Description: Mary McDowell Friends School (MMFS) invites applications for a full-time Development Coordinator beginning August 2025.
Position Overview
The Development Coordinator supports all aspects of the school’s fundraising activities with a focus on donor cultivation strategy, individual giving, and special events management. Additionally, this position will be responsible for the organization’s fledgling Alumni community. The candidate should possess creativity, initiative, strong interpersonal & relationship-building skills, excellent organizational and event management know-how, and aptitude with database systems.
This role has been integral in shaping and expanding key development initiatives. For example, the Development Coordinator should successfully manage digital communications, directly engage with donors, secure event sponsorships, and assist in facilitating Development and Events Committee meetings.
Essential Responsibilities and Duties
Ensure accuracy of data in the database, timely donor acknowledgment, volunteer reporting, manage mailings, and provide event support.
Support all facets of MMFS’s fundraising initiatives with innovative, relevant, and meaningful organizational processes designed to help achieve fundraising goals.
Follow and maintain department policies and procedures for all Development operations.
Work closely with the Communications team to coordinate information and outreach.
Manage special initiative strategic mail and email campaigns for MMFS fundraising efforts.
Innovate and execute donor engagement strategies, such as identifying and involving underrepresented groups in fundraising efforts. For instance, leveraging reports to explore parent occupations to solicit in-kind donations, engaging a wider audience in fundraising, and enhancing auction success.
Data Management
Ensure data integrity by creating processes, identifying and implementing regular data clean-up projects for all donor and prospect records.
Create donor tracking reports for all fundraising campaigns and events.
Enter all incoming gifts into Veracross and prepare a daily report of gifts received.
Coordinate donor acknowledgment letters for all incoming gifts within a week of receipt.
Draft template acknowledgment letters based on gift designation and constituency.
Track and apply for corporate matching gifts.
Work with the Business Office regarding donation-related items and adjustments.
Campaigns (Senior Gift, Annual Fund)
Maintain strategic mail and email campaign for MMFS Fund and Senior Gift.
Manage logistics of annual appeal mailings and donor cultivation event invitations.
Provide research on current and prospective donors as needed.
Facilitate unique and effective fundraising strategies, such as the Giving Tuesday campaign.
Key contributions include creating a communications plan, producing engaging social media videos, and setting clear monetary goals.
Event Support
Manage event software operations, including setting up event content, establishing templates, entering and acknowledging all financial contributions, and producing reports.
Plan and manage one or more events, including set-up, check-in, and breakdown.
Provide additional event-related logistics, production, and planning assistance as needed.
Assist with the planning and execution of donor and community events.
Outreach and Communication:
Collaborate with the Communications team to create and distribute high-quality outreach materials for campaigns and events, ensuring materials align with the school’s branding and resonate with the donor base.
Expand alumni engagement efforts by developing and managing outreach plans, with a focus on fostering relationships that contribute to long-term fundraising goals.
Communicate with all members of our community in a thoughtful and honest manner.
Complete written reports, evaluations, and projects on an as-needed basis.
Alumni Management
Create and manage systems for Alumni engagement and cultivation.
Engage in outreach via social media and other mediums to maintain regular communication with the Development Office.
Plan and execute Alumni engagement events through the course of the year.
Oversee the expanded alumni relations program, leveraging research and strategic outreach to deepen connections with MMFS graduates.
Diversity and Equity Commitments
Understand and participate in all school-wide diversity and equity initiatives.
Examine administrative practice through the lens of race, identity, equity, and privilege.
Provide an equitable framework for leadership decisions.
Support a school culture that allows for social identities to feel welcome.
Competencies
Data Management
Interpersonal & Communication Skills
Ethical Conduct
Creative Thinking
Commitment to our Mission
Other:
All employees are required to familiarize themselves with the employment policy manuals and meet the expectations outlined within each.
Supervisory Responsibility
This position has no supervisory responsibilities.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work
This is a non-exempt full-time, twelve-month administrative position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a half-hour paid lunch. Evening and weekend work for special events is required as job duties demand, and will be scheduled in advance.
Travel
On occasion, travel between campuses is necessary for meetings, which are scheduled with advance notice and are within walking distance from each other.
Work Environment & Physical Demands
This position requires the ability to maintain the physical capacity required to navigate the school environment and to ensure the safety of the students. The ability to open filing cabinets and sit, bend, or stand for long periods of time, as necessary. This position occasionally ascends/descends stairs from different rooms in the building.
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Requirements: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
BA or equivalent work experience, plus 2 to 5 years of fundraising experience in a non-profit organization or school, and experience in fundraising database management.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to work extended hours and occasional weekends as needed.
Outstanding organizational skills, attention to detail, time management skills, and the ability to prioritize.
Ability to work in a fast-paced, team environment and to carry out projects independently, managing multiple deadlines and using your own initiative.
Ability to multitask and read/edit content for accuracy and detail.
High level of proficiency in industry-standard fundraising databases; Veracross a plus.
High level of computer literacy, including experience with Google Workspace.
Desire to pursue a career in development or cultural management.
Desired Experience
Social Media Literacy (creating posts, driving engagement, following trends, and creative marketing ideas).
Graphic design experience (Canva, Photoshop, WordPress, etc).
Application
To apply, please upload a letter of interest, resume, and contact information for three professional references as a .pdf (preferable) or Word document. If your background and experience are appropriate for the position, you will be contacted directly by a member of our search committee.
We offer a rewarding work experience in downtown Brooklyn, NY, where we encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work. We recognize, appreciate, celebrate, and honor our diverse community as we build an awareness of who each individual is and who we are collectively.
Applicants who enhance the diversity of the school's faculty and administration are strongly encouraged to apply. Please visit our website for more information on our school and a full list of vacancies.
In compliance with NYC’s Pay Transparency Act, this position's base hourly range is $28.84 - $33.65 per hour. Mary McDowell Friends School considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, essential skills, internal peer equity, and market and organizational considerations when extending an offer.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Employment at Mary McDowell Friends School is based solely on qualifications and competence for a particular position, without regard to race, color, ethnic origin, nationality, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability, familial status, or any other category protected by the law. Mary McDowell Friends School’s policy of non-discrimination extends to all employment practices, including but not limited to hiring, transfer, promotion, training, compensation, benefits, layoffs, and termination.