Fundraising & Events Coordinator/Manager

Fundraising & Events Coordinator, Coalition for Smarter Growth
Manager: Executive Director
Location: Currently remote in the DC, MD, VA area (*see below for note about office location)
Job Classification: Full-Time, Non-Exempt

NOTE: Depending on experience and qualifications, applicants may be hired as either Fundraising & Events Coordinator ($55,000-$65,000) or Fundraising & Events Manager ($65,000-$75,000).

The job description for Fundraising & Events Coordinator is shown below. Click here to view the Fundraising & Events Manager job description. Please note that application materials differ for the two positions.

About CSG 
Join an award-winning non-profit in the Washington, DC region with a record of success. The Coalition for Smarter Growth is the leading organization in the Washington, D.C. region dedicated to making the case for smart growth. For over 27 years, CSG has advocated for walkable, bikeable, inclusive, and transit-oriented communities as the most sustainable and equitable way for the Washington, D.C. region to grow and provide opportunities for all. Read more about our organization at smartergrowth.net and view our Blueprint for a Better Region.

Your Role 
The Fundraising & Events Coordinator is primarily responsible for coordinating CSG’s spring and fall fundraisers, and End of Year Giving Campaign, and assisting the Executive Director with individual and corporate fundraising and donor management. You will also be assisting with administrative tasks.

The Fundraising & Events Coordinator will work towards advancing the following goals:

1. Support donor cultivation and retention through well-executed events, campaigns, and sponsorships
2. Foster connections with donors and sponsors by organizing impactful events and outreach initiatives that raise awareness and expand support for the organization’s mission
3. Assist with operational efficiency by maintaining accurate donor records, streamlining administrative processes, and managing financial reconciliations.
4. Increase positive awareness of CSG and build support for a full range of our programs and role within land use, transportation, and housing in the DC region

Your Responsibilities 
The Fundraising & Events Coordinator will work closely with the Communications Director and report to CSG’s Executive Director. Under the general supervision of CSG’s Executive Director, this position will:

Fundraising (50%) 

• Draft communications materials for prospective sponsors and donors, such as sponsorship prospectuses, emails, online sponsorship pages, and sponsor letters
• Support Executive Director with corporate fundraising initiatives including preparing spreadsheets, mail-merged solicitation letters, and other materials for spring and fall fundraising events
• Identify and develop sponsorship opportunities, track sponsorship commitments, conduct sponsor research, and coordinate follow-up activities
• Manage donor database ensuring accuracy, completeness, and eliminate redundancies.
• Run queries and reports as needed
• Generate invoices and acknowledgment letters for corporate and individual donors.
• Assist with grant tracking and reporting, updating application deadlines and records across systems
• Coordinate the End-of-Year Giving campaign: craft targeted email copy, social media appeals and personalized donor letters – in collaboration with the Communications Director and Executive Director
• Draft the annual report with input from policy staff and coordinate with designers and printers for layout and production

Event Planning (30%) 

• Identify event locations, vendors, coordinate contracts, and establish budget
• Collaborate with vendors, staff, and volunteers to ensure well-executed annual spring and fall fundraisers
• Draft promotional emails and social media posts to maximize event attendance in collaboration with the
• Communications Director
• Collaborate with donors to conceptualize and organize engaging events such as happy hours, coffee meetups, and house parties aimed at fostering community connections and supporting fundraising efforts
• Assist policy staff as needed with online/in-person educational events (walking tours, webinars, etc.)

