Development Officer

Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington • Wilmington, NC

1d

About The Position

Beacon Education is seeking an experienced and relationship-driven professional for the position of Development Officer – Donor Stewardship, Cultivation & Annual Giving. This outward-facing role will support GLOW Academy and Spark Academy by strengthening donor relationships, expanding annual giving efforts, and building long-term philanthropic engagement. The ideal candidate is highly organized, mission-focused, and passionate about cultivating meaningful relationships with donors, community stakeholders, and volunteers to advance Beacon Education’s impact. This position plays a critical role in stewarding current supporters, identifying new donor opportunities, and executing strategies that increase annual philanthropic and volunteer support.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, annual giving, or nonprofit development.
• Experience with donor management/database systems.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
• Ability to work professionally with donors, volunteers, community leaders, and external stakeholders.
• Competency with Microsoft Office, donor databases, and digital communication tools.
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Must pass a nationwide criminal history and background check.
• Experience developing and executing donor stewardship and annual giving strategies.
• Demonstrated success in relationship-based fundraising and donor engagement.
• Understanding of donor cultivation cycles and philanthropic best practices.
• Ability to communicate organizational impact in a compelling and authentic manner.
• Experience supporting fundraising campaigns and donor events.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to donor confidentiality.
• Passion for education and community impact initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Manage and grow a portfolio of annual giving and mid-level donors through strategic relationship-building and personalized engagement.
• Develop and implement stewardship plans to ensure meaningful donor acknowledgment, recognition, and retention.
• Coordinate donor communications including thank-you letters, impact reports, donor updates, and personalized outreach.
• Create cultivation strategies designed to deepen donor engagement and identify potential major gift prospects.
• Support the organization in donor cultivation and relationship management activities.
• Assist in preparing donor proposals, presentations, briefing materials, and stewardship reports.
• Track donor interactions, giving history, and engagement strategies within the donor database.
• Coordinate donor segmentation and targeted communication strategies for various donor audiences.
• Monitor fundraising progress and provide regular reporting on annual giving goals and outcomes.
• Collaborate on messaging and storytelling that communicates organizational impact and inspires philanthropic support.
• Comfortable and confident speaking in small group settings with donors, community partners, volunteers, and stakeholders to effectively communicate the mission and impact of the organization.
• Manage donor cultivation events and stewardship gatherings throughout the year.
• Assist with planning and execution of community engagement opportunities that strengthen relationships with supporters and stakeholders.
• Identify and cultivate partnerships with community organizations and third-party fundraising supporters.
• Represent Beacon Education professionally within the community and at donor-related events.
• Support philanthropic communications including newsletters, donor impact stories, campaign messaging, and digital engagement.
• Help maintain consistent donor-centered messaging across communication platforms.
• Assist with website updates and donor-facing content related to fundraising initiatives.
• Ensure timely and professional donor acknowledgment and recognition processes.
• Support the activities of Boards and volunteer committees related to fundraising and donor engagement initiatives.
• Assist with volunteer coordination and donor-related volunteer activities.

Benefits

• Health insurance through the State Health Plan of North Carolina
• Employer-paid dental, long-term disability, and life insurance
• Additional voluntary benefits available at the employee’s expense
• An industry-leading 401(k) program with employer match
• Employee-accrued paid sick, annual, and personal leave
• Discounted childcare for employee's dependents at Spark Academy

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level