Development Specialist

Overview
Carolina Wildlife Conservation Center is a leading wildlife rescue and rehabilitation facility in the Carolinas. We rescue, rehabilitate, and release native wildlife back into their natural habitats in Iron Station, NC.

​The Development Specialist reports to the Executive Director and supports the Center’s fundraising, marketing, and volunteer programs. Key responsibilities include processing donations, sending donor acknowledgments, maintaining accurate donor records, and managing our CRM system. This role will also assist with grant applications as needed.

​Additionally, the Development Specialist will support donor relations through prospect research, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship. The role also helps plan and evaluate outreach campaigns, oversees volunteer programs, and supports communications and community engagement efforts.​

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 like monthly sponsors and partner donors

• Be innovate to grow mailing and email contact lists

• 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.

• Contribute to the development and implementation of volunteer management protocols and procedures.

• Create and maintain content calendars for email and social media campaigns, drafting and editing compelling, mission-driven stories while ensuring alignment with brand standards.

• 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

• Proven experience in nonprofit development or related fields such as fundraising or nonprofit management.
• Strong skills in event planning, proposal writing, digital marketing, and CRM software (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge).
• Familiarity with email marketing tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact.
• Knowledge of social media management platforms including WordPress for website content updates.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to build relationships across diverse audiences.
• Experience in research, strategic planning, budgeting, and public relations activities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with attention to detail.
• Background in grant proposal writing and fundraising strategies is highly desirable.
• Prior experience working within university settings or nonprofit organizations is preferred.
• Knowledge of estate planning law (wills, trusts & estate law) is a plus but not required. This Development Specialist role offers an engaging environment where your skills will directly impact community growth and organizational success through innovative strategies and meaningful engagement initiatives.

Pay: From $23.00 per hour

Expected hours: 24.0 – 28.0 per week

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Iron Station, NC 28080