Development Officer

Washington Humane Society•Washington, DC

1d•$70,000 - $80,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Humane Rescue Alliance is seeking a Development Officer to build, manage, and grow philanthropic relationships throughout the Washington, D.C. region. The Development Officer will manage a portfolio of approximately 120–150 individual donors, corporate partners, and qualified prospects, cultivating relationships that increase giving, strengthen donor retention, and build a healthy pipeline for future growth. This is a frontline fundraising role for someone who enjoys building relationships, identifying opportunities, making meaningful asks, and connecting donors with HRA’s mission and impact.

Requirements

Strong relationship-building, listening, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to cultivate, solicit, and steward significant donor or client relationships.
Ability to confidently make philanthropic asks and develop individualized relationship strategies.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple relationships, priorities, and deadlines.
Understanding of portfolio management, stewardship, moves management, and pipeline development.
Ability to identify donor capacity, engagement, and readiness for solicitation.
Experience using fundraising databases or CRM systems such as Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce, DonorPerfect, or similar platforms.
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments.
Passion for Humane Rescue Alliance’s mission.
Five or more years of progressive experience in fundraising, development, donor relations, sales, or another relationship-based revenue role.
Experience managing a portfolio of donors, prospects, clients, or other high-value relationships.
Demonstrated success securing significant philanthropic gifts, preferably at the $5,000+ level.
Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.

Nice To Haves

Experience with corporate philanthropy, sponsorships, or corporate relationship management strongly preferred.
Familiarity with planned giving concepts preferred.
Experience in animal welfare or another mission-driven nonprofit environment preferred.
Multilingual candidates are encouraged to apply. A salary premium may be offered for multilingual candidates who demonstrate proficiency in written and oral testing.

Responsibilities

Manage and grow a portfolio of approximately 120–150 individual donors, corporate partners, and qualified prospects.
Develop personalized cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship strategies based on donor interests, capacity, and engagement.
Conduct regular donor meetings, calls, campus tours, cultivation visits, and other meaningful relationship-building activities.
Solicit significant philanthropic gifts and prepare written proposals or donor materials in partnership with internal teams when needed.
Identify opportunities to retain, upgrade, and deepen relationships with existing donors.
Qualify new prospects and build a strong pipeline of donors with the potential to increase their philanthropic support.
Identify principal or transformational gift opportunities and partner with the Chief Advancement Officer and CEO on strategy and solicitation.
Recognize potential planned giving opportunities and connect donors with appropriate resources when needed.
Manage and grow assigned corporate philanthropic relationships.
Build relationships with corporate decision-makers and solicit charitable gifts, sponsorships, matching gifts, and other philanthropic support.
Secure sponsorships for major fundraising events and organizational initiatives.
Partner with Public Affairs and other departments when volunteer activities or community engagement are part of a broader corporate relationship, while maintaining responsibility for the fundraising relationship.
Create personalized stewardship experiences that demonstrate the impact of donor support.
Connect donors and prospects with HRA programs, staff, leadership, animals, and mission.
Serve as the primary relationship manager for assigned donors participating in events and cultivation opportunities.
Collaborate with Development Operations, Marketing and Communications, Public Affairs, program teams, and organizational leadership to advance donor relationships.
Maintain accurate and timely donor records, strategies, contact reports, solicitations, and next steps in the fundraising database.
Participate in regular portfolio reviews and use moves-management practices to advance donor relationships.