Development Assistant - The Living Desert - Palm Desert, CA

Job or Internship: Job

THE LIVING DESERT DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens is seeking a dedicated, energetic, organized Development Assistant to work with our expanding Development Office.

The Development Assistant plays an important role by providing administrative assistance to the Development Office and participating in all fundraising activities including donor relations, direct mail appeals, special events and all other administrative duties critical to supporting fundraising efforts by the Development team.

If you love our mission to save animals and plants through conservation efforts and educating youth about our world, we want to talk with you about how you can help The Living Desert make an impact!

Main Function: The Development Assistant provides general administrative and fundraising support to the Development Office, under the supervision of the Director of Development. Ability to manage multiple tasks and projects, think strategically, and work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced environment.

Duties include but are not limited to:

1. Support the Director of Development, Planned Giving/Major Donor officer and other development officers.

2. Process income from donor checks and credit cards, online donations, and electronic transfers. Create accurate and timely acknowledgements for individual donors.

3. Monitor and update fundraising database (DonorPerfect) with constituent data; ensure that donor records are accurate and up-to-date; prepare reports from fundraising database as requested.

4. Serve as department liaison with finance department, ensuring fundraising numbers reconcile; prepare financial reports from fundraising database and other development departments.

5. Coordinate mass mailings and perform related duties, such as producing letters, response devices, informational packets and related materials.

6. Assist with all departmental projects and initiatives such as board updates, and annual report creation.

7. Assists with grant initiatives and reporting requirements.

8. Respond to external inquiries and donor correspondence by email, mail, and phone in timely manner.

9. Assist with events and provide administrative support as needed.

10. Accept additional responsibilities as necessary to support the effective functioning of the Development Department and achievement of annual income goals.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree preferred plus one to two years related administrative experience; fundraising experience a plus.

• Comfort working with numbers and ability to analyze data.

• Keen attention to detail imperative.

• Self-starter with extraordinary organizational skills, the ability to prioritize and manage projects independently.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to compose, edit, and proof correspondence and documents required.

• Excellent computer skills, including the Microsoft Office Suite; knowledge of DonorPerfect preferred.

• Ability to work evening or weekend hours as needed.

• Responsible, flexible, and energetic team player, with the ability to adapt to various working styles.

• Ability to effectively complete tasks in a fast paced environment.

If interested in this position please submit your cover letter and resume electronically to Jan Hawkins, Director of Development at jhawkins@livingdesert.org or mail to The Living Desert, 47900 Portola Ave., Palm Desert, CA 92260 Attn. Jan Hawkins. All submissions for this position are due by April 30, 2016.