Job Description

Company Description

The Cove Center for Grieving Children, located in Cheshire, CT, is a nonprofit organization that provides family and school-based programs using the peer support group concept to help children, teens, and families cope with unresolved grief from the loss of a significant person in their lives.

In 1989, when Mary Emswiler died suddenly of heart failure at the age of 39, her husband Jim began a long struggle to find help for himself and his three young children. Finally, frustrated by the lack of available services for grieving families, he formed the New England Center for Loss and Transition with a two-fold mission: to train human service professionals on dying and grief and to provide support services to adult grievers.

The Cove Center for Grieving Children, a volunteer-driven program developed by the New England Center for Loss and Transition, was started in Guilford, Connecticut, in 1995 by Jim and his second wife, Mary Ann, and therapist Renée McIntyre. After an exhaustive study of the best national models available, this youth focused program was designed to help children and teens deal with grief. The Cove was separately incorporated as a 501 (c)(3) organization in 1998.

Beginning with six families in the first year, the program developed a solid working model that has steadily grown. Today, there are five Cove sites throughout the state serving hundreds of grieving children and family members through regular support sessions. The Cove also offers an outreach program that touches an additional 1,000 individuals in the State of Connecticut each year through community education, professional training, virtual programs, Expressive Arts, Equine Therapy, Caring Connection and consultation and referral.

Overview

The Fundraising and Events Coordinator plays a pivotal role in driving our organization's fundraising efforts. This position involves planning, executing, and managing fundraising events and campaigns to support our mission. The ideal candidate will possess strong organizational skills, a passion for donor stewardship, and the ability to foster relationships with donors and sponsors. This role requires a proactive approach to identifying fundraising opportunities and developing strategies to achieve our financial goals. This individual will work closely with other staff and volunteer committee members to accomplish the goals of this position. This person will work as part of a team and independently in a hybrid work environment. This position is an exempt position working 40 hours per week.

This position requires an understanding of fundraising, event planning, volunteer management, stewardship, expense and revenue reconciliation, and an ability to provide assistance to the department as needed.

RELATIONSHIPS : Maintains cooperative relationships with other staff, contract employees, volunteers, donors, vendors and community organizations

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage fundraising events from conception through execution, ensuring all logistical details are handled effectively.
• Cultivate relationships with donors, sponsors, and community partners to enhance support for fundraising initiatives.
• Provide exceptional customer service to event participants and donors, ensuring a positive experience that encourages ongoing support.
• Maintain accurate records of donations, sponsorships, and event attendance for reporting purposes.
• Provides leadership while coordinating all aspects of The Cove’s Special Events, in conjunction with the committee members and the Executive Director. Events include, but are not limited to, annual online auction, Run For The Cove, Memorial Walks and additional spring time event.
• Recruits and maintains relationship with volunteers for event committees and leads committee to successful event. Success is determined differently for each event.
• Participates in short and long term planning of fundraising activities to meet the growing needs of The Cove
• Cultivates new and current donors, sponsors and past participants.
• Helps to assess current fundraising events and determine opportunities for growth within each event. Create new fundraising opportunities
• Cultivates 3rd party fundraising opportunities
• Works on communications and creative for Fund Development events and activities including but not limited to the all special events, Annual Appeal and annual donor Challenge.
• Develop and execute donor cultivation plan in conjunction with the Executive Director
• Working knowledge of various social media platforms including Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.
• Creates, prepares and sends monthly newsletters and targeted newsletters.
• Updates and maintains website pertaining to fundraising events
• Assist with grant proposals and cultivation of gifts from corporations and foundations.
• Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• Other duties as assigned by Executive Director

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Passionate about non-profit work and helping others
• Bachelor’s degree highly preferred or equivalent work experience
• 2+ years experience in fund development and donor cultivation
• Experience with donor databases preferred
• Strong knowledge and experience with use of Microsoft Office Suite and Canva.
• Demonstrated Event Management and Donor Cultivation experience required.
• Knowledge of general accounting and budgets
• Three professional references
• Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Demonstrated ability to acquire new sponsors and donors and continuation of cultivation process
• Demonstrated ability to represent the agency in a professional and ethical manner
• Highly organized, efficient and a quick learner
• Demonstrated excellent written and verbal/presentation skills
• Ability to accurately input, analyze data and look for trends
• Ability to multi-task a variety of projects
• Demonstrated willingness to work as part of a small team office
• Demonstrated ability to work independently with a creative thought process for managing new and different tasks while paying close attention to detail
• Demonstrated ability to respond to changing situations in a flexible manner in order to meet current needs, reprioritizing work as necessary
• Graphic design experience a plus
• Must be able to sit or stand for multiple hours
• Must be able to lift a minimum of 20 lbs

Learn more about The Cove by watching this short video.

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