Development Specialist

Company Description

Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center (CWCC) is a wildlife hospital, rehabilitation facility, and sanctuary located in the Greater Charlotte Area of NC. The center’s mission is to rescue, rehabilitate, and release injured, orphaned, and ill wildlife while educating humans on how to live symbiotically with nature. With a specialized team of veterinarians, state-certified wildlife rehabilitators, and volunteers, and a campus encompassing over 100 acres, including 3 ponds, numerous species-specific rehab enclosures, and a surgical center, CWCC is distinctly positioned to handle trauma patients, complex medical cases, and unique species-specific rehabilitation needs. 

Role Description

The Development Specialist reports to the Executive Director and supports the Center’s fundraising efforts to more deeply engage existing donor relationships and works to identify new avenues of support.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities 

• Support the development and implementation of short- and long-term strategies to identify, cultivate, solicit, and steward individual and corporate donors.

• Maintain and Grow online non-profit profiles 

• Manage and Grow donor outreach programs

• Network with existing local organizations that support community non-profits

• Assist with the preparation of grant applications, including research, project descriptions, budgets, and supporting documentation

• Provide support for CWCC events, including planning, logistics, management, and execution

• Respond promptly and professionally to donor inquiries via phone, email, or mail

• Accurately record donations in the Development CRM, ensuring data integrity by entering gifts, updating records, and generating reports and mailing lists as needed.

• Prepare and distribute donor acknowledgment letters in a timely manner, following established gift acknowledgment protocols

• Process matching gift donations in coordination with donors and employers as appropriate

• Facilitate and schedule on-site tours to Partner Donors and potential new relationships

Qualifications

• Enthusiasm for the mission of Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
• 3 years in non-profit/development/fundraising/marketing preferred
• Experience using CRM, email marketing platform and MS Office suite
• Self-starter who takes initiative and anticipates needs, is resourceful and a creative

problem-solver

• Detail-oriented with effective organizational skills, including strong time-

management, the ability to manage multiple tasks and deadlines simultaneously,

with limited resources, in a fast-paced environment

• Excellent written and verbal communication, including public speaking and formal

presentation, writing, grammar and editing skills with a high level of attention to

detail

• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of donor information
• Exemplifies and fosters a workplace culture of compassion, diversity, equity and

inclusion. Maintains and exhibits the highest standards of ethical conduct

• Professional and friendly demeanor with maturity, sound judgement, integrity and

strong interpersonal skills with a focus on relationship building

• Must be willing to work flexible hours and attend CWCC events/programs as

needed