Development Specialist

Description

SUMMARY

Bridgeways is a nonprofit community mental health agency serving Snohomish County since 1981. With an annual budget of roughly $6 million, Bridgeways relies on strong fundraising and public awareness to sustain its mission. The Development Specialist is a full time, in person role that executes day to day fundraising and charitable communications activities and helps deliver the organization’s development strategy. This position reports to the Director of Marketing & Development and supervises one remote staff member (e.g., development/communications assistant). Primary focus areas include grant writing and management, donor stewardship, campaigns and appeals, special events, and development side communications that tell Bridgeways’ impact story and grow revenue.

Position: Full-time

Pay: $65,000 - $85,000/ Annual

Benefits

Our benefit programs have been curated to provide employees with options and comprehensive coverage including:

• Generous Paid Time Off -- New Employees accrue up to 31 paid days off, including 15 flexible use PTO days, 10 paid holidays, 2 personal days, as well as the final week of the year.
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with medical premiums starting as low as $30 biweekly (must work 30+ hrs/week)
• Optional Life Critical Illness, Illness, and Pet Insurances available.
• 401K with employer matching after 90 days and immediate vesting.
  
  

100% Employer Paid Benefits:

Mental health coverage through Teledoc Mental Health that includes both therapists and psychiatrists.

Roadside Assistance for all employees.

Long Term Disability Insurance (must work 30+ hrs/week)

Teledoc Health Coverage (if working

Vision, prescriptions, and entertainment discounts

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

Campaigns, Appeals & Events

• Execute multi-channel appeals (direct mail, email, web, social), including copy, lists, and basic design/assets.
• Coordinate fundraising events and donor engagement activities (gala, appreciation events, community fundraisers): budgets, timelines, vendors, volunteers, run of show, and post-event follow-up/ROI tracking.
  
  

Fund Development Execution

• Implement the annual development workplan and timelines set in collaboration with the Director of Marketing & Development; own day-to-day task execution and progress tracking.
• Support revenue delivery across individual, corporate, and foundation giving streams; maintain a personal portfolio of donors and prospects.
  
  

Grant Writing & Grants Management

• Research opportunities and lead proposal drafting, assembling attachments, and coordinating budgets with program and finance staff.
• Maintain an active grants calendar; submit on time; ensure compliance and accurate, timely reporting; organize outcomes data and stories.
  
  

Donor Relations & Stewardship

• Conduct cultivation and stewardship touchpoints (emails, calls, meetings, tours); draft acknowledgments and donor updates.
• Segment donor lists and execute retention and upgrade tactics.
  
  

Development Communications (Charitable Side)

• Oversee the production of donor-facing content—appeal letters, newsletters, impact stories, case statements, and stewardship reports—that align with brand and voice.
• Partner with the marketing coordinator to update development-related web pages and social media; promote campaigns, events, and impact stories.
  
  

Data, Systems & Reporting

• Administer the donor CRM (e.g., Greater Giving, Little Green Light): data entry quality, receipting, queries, and dashboards.
• Track and report on KPIs (retention, acquisition, average gift, response rates, event ROI) for the Director of Marketing & Development and, as requested, the Board.
  
  

Collaboration & Supervision

• Provide clear direction to development staff member(s); assign tasks, review outputs, and support professional growth.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with program teams to gather outcomes, stories, and budgets; align with finance on grant/reporting needs.
• Represent Bridgeways at community events and funder meetings as assigned.
  
  

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• 2–4+ years of nonprofit development experience in at least two areas: grant writing, donor relations, campaigns/appeals, and events.
• Demonstrated success contributing to fundraising targets and managing a basic donor/prospect portfolio.
• Hands on event coordination from planning through post event debrief.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of training and directly relevant experience.
  
  

Language Skills

• Strong persuasive writing and editing for grants and donor communications; confident verbal communicator.
  
  

Other Skills And Abilities

• Proficiency with donor CRMs and Microsoft Office/Google Workspace; familiarity with email marketing and social scheduling tools; basic Canva/Adobe skills a plus.
• Organized, deadline driven project manager with excellent attention to detail; able to balance multiple priorities.
• Data informed approach to segmenting donors and measuring campaign/event performance.
• Collaborative, culturally competent, mission driven; maintains confidentiality and donor trust.
• Proficiency with artificial intelligence (AI), more specifically large language models (LLM) like Claude, Chat GPT.
  
  

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations/ Requirements

• Occasional evenings/weekends for events or deadlines.
• Valid driver’s license and local travel for meetings/events.
• Ability to pass a background check (required for licensed mental health agencies).
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to walk and climb stairs, or balance.
• The employee is occasionally required to stand, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.
• The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
  
  

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• The employee works in an office space provided in an administrative office environment.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
  
  

Other Duties

• Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
  
  

At Bridgeways, our commitment to equity, dignity, and opportunity for all remains steadfast. We exist to challenge systemic barriers and create lasting change for individuals and communities facing significant challenges, especially those living with mental health challenges and other marginalized identities.

As a social enterprise, we take pride in fostering a supportive and inclusive environment. Whether through stable housing, meaningful employment, or welcoming spaces that celebrate diversity, our work is rooted in compassion and a deep commitment to equity.

We believe everyone deserves fair treatment, access, and opportunity regardless of identity, background, or circumstances. We are dedicated to breaking down barriers and advocating for the resources that empower people to meet their goals.

This is not just what we do—it’s who we are.