Athens Development Officer

Qualified applicants, please apply online here: https://form.jotform.com/250753688146163. Applications close on Wednesday, April 9th.

Summary: We are seeking an energetic development professional who will thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. The ideal candidate is driven by the gratifying work of raising resources for a vital, mission-focused organization. Join us and our thriving community as we enrich the lives of people of all abilities! The Development Officer is responsible for generating the resources necessary for esp to fulfill its mission and provide services through Experiences, Support, and Purpose. This role will create and implement strategies to secure leadership annual gifts in the range of $2,500 to $25,000, focusing on building deeper engagement with our established donor base while cultivating new community and personal relationships. In addition to securing gifts, the Development Officer will lead initiatives designed to enhance volunteer and donor engagement, helping to strengthen support for esp’s mission. This position offers an exciting opportunity to work closely with both internal and external stakeholders, driving impact in a collaborative environment. The Development Officer will report directly to the esp Athens Executive Director and be an integral member of the broader esp Development team.

About esp

Founded in 1986 in Watkinsville, Georgia, esp exists to create transformative experiences for people with disabilities and their families and change communities for the better. esp now operates four locations across the state of Georgia to provide year-round programming, summer camp, and family support to nearly 1,000 families - and we’re growing. To learn more, visit espyouandme.org.

Our Values

• Infused with Joyful Hospitality
• Innovating Possibilities
• Activating the Abilities of All
• Fascinated with Fun
• Compassion, Freely Given
• Connecting the Unconnected
• Persevering, Together

Top Five Responsibilities:

1. Oversee and execute fundraising strategies to meet and surpass set goals, including managing and guiding other development staff, when necessary.
2. Manage a portfolio of 175-200 donors and prospects, primarily targeting gifts in the $2,500 - $25,000 range.
3. Create and implement tailored plans to guide prospective donors through the entire development cycle.
4. Lead initiatives at esp Athens to retain and expand the organization’s corporate donor base.
5. Attend and support special events, performing additional duties as needed, which may occur on evenings and weekends.

Key Competencies:

• Demonstrate a strong passion for and proficiency in fundraising principles, building and maintaining donor relationships.
• Approach relationship development with creativity and initiative, offering effective solutions.
• Work autonomously, staying driven to meet and exceed established goals.
• Possess exceptional written and verbal communication skills with a keen attention to detail, ensuring excellent customer service and positive engagement with diverse audiences.

Donor Strategy & Management

• Develop and implement programs to renew, retain, and grow leadership annual gifts.
• Collaborate with the team to develop effective strategies to solicit and steward leadership annual gifts.
• Identify, qualify, cultivate and solicit leadership annual gift prospects.
• Align fundraising strategies with organizational priorities in collaboration with internal teams.
• Collaborate with the team to craft effective strategies for soliciting and stewarding leadership gifts.

Portfolio Management

• Design and execute strategic plans to move prospective donors through the various donor cycle stages of identification, cultivation, and solicitation over 12 months.
• Manage a portfolio of 175-200 donors, aiming for 18 meetings per month.
• Regularly engage with prospects through personalized communication, meetings, and events.
• Track and report on progress, ensuring that all donor interactions are accurately recorded in the donor database.
• Coordinate and implement donor visits to include qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship visits in the Athens area.

Corporate Donor Strategies

• Prepare tailored pre-meeting materials and follow-up activities for donor visits.
• Maintain consistent communication with donors, ensuring timely responses to inquiries and feedback

Proposals & Administration

• Create clear, concise, and compelling proposals to secure leadership annual gifts supporting strategic goals and campaigns.
• Document donor visits with detailed reports in the Salesforce donor database within a week.
• Manage all administrative tasks related to leadership annual gift fundraising, including scheduling meetings, processing gifts, and coordinating donor recognition.
• Participate in weekly strategy meetings, team sessions, and professional development activities.
• Create and execute various special giving campaigns in collaboration with the Site Development Team as needed.

Special Events

• Represent esp at community events, building relationships and promoting the mission.
• Develop monthly engagement plans for various community and civic organizations.
• Attend mission-focused events, programs and community events at the discretion of the Executive Director, which may happen during early morning or evening hours or on weekends
• Assist with event planning and execution, ensuring a positive experience for donors and attendees
• Maintain a flexible work schedule, including a willingness to travel and work evenings and weekends as needed

Site Team Engagement

• Collaborate with the team to develop strategies for soliciting and stewarding leadership gifts.
• Support the Development team with campaign tasks and duties as assigned.
• Assist with site-wide activities and program events as needed.

Minimum Qualifications

• At least 3 years of fundraising, sales, or business development experience
• CRM experience is a plus
• Google Suite experience is a plus

Job Details

• Reports To: Athens Executive Director
• Location: Athens, Georgia / In-Person
• Annual Compensation: $55,000-$65,000 base salary plus opportunities for additional performance-based variable compensation
• FLSA Status: Full-Time, Exempt
• Benefits: Competitive benefits package including health insurance, 401(k), supplemental life and disability, generous Paid Time Off
• A fun, energetic, and passionate employee culture
• The opportunity to be a part of an undeniable mission changing lives daily

After a decision to hire a candidate, an offer will be made contingent on the satisfactory completion of required background checks. Background checks will vary depending on the position and may include criminal history, driving record, and any other relevant information for the job.

esp provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

esp is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. As part of this commitment, esp will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations for the hiring process. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact esp’s People Team at hr@espyouandme.org.