Development Specialist

City University of New York; New York, Northern (NY, KY); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 71,000; Full time

Job summary

LaGuardia Community College seeks a Development Specialist to support high‑level college relationships and administer foundation activities. You will prepare proposals, grant reports, donor communications, and board materials, while coordinating donor meetings and maintaining records.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree with four years’ related nonprofit experience, strong writing, and excellent coordination skills in a fast‑paced environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and four years’ related experience required.
• Non-profit development/fundraising experience preferred.
• Excellent writing and experience in proposals, grant reports, and donor communications.
• Strong attention to detail and administrative/coordination skills.

Responsibilities

• Prepare fundraising materials, including proposals and grant reports.
• Conduct prospect research for potential funders and create donor briefings.
• Assist in donor moves management from cultivation to solicitation.
• Coordinate meetings with donors and stakeholders, including logistics.
• Provide day‑to‑day administrative support to the Foundation Executive Director.
• Develop board materials, agendas, reports, and presentations.

Skills

Writing skills

Attention to detail

Administrative skills

Coordination

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Development Specialist

POSITION DETAILS

Founded in 1971 in Long Island City, Queens , LaGuardia Community College is one of seven community colleges of the City University of New York (CUNY). LaGuardia offers more than sixty associate degree programs and more than fifty workforce training, ESOL, GED, and pre-college programs. In 2023, LaGuardia served approximately 24,000 students. More than one-third of LaGuardia’s degree-seeking students are born outside the United States; they come from 136 countries and speak 43 heritage languages. Sixty percent are first‑generation college students.

Virtually all LaGuardia students are ethnic minorities (89 percent), 58 percent are women, 27 percent are over the age of 25. Forty‑six percent of associate degree students are Hispanic. Upon graduation most students transfer to four‑year colleges, typically in CUNY, to complete their baccalaureate degrees. Graduates of career programs such as Nursing, Computer Technology, and Veterinary Technology enter the workforce. LaGuardia ranked fifth among U.S. community colleges in economic mobility – moving low‑income students into the middle class and beyond – in studies by Stanford University (2017) and the Brookings Institution (2020). Please visit www.laguardia.edu to learn more.

This position will provide essential support for high‑level College relationships, including LaGuardia Community College Foundation Board of Directors, individual donors, and institutional funders, as well as provide administrative support for the LaGuardia Community College Foundation in the Development Department. This position reports to the Executive Director of the LaGuardia Community College Foundation. Responsibilities include:

• Prepare fundraising materials, including writing funding proposal for individuals and grant proposals institutional funders; donor and grant reports; and organization annual report; cultivate and solicit a portfolio of donors;
• Conduct comprehensive prospect research for potential individual and institutional funders and create donor briefings;
• Assist in donor moves management process from cultivation to solicitation to stewardship;
• Act as liaison with the President’s Office and department/faculty partners on projects, communications, and meetings;
• Provide day‑to‑day administrative support to Executive Director of the LaGuardia Foundation;
• Coordinate cultivation meetings and events on‑and‑off‑campus involving donors, including logistics such as scheduling, venue, catering, and expense reconciliation;
• Assist in department tax‑levy budget oversight and HR‑related functions for Development;
• Develop and prepare of Board materials and communications including agendas, reports, financials, website, orientation handbook, presentations, and other materials as needed;
• Provide logistical support by attending and tracking all official business and records for all Board and Committee meetings, as well as onboarding of new Board of Directors;
• Coordinate and schedule the calendar for Board and Committee meetings and communications;
• Research, compile, draft, edit and proofread documents, minutes, presentations, proposals, and reports;
• Assist with preparing staff, Board members, and speakers for Board and Committee meetings;
• Update Board database.

QUALIFICATIONS

Bachelor’s Degree and four years’ related experience required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Related experience specifically in non‑profit development/fundraising.
• Excellent writing skills, such prior experience in writing proposals, grant report, impact reports for donor, and annual reports.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Excellent administration and coordination skills

CUNY TITLE OVERVIEW

Contributes to organizing and administering College fundraising activities.

• Manages research of potential funding sponsors
• Tracks and analyzes giving trends; prepares financial and ad‑hoc reports
• Conducts data quality audits
• Oversees preparation of fundraising communication materials
• Writes grant proposals
• Recommends, implements and evaluates fundraising strategies
• May supervise office operations and/or department budget
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Job Title Name: Development Specialist

CUNY TITLE

Higher Education Assistant

FLSA

Non‑exempt

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

Salary: $59,256 - $70,756

Salary commensurate with education and experience.

CUNY’s benefits contribute significantly to total compensation, supporting health and wellness, financial well‑being, and professional development. We offer a range of health plans, competitive retirement/pension benefits and savings plans, tuition waivers for CUNY graduate study and generous paid time off. Our staff also benefits from the extensive academic, arts, and athletic programs on our campuses and the opportunity to participate in a lively, diverse academic community in one of the greatest cities in the world.

CLOSING DATE

October 4th, 2026

JOB SEARCH CATEGORY

CUNY Job Posting: Managerial/Professional

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

CUNY encourages people with disabilities, minorities, veterans and women to apply. At CUNY, Italian Americans are also included among our protected groups. Applicants and employees will not be discriminated against on the basis of any legally protected category, including sexual orientation or gender identity. EEO/AA/Vet/Disability Employer.

Job ID: 32735

Location: LaGuardia Community College

Job Type: Full‑Time