Development Associate

Job description

Summary The Development Associate advances Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute's (GMGI) philanthropic goals through management and implementation of fundraising events, conducting prospect research to identify new, potential donors and supporting other back of house functions including processing of all gifts and production of thank you letters. In general, the Development Associate supports the continued growth of GMGIs development program. Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute (GMGI) is an exciting independent research institute addressing critical challenges facing our oceans, human health, and the environment through innovative scientific research and education. GMGI’s Development team executes all activities related to philanthropic contributions in support of the marine genomics research institute, Gloucester Biotechnology Academy, and organization-wide priorities. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Development and Donor Engagement Conduct in-depth prospect research on individuals, foundations, and corporations using the internet and the iWave wealth screening service to help prepare for meetings and to develop cultivation strategies Conduct research using the iWave wealth screening service to uncover new prospects Assist the Development Director in executing special fundraising initiatives such as programmatic campaigns or leadership giving campaigns Support scheduling, logistics, and strategic follow up of prospect and donor meetings for the Development Director and Executive Director Provide high level support for special fundraising projects and initiatives as assigned by the Development and Executive Director Event Planning and Execution Working in coordination with the Director of Development, support event conceptualization and event logistics for mission aligned external events such as GMGI’s annual Byrnes Lecture, Academy breakfasts, and Research Lectures ensuring seamless execution and strategic engagement with guests Provide logistics support for additional development related event functions including maintenance of RSVP lists, generation of name tags, working with caterers and other event vendors. Collaborate with the Development Director to maximize event impact through post-event guest follow up, translating new gifts, information and data capture of attendees Database Management and Reporting Manage Salesforce CRM database activity to support all Development work, ensuring accurate data input, integrity, and reporting related to donations, donors, and prospects Become expert on the Salesforce CRM database and ensure that all of our systems and processes in Salesforce are being conducted as efficiently as possible and we are getting maximum value out of our CRM system. Coordinate with the Finance department to ensure proper tracking and accounting of all philanthropic contributions Prepare minutes and documentations as needed for Development Committee meetings Education and Work Experience Requirements: Bachelor’s degree required 2+ years’ experience in development, donor relations, or alumni relations Proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint, Word, Excel, and Adobe required Familiarity with standard database functionality required (Salesforce preferred) Familiarity with basic tools and techniques of prospect research desirable Demonstrated success working as a member of a high functioning team Other Requirements: Can manage a workload with changing priorities and diverse functionalities Strong written and verbal communication skills Capable of mastering new software applications and technologies Excellent project coordination skills; solutions-oriented problem solver Tenaciously organized and detail-oriented Reliable and timely follow through Ability to communicate with broad spectrum of internal and external stakeholders Strong, self-starting work ethic Professionalism in engaging with multiple stakeholders (donors, leadership, Board members) Diplomacy, confidentiality, and discretion Enthusiasm and commitment to GMGI’s mission for science and education Self-starting, independent, creative thinker with strong problem-solving skills