Needs From: BrownEngage

To Apply: Send a resume and 500-word max. cover letter to HR@Bigsri.org with the subject: Advancement Specialist. Applications that include links to digital portfolios that highlight a candidates work experience will be prioritized. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island (BBBSRI) creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Through mentoring, community engagement, and social enterprise, we are building a stronger, more connected Rhode Island.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Advancement Specialist is a member of the Advancement department (fund development and marketing) and is responsible for executing fundraising events, donor stewardship, and sponsorship fulfillment.

This role ensures that donors and sponsors experience Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island as organized, thoughtful, and worth investing in year after year. The Advancement Specialist manages the logistics, follow-through, and relationship touchpoints that turn one-time gifts into long-term support.

If you enjoy bringing order to moving parts, building relationships, and seeing an event or campaign come together successfully, this role will feel rewarding.

Duties and Responsibilities

Fundraising Events

· Plan and execute fundraising events including Bowl for Kids’ Sake and cultivation events.

· Manage timelines, vendor coordination, sponsorship fulfillment, guest lists, and on-site logistics.

· Coordinate post-event follow-up including donor acknowledgments and internal debriefs.

· Track event performance and provide summaries to the Advancement team.

Donor Stewardship

· Execute donor acknowledgment processes to ensure timely and accurate recognition.

· Coordinate ongoing stewardship touchpoints in partnership with the Chief Advancement Officer.

· Track donor engagement activities in the donor management system.

· Support cultivation meetings and prepare materials as needed.

Sponsorship Management

· Manage sponsorship fulfillment and ensure sponsors receive agreed-upon benefits.

· Track sponsor deliverables across events and campaigns.

· Coordinate sponsor recognition in collaboration with the Content & Campaigns Specialist.

Fundraising Platform Management

· Manage Qgiv setup and execution for events and campaign pages.

· Ensure event registration pages and peer-to-peer platforms are accurate and functional.

· Monitor performance and provide regular updates.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Partner with the Content & Campaigns Specialist to align event communications and promotion.

· Work with program staff to identify opportunities for donor engagement.

· Collaborate with Board members and volunteers as appropriate to support fundraising efforts.

· Coordinate internally to ensure accurate donor records and stewardship tracking.

· Partner with Donation Center leadership to support corporate clothing drives and community-based collection efforts, ensuring sponsors and partners receive timely communication and fulfillment.

· Coordinate donor and sponsor recognition efforts related to Donation Center initiatives in collaboration with the Content & Campaigns Specialist.

· Support stewardship activities for corporate and community partners who host clothing drives.

Experience and Background

We do not require a specific degree for this role. We value experience, follow-through, relationship skills, and the ability to manage complexity.

The ideal candidate will have:

· Two or more years of experience in fundraising, event management, nonprofit development, or related work.

· Experience coordinating events or managing multi-step projects.

· Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.

· Comfort working with fundraising or registration platforms.

Experience with donor management systems such as DonorPerfect and fundraising platforms such as Qgiv is preferred but not required. We are willing to train the right candidate.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

Relationship Skills

· Professional, confident communication with donors and sponsors.

· Ability to build and maintain positive relationships.

· Strong customer-service mindset.

Organization and Execution

· Ability to manage multiple event timelines simultaneously.

· Strong attention to detail.

· Ability to anticipate needs and solve problems proactively.

Technical Proficiency

· Experience working with fundraising platforms or willingness to learn quickly.

· Comfort tracking data and maintaining organized records.

Collaboration and Teamwork

· Ability to work collaboratively across departments.

· Strong communication and follow-through.

Ethics and Integrity

· Commitment to maintaining donor confidentiality.

· Alignment with BBBSRI’s core values: Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Safety, Empowerment, and Partnership.

