Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for a Fundraising Coordinator
💰 $45,000 - $65,000
🎯 Role Definition
The Fundraising Coordinator is a vital member of our Development team, acting as the organizational backbone for all fundraising activities. You will be instrumental in implementing our fundraising strategy, ensuring a seamless and positive experience for our donors, and managing the critical data that informs our growth. Your work will directly contribute to our ability to secure the resources needed to serve our community and achieve our strategic goals. This role requires a blend of creativity, meticulous attention to detail, and a genuine passion for building relationships to advance our cause.
📈 Career Progression
Typical Career Path
Entry Point From:
- Development Assistant
- Program Assistant or Coordinator
- Volunteer Coordinator
- Communications Assistant
Advancement To:
- Fundraising Manager
- Development Officer / Associate
- Major Gifts Officer
- Grants Manager
Lateral Moves:
- Communications Coordinator
- Event Manager
- Volunteer Manager
Core Responsibilities
Primary Functions
- Develop and execute comprehensive multi-channel annual fund campaigns, including direct mail, email marketing, and social media appeals, to meet or exceed revenue goals.
- Manage the end-to-end logistics for all fundraising and stewardship events (virtual, hybrid, and in-person), from vendor negotiation and venue selection to guest registration, sponsorship fulfillment, and day-of coordination.
- Cultivate and steward a portfolio of mid-level donors, building personal relationships through regular, meaningful communication, impact updates, and personalized outreach.
- Process all incoming donations, grants, and pledges accurately and in a timely manner, ensuring proper coding and record-keeping in the donor CRM system.
- Generate and distribute personalized and timely gift acknowledgements, tax receipts, and thank-you letters to ensure all donors feel valued and appreciated.
- Maintain the integrity and accuracy of the donor database (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser's Edge), performing regular data entry, constituent updates, and data hygiene projects.
- Conduct prospect research on potential individual, corporate, and foundation donors to identify new funding opportunities and help build the donor pipeline.
- Assist the development team in the preparation of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports by gathering necessary documentation, data, and attachments.
- Coordinate the production and distribution of fundraising collateral and communications, including newsletters, annual reports, brochures, and campaign materials, in collaboration with the marketing team.
- Support the planning and execution of donor stewardship and recognition programs to foster long-term donor loyalty and engagement.
- Track fundraising campaign performance, create regular progress reports and dashboards, and provide data-driven insights to inform strategy and decision-making.
- Manage and grow our peer-to-peer and third-party fundraising initiatives, providing robust support and resources to community fundraisers.
- Serve as a primary point of contact for donor inquiries via phone, email, and mail, providing excellent customer service and resolving issues promptly.
- Collaborate with the communications team to create compelling fundraising content and storytelling for our website, social media, and email channels.
- Reconcile fundraising revenue with the finance department on a monthly and quarterly basis to ensure financial accuracy and compliance.
Secondary Functions
- Assist in the coordination and management of fundraising volunteers, including recruitment, training, scheduling, and appreciation efforts.
- Monitor online fundraising platforms and social media for donation activity, comments, and engagement opportunities, responding in a timely fashion.
- Support the planning and logistics for Board and Fundraising Committee meetings, including preparing materials, sending reminders, and taking minutes.
- Stay current on fundraising trends, donor behavior, best practices, and new technologies to recommend innovative approaches for the team.
- Provide general administrative support to the development department as needed, including scheduling, expense reporting, and mailings.
- Represent the organization professionally at community events, networking functions, and speaking engagements to promote our mission and build relationships.
Required Skills & Competencies
Hard Skills (Technical)
- CRM/Donor Database Management: High proficiency in donor management software (e.g., Salesforce NPSP, Raiser's Edge NXT, Bloomerang, Kindful).
- Microsoft Office Suite: Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and/or Google Workspace for creating reports, presentations, and mail merges.
- Fundraising Platforms: Experience with online fundraising and peer-to-peer platforms such as Classy, Givebutter, or GoFundMe Charity.
- Email Marketing: Familiarity with email marketing tools like Mailchimp or Constant Contact for creating and sending donor communications.
- Data Analysis & Reporting: Strong capability to pull, analyze, and present data to track progress and inform strategy.
- Project Management: Competency with project management tools (e.g., Asana, Trello) to track tasks and deadlines for campaigns and events.
- Basic Design: Basic graphic design skills using tools like Canva for creating simple marketing and social media assets.
Soft Skills
- Communication: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives and interact professionally with donors, staff, and volunteers.
- Organization & Time Management: Superior organizational and time-management skills, with a proven capacity to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
- Interpersonal & Relationship-Building: A natural "people person" with strong interpersonal skills and an ability to build rapport and trust with a diverse range of stakeholders.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail and a commitment to accuracy, especially in data entry and donor communications.
- Problem-Solving: A proactive problem-solver with a creative, resourceful, and "can-do" mindset.
- Teamwork & Collaboration: A collaborative team player who thrives in a shared-success environment and is willing to pitch in wherever needed.
- Mission-Driven: A passionate commitment to the organization's mission and values, with a genuine desire to make an impact.
Education & Experience
Educational Background
Minimum Education:
- Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and professional experience in a relevant field.
Preferred Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field of study.
Relevant Fields of Study:
- Nonprofit Management
- Communications
- Marketing
- Public Relations
- Business Administration
Experience Requirements
Typical Experience Range:
- 1-3 years of direct experience in a fundraising, development, or related role within a nonprofit organization.
Preferred:
- Proven experience with fundraising event planning and execution.
- Demonstrable experience managing donor data in a CRM system.
- Direct involvement in supporting annual giving campaigns, direct mail, or digital fundraising efforts.