor’s degree in public relations, marketing, communications, hospitality management or related degree is preferred  
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a mission-driven agency whose participants and staff exhibit cultural sensitivity when working with colleagues, community stakeholders, vendors and volunteers  
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to persuasively promote ideas  
• Strong written, oral communication and listening skills  
• Ability to organize workload in a busy environment and able to work well under pressure while managing multiple tasks simultaneously  
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision in a fast-paced team environment  
• Ability to work collaboratively and be a strong contributor in a team environment  
• Ability to effectively supervise vendor contracts and projects

What you’ll do:

PRIMARY CIS EVENTS & CAMPAIGNS

Fundraising/Cultivation/Stewardship Events

• Food for Thought: annual gourmet tasting fundraising benefit  
• Campus Visits: four on-campus showcases of CIS work each school year 
• Third-party fundraising events (as needed)

Direct Appeal/Donor Acquisition Campaigns

• Amplify Austin  
• Graduation Appeal 
• Holiday Appeal 
• Ready for School Supply Drive / Corporate Fundraising Campaign 
   

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Event Planning and Coordination

• Plan and Coordinate Events: Lead the planning and execution of campus visit lunch lunch-and- learns and other donor engagement events.  
• Logistics Management: Execute all event logistics, including venue selection, vendor negotiations, managing timelines, securing necessary permits from local agencies, and
• supporting other team members in completing their event-related tasks 
• Budget Management: Prepare and manage event budgets, ensuring all activities are cost-effective and align with the agency’s financial goals 
• Volunteer Supervision: Recruit, train, and supervise volunteers for special events, ensuring they are well-prepared, and their roles are clearly defined 
   

Direct Appeal Fundraising

• Planning and Execution: Coordinate and execute all agency direct appeal fundraising campaigns (direct mail, social media, SMS, email, etc.), managing timelines and creating reports as needed 
• Content/Copy Creation: Both independently and in collaboration with external vendors, create and maintain content/copy for campaign related marketing materials. 
• Maximize Results: Research and implement industry best practices to maximize yield from all direct appeal campaigns 
• Vendor Management: negotiate and work with numerous vendors related to the design, production and distribution of direct appeal materials

Community Engagement

• Work closely with the Volunteer Specialist and SDD to design and execute meaningful volunteer experiences for CIS donors and corporate partners 
   

Communications and Collaboration  

• Collaboration: Work collaboratively with Board Members, community stakeholders, and the development team to advance event planning and fundraising efforts 
• Communications Alignment: Coordinate with the communications team to ensure agency alignment of messaging and look/feel of marketing materials for all development-related initiatives

Administrative and Other Duties

• Data Management: Maintain accurate records of event-related activities, donor interactions, and financial reports in the donor database 
• Strategic Reporting: Analyze and report on key metrics related to events and fundraising campaigns to inform future strategies and improve fundraising outcomes 
• Team Participation: Actively participate in the CIS team approach to service delivery, problem-solving, and upholding agency culture, standards, and systems 
• Additional Duties: Perform other duties as required by the Senior Director of Development, Operations or Chief Development Officer

Reporting Structure: This position is supervised by the Senior Director of Development and Operations and may supervise interns and/or volunteers.  

Work Location:  This is a full-time position based out of our CIS administrative office in Austin, TX.

Applications and Cover Letters will be accepted until the position is filled. 

Request for Cover Letter: To gain a deeper understanding of your interest in this role and how your skills align with our mission, we kindly ask that you submit a cover letter with your application. 

Communities In Schools of Central Texas is an equal-opportunity employer.