Administrative (25%) 

• Process and record donations across databases, including checks, stock transfers, donor-advised funds, and grants.
• Perform regular reconciliations, including biweekly donation reconciliation with the Finance Specialist and monthly credit card reconciliation.
• Respond promptly to donor inquiries, ensuring a high level of professionalism and responsiveness
• Assist with the transition from Dropbox to Google Shared Drive
• Assist with miscellaneous communications and administrative tasks as necessary

Required Qualifications 

• Commitment to CSG’s core values, mission and vision, and positive outlook and passion for winning change
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) principles
• 2-3 years of relevant experience in event planning and/or fundraising
• Strong organizational and project management skills, with attention to detail and deadlines
• Ability to work on numerous deadline projects simultaneously, at varying stages of production
• Strong writing skills

Preferred Qualifications 

• A working knowledge of local housing, transportation, land use, and conservation issues in the DC area
• Customer Relations Management (CRM) software systems experience, including managing contact lists, running reports, creating contribution forms, and sending email messages through an online messaging/advocacy software (EveryAction preferred)
• Demonstrated ability to plan, coordinate, and execute events, including managing logistics, vendors, and volunteers
• Experience with donor relations, sponsorship outreach, and managing fundraising campaigns or appeals
• Understanding of nonprofit fundraising, donor engagement strategies, and grant tracking processes
• Proficient in writing engaging and professional communications, such as emails, promotional materials, and donor correspondence
• Proficiency in speaking, writing, and reading in Spanish is a plus

Compensation 
This position is a non-exempt / hourly position with benefits. Salary range of $55,000-65,000, commensurate with experience and demonstrated outcomes.

Benefits 
CSG, through its parent organization The Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC), offers an outstanding and robust benefits package including:

• Two health plans (83% employer paid premium for employee only plan, 73% employer paid for added dependents)
• Short & Long Term Disability*
• Group Term Life*
• Accident, Critical Illness & Hospital Indemnity insurances*
• HSA account (with employer match up to $750 per year)
• FSA accounts (health & dependent)
• 403(b) pension plan with employer contribution after 1 year of service with 100% vesting from day one
• 10 paid holidays
• 2 floating holidays
• PTO leave – 24 days per year, accrued each pay period
• 1 day per year of paid leave to volunteer at another non-profit or charitable cause
• Salary Continuation Leave for employee or family illness – from 2 to 8 weeks fully paid leave eligibility every 24 months, depending on length of service
• Paid Bereavement, Jury Duty and Military Service Training leave
• Travel Expense Reimbursement
• Hybrid work environment and Flexible Work Schedules
• Professional Development support
• Payment for relevant licenses & professional membership fees.

*Indicates that this insurance premium is 100% paid by PEC for employee’s coverage.

Office Location 
CSG has operated virtually since the pandemic and is evaluating options for shared office space we could secure once we deem it appropriate (possibly in early 2025). Residency within the D.C. region is preferred. Periodic evening and weekend work is required and matched with reasonable flexibility during the week.

Application Process
Interested applicants should email [email protected] with a resume (required) and a writing sample (preferred) (for example the writing sample could be event timelines, fundraising collateral, digital donation appeal, etc.). In addition, provide 2-3 paragraphs (required) answering the following questions:

1. Why do you want to work at CSG? How are your professional interests aligned with CSG’s mission and why do you want to focus your career on furthering our mission? (1 paragraph)
2. Give us an example of a project where you had to coordinate multiple moving parts and stick to a timeline. How did you organize yourself? What were the end results? (1-2 paragraphs)

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but priority will be given to candidates who apply by February 3, 2025.

If you are a good fit, CSG will reach out to you within 2 weeks of receiving your application. The following is what you can expect as part of our hiring process:

• phone interview with Executive Director and policy staffer
• panel interview with the full team
• writing exercise or other skills assessment
• reference check

The Coalition for Smarter Growth strives to increase diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ) in all aspects of achieving our mission. We recruit, employ, train, compensate, and promote regardless of race, religion, creed, national origin, ancestry, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity (including gender nonconformity and status as a transgender individual), age, physical or mental disability, citizenship, genetic information, past, current, or prospective service in the uniformed services, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. We are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Read more about our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice (DEIJ) commitments.

We recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job, therefore our job descriptions are guidelines, not hard and fast rules. Your experience, which may include paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work, helps build the competencies and knowledge that translates to our openings. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and a culture of excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), reasonable accommodations during the application or interview process may be requested.

If selected for this position, a background check will be conducted.