Development Specialist

VERMONT COMMUNITY FOUNDATION•Middlebury, VT

3h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Development Specialist supports the Philanthropy Team in advancing leadership and major gift fundraising at the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF). This role helps to ensure strong execution across strategy, stewardship, research, and systems. It blends relationship management with disciplined operational follow-through, helping translate fundraising priorities into consistent action. This role is well-suited for an experienced development professional who enjoys both relationship building and operational excellence, and who takes pride in supporting and moving work forward with consistency and accountability. At a time when strengthening Vermont’s communities is more important than ever, the VCF is working to inspire meaningful philanthropic investment across the state. As the largest statewide philanthropic organization, the VCF is uniquely positioned to ensure resources are activated, captured, and put to their highest and most effective use. The Development Specialist will play a key role in advancing this vision. This position reports to the Director of Leadership Giving and works closely with the Donor Impact Team.

Requirements

Minimum of three years in fundraising, development, or similar role, preferably in a nonprofit or philanthropic environment
Experience with relationship-based fundraising
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience drafting proposals, stewardship reports, briefing materials, and donor correspondence
Strong organizational and project management skills
Proficiency in Salesforce or a comparable CRM, including segmentation, pipeline tracking, forecasting, and activity documentation
Experience using research and data to inform strategy and support decision-making
Experience working with committees or volunteer leaders in a fundraising context
Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively within a team environment
Professional integrity, discretion, and respect for confidentiality
Enthusiasm for emerging technologies, including AI-enabled tools that enhance research, strategy, and donor communications
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in nonprofit management, communications, business, public administration, or a related field

Responsibilities

Work closely with the Director of Leadership Giving and the Donor Impact team to support, qualify, and cultivate the leadership donor portfolio
Assist in developing clear strategies and next steps for donors and prospects
Attend select donor meetings/events in partnership with the Director of Leadership Giving
Prepare high-quality donor briefing materials, proposals, stewardship reports, and follow-up communications
Conduct prospect research to identify and prioritize new leadership gift prospects
Maintain clear portfolio segmentation and support transitions within the pipeline
Contribute to revenue forecasting and portfolio reporting
Track defined next steps and ensure timely follow-through
Maintain accurate donor records and activity tracking in Salesforce
Ensure contact reports, opportunity stages, and task follow-up are consistently documented
Generate reports and dashboards to support decision making
Coordinate timely acknowledgements and stewardship touchpoints
Collaborate across internal teams to ensure aligned donor communications and accurate messaging
Participate in cross-training with the Donor Impact team to support an integrated and responsive donor experience
Work with the Marketing and Communications team to support event planning and donor engagement activities, including those designed for broader donor/fundholder engagement
Provide operational backup during high-volume periods or team transitions or to support organizational goals, helping maintain continuity and exceptional service across the full donor and fundholder portfolio