Community Development Specialist

Kalamazoo County Ready 4s; Kalamazoo (MI); On-site; USD 33,000 - 41,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Mileage reimbursement

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Employee Assistance Program

Wellness benefits

Simple IRA employer contribution

Job summary

Kalamazoo County Ready 4s is seeking a part-time Community Development Specialist to lead donor relations and fundraising efforts from its in-office Kalamazoo location. The role emphasizes engaging foundations, individuals, and local businesses to support our mission and long-term vision.

The position offers 20-25 hours per week at $24-$30 per hour, with benefits including PTO, wellness perks, EAP, mileage reimbursement, and Simple IRA employer contribution upon eligibility.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• 5 years' experience in administration, philanthropy, grant writing, fundraising, or donor relations.
• Familiarity with Meta Business Suite and content creation software.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a donor relations plan targeting foundations, individuals, businesses, and others.
• Identify potential partners and cultivate prospects aligned with KC Ready 4s priorities.
• Research grant opportunities and assist in developing plans for expansion and engagement.
• Coordinate fundraising events and manage deadlines for grant submissions and reports.
• Collaborate with leadership to gather data for grant submissions and newsletters.
• Track grant outcomes and ensure compliance with funder requirements.
• Assist in writing donor appeals and fundraising collateral for annual and special campaigns.

Skills

Donor relations

Fundraising

Grant writing

Communication

Project management

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor's degree (related field)

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Excel

Teams

Donor management software

Job description

The Community Development Specialist is responsible for developing, managing, and enhancing fundraising strategies that support both the short-term goals and long-term vision of Kalamazoo County Ready 4s. The Community Development Specialist role emphasizes building and strengthening donor connections, broadening engagement within the community, and effectively communicating Kalamazoo County Ready 4s mission to motivate charitable support. The available position is an in-office position that is part-time, 20-25 hours per week at an hourly rate of $24-$30 per hour based on experience and qualifications. Benefits include mileage reimbursement, accrued Paid Time Off (PTO}, Employee Assistance Program, wellness benefits, and employer contribution to a Simple IRA upon eligibility.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Work with KC Ready 4s leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive and innovative donor relations plan targeting foundations, individuals, businesses, and others.
2. Determine potential partners relevant to KC Ready 4s through ongoing research and evaluation and cultivate those prospects that best align with KC Ready 4s short- and long-term priorities and needs.
3. Research and identify new and continued grant opportunities aligned with KC Ready 4s' mission and strategic goals.
4. Research and assist in developing plans for expanding KC Ready 4s' presence throughout Kalamazoo County through assisting with social media accounts, community engagement opportunities, and unique strategies.
5. Coordinate and execute various fundraising events.
6. Maintain a calendar of grant deadlines, submission dates, and reporting requirements.
7. Collaborate with the Executive Director and program staff to gather necessary data and narratives for grant submissions and quarterly e-newsletters.
8. Track and report on grant outcomes using supported data, ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
9. Assist in writing donor appeals and fundraising collateral to support annual giving and special campaigns.
10. Use donor management software to track giving history and generate reports for grant and
11. Participates in meetings, workshops, trainings, etc. for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job functions.
12. Performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of Kalamazoo County Ready 4s.

Knowledge and Skills Required

1. A Bachelor's degree in grant writing, philanthropy, nonprofit management, public relations, communications, or a related field is preferred.
2. 5 years' experience in administration, philanthropy, grant writing, fundraising, or donor relations.
3. Familiarity with meta business suite and content creating software
4. Meticulous attention to details
5. Ability to organize, prioritize, and work independently; demonstrated capacity to manage many projects and activities simultaneously.
6. Creative problem solving
7. Excellent oral, written and interpersonal communication skills with demonstrated ability to develop effective relationships with families, pre-k providers, donors, and other community partners.
8. Ability to pass various background checks as required.
9. Ability to collect and organize data into usable formats for grants, donor relations, and
10. Excellent written, verbal, and listening communication skills.
11. Ability to effectively use Microsoft Office products (Word, SharePoint, Excel, Teams, etc.} and other technology platforms as needed as well as web-based applications and donor management software. Ability to transfer technology skills to other programs.

Commitment to Equity and Inclusion

KC Ready 4s strives to be equitable and inclusive in all interactions, processes, and procedures.

This commitment includes the recruitment and retention of staff of diverse identities, experiences, and thoughts that contribute to our values and mission. We encourage all who meet minimum qualifications to apply and preference given to candidates who

• Have demonstrable experience with effectively engaging individuals from diverse backgrounds; including but not limited to traditionally marginalized populations
• Model flexibility and patience to adapt to inevitable changes in society and the workplace
• Commit to ongoing growth and development in the areas of cultural agility, equity and