Development Coordinator

Pathways; Lakewood (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Pathways in Lakewood, CA seeks an experienced Development Coordinator to advance fundraising and external relations, strengthening donor relationships, coordinating initiatives and events, supporting communications, and maintaining donor data.

Reporting to the Executive Director, you will work with the Board Development Committee, Grant Writer, and Community Engagement Coordinator to translate plans into results, manage multiple priorities, and help sustain Pathways' mission.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, business administration, or related field.
• 2–5 years of fundraising and philanthropic experience in nonprofit setting, including major or corporate giving, donor relations, campaigns and events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills for proposals, presentations, and donor communications.
• Strong organization and project management skills with ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor management software; Bloomerang experience is helpful.
• Collaborative, resourceful, professional approach with initiative and sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups including donors, staff, board members, volunteers, vendors, and public officials.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Identify, research, and prioritize individual, foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities.
• Track fundraising performance, prepare reports, and adjust strategies to support revenue goals.
• Serve as lead staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, including materials preparation and meetings participation.
• Partner with the Executive Director on major donor cultivation and planned giving opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, corporate partners, sponsors, and foundation representatives.
• Create donor stewardship plans that engage and retain supporters.
• Coordinate outreach, acknowledgments, and donor recognition.
• Collaborate on fundraising materials, newsletters, campaigns, sponsorship packages, and collateral.
• Support fundraising events, including logistics, materials, communications, and volunteer involvement.
• Maintain donor records in the CRM and analyze fundraising data for reports.

Skills

Fundraising

Donor relations

Communications

Project management

Data management

Microsoft Office

Bloomerang

Education

Bachelor’s degree in communications/marketing/nonprofit management/business administration

Tools

Bloomerang

Microsoft Office

CRM software

Job description

Pathways seeks an experienced Development Coordinator to advance our fundraising and external relations work. This role supports the financial sustainability and long-term impact of our mission by strengthening donor relationships, coordinating fundraising initiatives and events, supporting communications, and maintaining accurate donor data.

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Development Coordinator works closely with the Board Development Committee, Grant Writer, and Community Engagement Coordinator. This is a meaningful opportunity for an organized, self-directed development professional who enjoys building relationships and turning plans into results.

What you will do

Fundraising strategy and planning

• Develop and implement fundraising strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Identify, research, and prioritize individual, foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities.
• Track fundraising performance, prepare reports, and adjust strategies to support revenue goals.
• Serve as lead staff liaison to the Board Development Committee, including preparing materials and participating in meetings.
• Partner with the Executive Director on major donor cultivation and planned giving opportunities.

Donor cultivation and stewardship

• Cultivate relationships with individual donors, corporate partners, sponsors, and foundation representatives.
• Create donor stewardship plans that engage and retain supporters.
• Coordinate personalized outreach, acknowledgments, and donor recognition.

Communications and events

• Collaborate on compelling fundraising materials, donor newsletters, email campaigns, appeals, sponsorship packages, and printed collateral.
• Support fundraising and donor engagement events, including logistics, materials, communications, volunteer involvement, and attendance promotion.
• Help ensure every donor and sponsor interaction is positive, consistent, and connected to the Pathways mission.

Data management

• Maintain accurate donor and prospect records in the organization’s database or CRM.
• Analyze fundraising data and prepare clear reports for internal and external stakeholders.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in communications, marketing, nonprofit management, business administration, or a related field.
• Two to five years of fundraising and philanthropic experience, preferably in a nonprofit organization, including experience with major or corporate giving, donor relations, individual donor campaigns, and special events.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to create persuasive proposals, presentations, and donor communications.
• Strong organization and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and donor management software; Bloomerang experience is helpful.
• A collaborative, resourceful, and professional approach, paired with initiative and sound judgment.
• Ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups, including donors, staff, board members, volunteers, vendors, community members, and public officials.

Helpful experience

• Knowledge of planned giving vehicles, such as bequests and IRA charitable rollovers.

About Pathways

Founded in 1985, Pathways is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit serving the Greater Lakewood and Long Beach area. We provide compassionate, no-cost support to people and families facing illness, grief, and aging through our Circle of Care: Care Navigation, Hospice Care, and Bereavement Counseling.

For over four decades, Pathways has worked alongside schools, health systems, volunteers, community groups, and caring professionals. Our programs include bereavement groups, care navigation for older adults, and hospice supportive care. Our goal is to be a trusted friend in life’s toughest moments, helping clients and families navigate illness, loss, and healing with dignity, comfort, and connection.