Development & Membership Engagement Specialis

Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana Inc•New Orleans, LA

About The Position

The Resource Development & Membership Engagement Specialist serves as a frontline fundraiser responsible for the growth, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of VOASELA’s entry-level and mid-level donor base. This position plays a critical role in expanding individual giving, increasing recurring donations, converting event participation into sustained donor relationships, and strengthening community engagement across the 16 Parish region. This role owns the full donor lifecycle for assigned donors, including prospecting, relationship building, solicitation, follow-up, and stewardship. The Specialist operates primarily in the community and is expected to maintain a strong external presence while supporting the overall fundraising goals of the Donor Fundraising Division.

Requirements

Minimum of 2-5 years of experience in membership engagement, fundraising, or sales, preferably within the nonprofit sector.
Proven track record of successful membership and sponsorship growth.
Excellent communication, professional appearance and presentation representing the expectations of the agency and interpersonal skills.
Strong organizational and project management abilities.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, Canva and donor management software.
Passionate about VOASELA’s mission and the communities it serves.
Highly motivated and results-oriented – self driven to accomplish all goals required.
Creative thinker with the ability to develop and implement innovative engagement strategies when “normal” isn’t working.
Strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to customer service excellence.
Polite, Professional, and Personable in appearance and style at all times.
Flexibility to travel within the 16 Parish Region and attend evening and weekend events as required.

Responsibilities

Manage a portfolio of entry-level and mid-level donors, generally ranging from $250 to $5,000 annually, with some flexibility based on donor potential
Cultivate donors from first contact through renewal and upgrade
Identify and steward donors ready to advance into higher giving levels or Society participation
Convert new donors into recurring donors and long-term supporters
Maintain strong donor retention through consistent, personalized engagement
Actively prospect new donors through civic groups, business associations, community events, and networking opportunities
Generate a consistent flow of new donor prospects each quarter
Convert prospects into first-time donors, event participants, and program tour attendees
Support efforts to grow younger donor demographics, including ages 25–40
Participate in and support all major fundraising events, including the Vantage Point Breakfast, Golfstar Classic, program tours, and donor engagement events
Conduct strategic follow-up with new event guests and participants
Convert event participation into donations, memberships, recurring gifts, and future engagement
Assist in identifying and securing table captains and sponsors as appropriate
Actively recruit new monthly and recurring donors
Steward assigned recurring donors to ensure retention and satisfaction
Reinforce recurring giving opportunities during events, meetings, and follow-ups
Conduct personal thank-you calls and stewardship outreach to assigned donors
Provide at least one additional non-collateral stewardship touchpoint annually
Ensure donors feel informed, appreciated, and connected to the mission
Identify lapsed or at-risk donors and implement re-engagement strategies
Accurately document all donor interactions, meetings, and next steps in the donor management system
Maintain organized prospect and donor records
Provide measurable activity updates during weekly one-on-one meetings with the Director of Development
Assist with gift processing and acknowledgments as needed to ensure accuracy and timeliness
Represent VOASELA professionally at community, civic, and business events
Build relationships with community leaders, businesses, and corporate social responsibility contacts
Serve as an external ambassador for VOASELA’s mission and programs
Ensure messaging aligns with organizational brand standards and campaign priorities
Support departmental appeals and donor communications through follow-up and outreach
Provide donor stories and mission moments to support communications and marketing efforts
Perform other related duties as assigned