Development Operations Specialist

The Development Operations Specialist supports the fundraising, donor engagement, marketing, volunteer, community outreach, and administrative operations of The Arc of Central Alabama’s Development Department. This position works closely with the Vice President of Development to strengthen relationships with donors, volunteers, businesses, board members, and community partners while helping ensure the day-to-day operations of the Development Department run smoothly and efficiently.

The Development Operations Specialist will also provide operational and logistical support for The Arc’s Board of Directors and Junior Board, helping coordinate meetings, maintain accurate records and contact information, arrange travel, and support board engagement in organizational events, conferences, advocacy initiatives, and other opportunities.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, creative, computer-savvy, comfortable communicating with a variety of audiences, and willing to jump in wherever needed. This is a hands-on position that combines development operations, donor stewardship, event support, marketing coordination, volunteer engagement, and board support.

Development Operations & Donor Stewardship

• Assist with maintaining the organization’s donor database, ensuring donor records, gifts, contact information, and interactions are entered accurately and consistently.
• Process and track donations and assist with maintaining accurate gift records.
  Ensure donor acknowledgments and thank-you letters are prepared and sent in a timely manner.
• Assist with donor lists, mailing lists, reports, and other information needed for fundraising and stewardship efforts.
• Help identify opportunities for continued donor engagement and stewardship.
  Maintain organized Development Department records, calendars, files, and operational systems.
• Assist the Vice President of Development with scheduling, meeting preparation, follow-up, correspondence, and other departmental needs.
• Maintain confidentiality and accuracy when working with donor and organizational information.

Board & Junior Board Operation

• Provide administrative and logistical support for meetings and activities of The Arc of Central Alabama Board of Directors and Junior Board.
• Assist with scheduling meetings, preparing and distributing meeting materials, coordinating meeting logistics, and tracking follow-up items.
• Maintain current board and Junior Board rosters, contact information, committee assignments, terms, attendance records, and other relevant information.
• Assist with onboarding new board and Junior Board members and ensuring they receive appropriate organizational information and materials.
• Coordinate board member registration, travel arrangements, lodging, itineraries, and other logistics for conferences, meetings, advocacy events, and organizational activities as needed.
• Communicate upcoming opportunities for board members to participate in conferences, advocacy efforts, community events, volunteer opportunities, and organizational initiatives.
• Help coordinate board participation in fundraising events, donor engagement activities, site visits, tours, and other Development initiatives.
• Assist the Vice President of Development with keeping board and Junior Board members informed, engaged, and connected to the mission and work of The Arc.
• Maintain organized records related to board and Junior Board activities and communications.

Fundraising & Event Support

• Assist with the planning and execution of fundraising events, community events, and donor engagement activities.
• Solicit in-kind donations from businesses and community partners for auctions, events, programs, and other organizational needs.
• Track in-kind solicitations, donations, donor information, and follow-up communication.
• Assist with event registration, guest lists, sponsorship materials, auction items, signage, setup, check-in, breakdown, and other event logistics.
• Attend Development events as needed, including occasional evenings and weekends.
• Help coordinate and attend restaurant giveback nights and other community fundraising opportunities.
• Assist with post-event follow-up, donor acknowledgments, reporting, and recordkeeping.
  
  Marketing & Communications

• Manage internal requests for marketing materials and coordinate with appropriate staff to ensure projects are completed accurately and on time.
• Assist with the creation and coordination of flyers, invitations, signage, sponsorship materials, social media graphics, presentations, and other Development materials.
• Help maintain consistency in The Arc of Central Alabama’s branding and messaging.
• Assist with managing the organization’s social media accounts, including scheduling content, sharing program and event updates, and highlighting donors, volunteers, community partners, and the people we serve.
• Help collect photos, stories, program updates, and other content from departments for use in social media, donor communications, and marketing materials.
• Assist with maintaining Development, event, promotional, and outreach calendars.

Volunteer & Community Engagement

• Assist with recruiting, coordinating, and communicating with volunteers for events, programs, and community service opportunities.
• Help coordinate corporate and community volunteer projects.
• Attend volunteer activities and help ensure volunteers have a positive and meaningful experience.
• Help cultivate relationships with businesses, civic organizations, community groups, and other potential partners.
• Represent The Arc of Central Alabama professionally at community events, giveback nights, volunteer projects, conferences, advocacy activities, and other outreach opportunities.
  
  Qualifications

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, deadlines, calendars, and priorities simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Comfortable working with donor databases, spreadsheets, online platforms, scheduling systems, and other technology.
• Computer savvy and willing to learn new software and systems quickly.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
• Experience with Canva, social media platforms, donor management software, email marketing platforms, or similar programs is preferred.
• Comfortable communicating professionally by phone, email, and in person with donors, board members, businesses, volunteers, staff, and community partners.
• Ability to work independently while also being a collaborative member of the Development team.
• Creative, resourceful, dependable, flexible, and willing to take initiative.
• Ability to anticipate needs, follow through on assignments, and maintain organized systems.
• Ability to handle confidential donor, board, and organizational information appropriately.
• Must be willing and able to attend occasional evening and weekend events and travel locally as needed.

Preferred Experience

• Previous experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, executive or administrative support, marketing, communications, event planning, volunteer coordination, board relations, or a related field is preferred.
• Experience working with a donor database or CRM, managing organizational social media accounts, coordinating meetings or travel, or supporting a nonprofit board is a plus.
• Knowledge of the Birmingham and Central Alabama business and nonprofit community is also preferred.
  
  Ideal Candidate

• The successful Development Operations Specialist will be someone who enjoys both people and details. They may spend part of the day updating donor information, preparing thank-you letters, and coordinating a Board meeting, and another part reaching out to a local business for an auction donation, creating a social media post, arranging conference travel, preparing materials for an upcoming event, or welcoming volunteers.
• This person should be comfortable in a fast-paced environment, understand that nonprofit development often requires flexibility, and be able to anticipate what needs to happen next. They should be willing to step in wherever needed to help the Vice President of Development, the Development Department, and The Arc of Central Alabama succeed.