Development Coordinator in Kansas City, Missouri at Sherwood Autism Center

Position Overview

Sherwood Center for the Exceptional Child is seeking a highly organized, proactive, and detail-oriented Development Coordinator to provide essential operational and administrative support to the agency's fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This role is responsible for the details that turn development strategy into strong donor relationships and successful events from donor database management and gift processing to sponsorship fulfillment, event logistics, stewardship communications, and volunteer coordination.

This is an opportunity for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, brings order to complexity, anticipates needs before they arise, and takes pride in seamless execution. Through exceptional organization, proactive communication, and meticulous attention to detail, the Development Coordinator helps create donor and volunteer experiences that reflect Sherwood's mission and inspire continued investment in the children and families it serves.

Duties & Responsibilities:

Development Operations & Donor Administration

• Provide day-to-day operational and administrative support to the Development function.

• Coordinate multiple fundraising projects and initiatives by managing timelines, tracking deliverables, following up on action items, and ensuring deadlines are consistently met.

• Receive, process, and reconcile incoming charitable contributions, pledges, sponsorships, matching gifts, tax credits, and in-kind donations.

• Maintain the accuracy and integrity of donor records within the organization's CRM/donor database, ensuring timely and accurate gift entry, documentation, and record management.

• Prepare monthly or as-needed donor and gift reports to ensure accurate donation information for Finance/QuickBooks reconciliation.

• Generate donor reports, mailing lists, dashboards, fundraising metrics, and weekly donation reports to support strategic decision-making.

• Prepare and process donor acknowledgment letters, tax receipts, stewardship communications, gratitude outreach, and other donor recognition activities in a timely manner.

• Maintain organized electronic files, templates, contracts, and departmental records.

Donor Stewardship & Sponsorship Coordination

• Coordinate sponsorship fulfillment from commitment through post-event stewardship, including agreements, invoicing, payment collection, benefit fulfillment, recognition, and follow-up.

• Prepare donor proposals, stewardship packets, impact reports, and meeting materials.

• Support donor research, prospect tracking, moves management, and stewardship activities.

• Track and acknowledge in-kind donations and ensure appropriate recognition.

Event Coordination & Logistics

• Coordinate the planning and execution of fundraising events, donor experiences, and community engagement activities.

• Manage guest registration, RSVPs, seating charts, table assignments, event communications, and attendee experience.

• Coordinate vendor communications, contracts, invoices, payments, room layouts, signage, registration materials, catering, décor, and other event logistics.

• Support fundraising committees through scheduling, agendas, meeting materials, and follow-up.

• Assist with donor cultivation events and volunteer engagement activities.

• Serve as the primary staff point of contact for event logistics, ensuring seamless execution before, during, and after fundraising events, including on event day.

Auction & Event Platform Administration

• Serve as the primary staff liaison and administrator for the agency's auction/event platform (e.g., OneCause or similar), managing system setup, registration, auction configuration, reporting, and event execution.

• Coordinate procurement, solicitation, cataloging, photography, descriptions, packaging, storage, display, transportation, and pickup of auction items.

• Build and maintain auction listings, sponsorship information, guest registration, and event platform content.

• Coordinate auction logistics, checkout preparation, reconciliation, and post-event reporting.

Financial Administration

• Track sponsorship revenue, event expenses, invoices, outstanding balances, and payments.

• Partner with Finance to reconcile fundraising activities, event revenue, and donor contributions.

• Assist with departmental budget tracking and financial reporting.

Volunteer & Community Engagement Support

• Identify the agency's volunteer needs for facility and event support and create strategies to fill those needs effectively.

• Solicit, secure, and train volunteers from area businesses, faith groups, staff, and other organizations, including representing Sherwood at volunteer fairs and community events.

• Communicate volunteer plans and accomplishments to agency leadership and acknowledge volunteer contributions.

• Track volunteer hours and contact information in the donor/volunteer database.

• Provide exceptional customer service to donors, volunteers, sponsors, board members, vendors, and community partners, representing Sherwood with professionalism, warmth, and responsiveness.

Social Media & Website Management

• Identify appropriate social media platforms for the agency and manage content using platform best practices.

• Regularly review and update the agency website; using analytics tools, monitor website traffic and develop strategies to increase engagement.

• Create and implement a website management calendar, including monitoring and updating employment opportunities, curated resources, and photos/videos.

General Responsibilities

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the Development function and agency mission.

Education, Experience & Skills Required

• Bachelor's or Master’s degree in Marketing, Public Relations, Communications, or a related discipline preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of three years of experience in nonprofit development, fundraising operations, event management, project coordination, marketing, or a related field.

• Experience with donor databases and fundraising/event management software (e.g., Neon, Raiser's Edge, OneCause, or similar CRM platforms).

• Demonstrated experience in volunteer management and social media management.

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.

• Demonstrated success coordinating complex events and managing detailed logistics.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, with tact and diplomacy.

• High level of accuracy, attention to detail, and follow-through; ability to work independently.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment regarding donor, client, and agency information.

• Collaborative team player with a positive, service-oriented attitude and a commitment to excellence.

• Passion for Sherwood's mission and a commitment to creating exceptional donor and volunteer experiences.

• Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends in support of fundraising events.

• Reliable transportation and the ability to pass a background check.

Key Attributes

• Flexibility & Adaptability: Adapts quickly and effectively to new environments, people, and responsibilities; readily adapts to stressful situations and factors outside their control.

• Communication: Expresses views constructively, clearly, and with confidence; listens openly; shows tact and diplomacy; is succinct, recognizing time is valuable for all.

• Documentation: Understands the importance of accurate documentation; efficiently navigates donor and event databases and completes documentation in a timely manner.

• Relationship Management: Works effectively with peers, donors, volunteers, board members, and community partners to meet shared goals; builds networks and cooperation, using a strengths-based, person-centered lens consistent with Sherwood's values.

• Decision Making & Problem Solving: Identifies key issues relevant to long-term goals; thinks through problems and selects appropriate courses of action.

• Stress Tolerance: Even-tempered under pressure; maintains a positive attitude despite stress and approaching deadlines.

• Financial Management: Understands fiscal responsibility and the impact of budget performance on operations; monitors and tracks expenses appropriately.

• Confidentiality: Properly maintains the privacy of donors, families, and staff, and adapts readily to procedures that protect confidentiality.

Work Conditions

The physical demands and characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may frequently sit at a desk, use a computer, view work from a computer monitor, climb stairs, and be required to lift and carry up to 20 lbs.

This position description is not intended to be all-inclusive and does not constitute an employment agreement. It is subject to change as the needs of the agency and the requirements of the role evolve.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Sherwood Center for the Exceptional Child is an equal opportunity employer, committed to a work environment that gives voice to, supports, inspires, and respects all individuals. Employment decisions are based on qualifications and professional competence, without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, religion, disability, medical condition, genetic information, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, military or veteran status, citizenship, or other characteristics protected by applicable law.