Catalight is the parent organization leading a family of companies (FoC) that includes Easterseals Northern California, Easterseals Hawaii and Catalight Care Services (CCS). Across the four non-profit companies, there are nearly 800 employees working together to responsibly disrupt and transform home and community-based care and help become a diverse, equitable and inclusive organization that works proactively to address complex societal problems such as healthcare access and greater well-being for underrepresented communities.
Job Summary
Catalight is looking for a mission-driven, creative, and entrepreneurial Development Specialist to independently manage assigned development and fundraising initiatives, donor and community relationships, and related strategies that support the organization’s development objectives. The Development Specialist will develop, recommend, and execute strategies within assigned areas of responsibility supporting fundraising, development, and communications strategy for Easterseals Northern California; while providing occasional support to our other affiliates.
Working under general direction from the Director of Development, this role is expected to exercise independent judgment and discretion in determining approaches, priorities, recommendations, and solutions within assigned development initiatives. The role analyzes fundraising and donor performance, evaluates alternative courses of action, and makes recommendations to Development leadership regarding strategies, donor engagement, sponsorships, events, resource allocation, and opportunities for improvement.
This role requires 20–25% travel throughout California, primarily Northern California, with occasional travel to other states.
Essential Job Functions
Development Initiatives and Program Management
Support the development and implementation of approaches and workplans for assigned fundraising, donor stewardship, sponsorship, and community engagement initiatives consistent with broader organizational goals.
Evaluate fundraising opportunities and recommend appropriate approaches for assigned initiatives, considering donor interests, organizational priorities, available resources, expected return, and reputational considerations.
Provide recommendations and input to Development leadership regarding fundraising priorities, donor engagement strategies, sponsorship opportunities, event strategy, and use assigned resources effectively.
Make adjustments within established goals and guidelines based on performance, donor feedback, emerging opportunities, and changing organizational needs.
Identify development opportunities, risks, and emerging issues and recommend appropriate courses of action to leadership.
Manage assigned relationships with donors, prospects, corporate sponsors, volunteers, and foundation/community partners, determining appropriate cultivation, solicitation, engagement, and stewardship approaches, within established organizational objectives and parameters.
Support individualized engagement and stewardship plans for assigned key relationships based on donor interests, giving history, organizational priorities, and relationship potential.
Represent the organization in meetings with assigned donors, sponsors, and community partners and exercise judgment in responding to opportunities, concerns, and relationship needs.
Conduct regular outreach through email, phone, in-person meetings, and other appropriate channels as part of broader relationship approaches developed and managed by the Specialist.
Fundraising & Stewardship
Develop and recommend approaches for assigned fundraising and stewardship initiatives designed to strengthen donor engagement, retention, and financial support.
Determine and execute appropriate stewardship strategies for assigned donors and initiatives within established organizational guidelines.
Evaluate prospective fundraising and sponsorship opportunities and make recommendations regarding whether and how the…