Full-time, Non-Exempt
Department:Â Development & Marketing
Reports To: Senior Manager of Marketing and Communications
Supervision: Volunteers
The Development Specialist advances the Make-A-Wish® Greater Virginia (MAWGVA) mission by leading our Alumni Program, serving as the primary contact for external events, and supporting key marketing and fundraising initiatives. This role focuses on alumni engagement, event execution, donor stewardship, and elevating our brand presence. Strong storytelling, relationship-building, and communication skills are essential to enhance alumni connections, support development goals, and ensure a consistent and impactful voice across all platforms.
Alumni Engagement & Stewardship:
- Develop and manage a comprehensive alumni engagement strategy to strengthen relationships with past wish recipients.
- Create and implement an alumni communication plan that includes newsletters, social media content, and email marketing.
- Cultivate meaningful connections with alumni and their families through personalized outreach, storytelling, and impact sharing.
- Establish and maintain a robust alumni database to track engagement and involvement.
- Responsible for creating compelling wish stories to highlight the impact of Make-A-Wish and encourage donor support.
Event Coordination & Support:
- Plan, coordinate, and execute alumni events, including reunions, networking opportunities, and recognition events.
- Serve as the lead contact for external fundraising and community engagement events to strengthen donor and alumni relationships.
- Assist in Make-A-Wish Greater Virginia internal events, including stewardship gatherings, donor appreciation events, and fundraising campaigns.
- Work with volunteers and other team members to ensure successful event logistics, including venue selection, programming, and outreach.
Fundraising, Development & Marketing Support:
- Assist with end-of-year appeals, donor stewardship, and fundraising strategies to meet revenue goals.
- Engage alumni in peer-to-peer fundraising and advocacy efforts to support Make-A-Wish initiatives.
- Develop donor engagement materials and storytelling content to support fundraising efforts.
- Support grant deliverables, including applications, reports, and donor impact communications, and wish stories.
- Coordinate with the marketing team to develop and execute communications plans that promote events, alumni highlights, and donor engagement campaigns.
- Ensure brand consistency across all marketing and development materials.
- Strong storytelling and content creation skills to connect alumni with the Make-A-Wish mission.
- Excellent event planning and project management abilities with attention to detail.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and work within a deadline-driven environment.
- Strong interpersonal and customer service skills to build relationships with alumni and donors.
- Proficiency in digital platforms, email marketing, and social media engagement.
- Knowledge of branding, marketing strategy, and campaign coordination.
- Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a team.
- Passion for Make-A-Wish’s mission and commitment to maintaining alumni engagement.
- BS/BA in marketing, business, communications, or related field preferred.
- 2+ years direct response, advertising/marketing experience, and/or online marketing/fundraising experience
We are more than a great place to work - our work is life changing. We are an inclusive and diverse group of people who, through a mosaic of backgrounds, thoughts, and experiences are united in purposeful work. We are fueled and guided by our values - values that are represented in the inspired people we work with and the transformational work we do every day. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, drug free workplace, and comply with ADA regulations as applicable.Â
Candidates are asked to submit their cover letter, resume, and writing sample to jobapp@va.wish.org. No phone calls please. Only candidates selected for interview will be contacted.