To Apply: Send a resume and 500-word max. cover letter to HR@Bigsri.org with the subject: Annual Giving & Operations Specialist. Applications that include links to digital portfolios that highlight a candidates work experience will be prioritized. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island (BBBSRI) creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Through mentoring, community engagement, and social enterprise, we are building a stronger, more connected Rhode Island.

Position Summary

Reporting to the Chief Advancement Officer, the Annual Giving & Operations Specialist is a member of the Advancement department (fund development and marketing) and is responsible for managing the organization’s annual giving program and strengthening the operational systems that support fundraising.

This role owns the annual giving engine. It ensures campaigns are sequenced properly, donor segments are defined clearly, reports are accurate, and timelines are documented. It is the connective tissue between fundraising strategy and day-to-day execution.

If you like building structure, organizing moving parts, and making systems run better over time, this role will feel meaningful.

Duties and Responsibilities

Annual Giving

· Develop and manage the annual giving calendar in partnership with the Chief Advancement Officer.

· Coordinate execution of annual appeals, recurring giving initiatives, and mid-level donor communications.

· Monitor revenue performance against goals and identify trends.

· Support segmentation strategies to ensure the right audiences receive the right communications.

· Track donor retention and recurring giving performance.

Reporting and Analytics

· Define and maintain regular fundraising dashboards and reporting structures.

· Prepare monthly and quarterly performance summaries for leadership.

· Analyze donor data to identify opportunities for deeper engagement or improved retention.

· Ensure revenue data aligns across DonorPerfect, Qgiv, and related platforms.

· Collaborate with Donation Center leadership to track and report on clothing donation volume and revenue performance.

· Support segmentation and reporting strategies that integrate clothing donors into broader fundraising engagement pathways when appropriate.

· Ensure revenue alignment and reporting accuracy between Donation Center systems and Advancement reporting dashboards.

· Identify trends in clothing donation patterns to inform seasonal marketing and campaign strategy.

Systems and Workflow Management

· Maintain documentation of Advancement workflows, timelines, and standard operating procedures.

· Coordinate cross-platform activity between DonorPerfect, Constant Contact, Qgiv, and event systems.

· Partner with outsourced CRM support to ensure data integrity and consistent usage.

· Identify inefficiencies and recommend improvements to processes over time.

Team Support and Alignment

· Provide clean segmentation lists and campaign timelines to the Content & Campaigns Specialist.

· Provide donor data and stewardship timing guidance to the Advancement Specialist.

· Ensure that event and campaign revenue is properly categorized and tracked.

· Serve as a resource to the Advancement team for reporting and operational clarity.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

· Partner with Finance to ensure fundraising revenue is reconciled accurately.

· Collaborate with program staff to align donor impact reporting with fundraising communications.

· Support leadership with accurate and timely data for Board reporting.

Experience and Background

We do not require a specific degree for this role. We value systems thinking, organization, and the ability to translate strategy into structured execution.

The ideal candidate will have:

· Three or more years of experience in fundraising operations, annual giving, nonprofit administration, or related work.

· Experience working with donor management systems and fundraising platforms.

· Strong comfort working with data and reports.

· Demonstrated ability to manage complex timelines and processes.

Experience with DonorPerfect, Qgiv, and email marketing platforms is preferred. Experience building dashboards or working with fundraising analytics is a plus.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

Systems Thinking

· Ability to see how different tools and processes connect.

· Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

· Comfort documenting workflows and building structure.

Data and Analysis

· Ability to interpret fundraising data and identify patterns.

· Experience preparing performance summaries and reports.

· Comfort working with spreadsheets and donor management systems.

Organization and Execution

· Ability to manage multiple campaign timelines simultaneously.

· Strong follow-through and ability to work independently.

Collaboration and Communication

· Ability to communicate clearly with both technical and non-technical team members.

· Strong partnership mindset across departments.

Ethics and Integrity

· Commitment to maintaining donor confidentiality.

· Alignment with BBBSRI’s core values: Respect, Accountability, Integrity, Safety, Empowerment, and Partnership.