Development and Communication Engagement Specialist

Overview

Family Star Montessori is seeking a highly organized, relationship-driven Development and Community Engagement Specialist to strengthen fundraising operations, donor engagement, and community-facing initiatives through strong project management and cross-functional coordination.

This role goes beyond task execution to provide structured oversight of individual giving, donor development, community engagement projects, and events. The Development and Community Engagement Specialist serves as a central project manager for development and communications work - ensuring timelines, stakeholders, and deliverables are aligned in support of Family Star’s mission to serve children and families across Denver.

This is an ideal role for a development professional who thrives in managing multiple projects, building donor relationships, and translating strategy into action.

Development, Donor Relations & Community Engagement (80%)

Individual Giving & Donor Engagement

• Support and coordinate individual donor engagement strategies including annual giving, stewardship, and cultivation activities.
• Communicate directly with individual donors by phone, and email - building authentic, lasting relationships.
• Prepare donor acknowledgements, recognition materials, and Colorado Child Care Tax Credit documentation.
• Maintain accurate donor records, gift processing, and reports in coordination with the Finance team.
• Manage donor database activities including gift entry, data maintenance, queries, and reporting.
• Track detailed donor pipelines and stewardship timelines accurately

Grants, Foundations & Corporate Partnerships

• Conduct Prospect research for foundations, corporations, and community partners.
• Track grant and reporting calendars and deadlines.
• Coordinate letters of support from board members and community partners.

Community Outreach, Enrollment Support & Events

• Serve as a visible, friendly representative of Family Star in the Lakewood community and surrounding neighborhoods.
• Conduct direct engaging outreach including community events, tabling, door-to-door engagement, and relationship-building with local businesses and organizations.
• Make cold calls and follow-up outreach to community partners, families, and prospects to boost enrollment and awareness.
• Support enrollment-focused outreach efforts for the new Lakewood campus.
• Project manage fundraising and community events including timelines, logistics, vendors, materials, and follow-up.
• Coordinate staff, board members, volunteers, and external partners to ensure successful event execution.
• Serve as lead liaison for Lakewood campus event space including marketing, communications, rental coordination, and basic facility coordination.

Communications & Marketing Project Management

• Assist in the design and produce outreach and donor-facing materials using Canva (i.e. flyers, postcards, signage, social graphics, presentations, etc.).
• Lead community outreach communications for the Lakewood building, including marketing plans, printed materials, and neighborhood engagement tools.
• Draft and distribute newsletters, appeals, emails, annual report content, presentations, and solicitation materials.
• Manage organizational email inboxes and ensure timely, professional responses.
• Maintain and manage social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, Linked In, etc.) including content creation and scheduling.
• Support website content updates to ensure accuracy, relevance, and ease of use.

Executive Director & Organizational Support (10%)

• Provide project and administrative support to the Executive Director, including scheduling, drafting materials, and special projects.
• Support cross-department initiatives using strong organization and follow-through.

Board Governance & Support (10%)

• Serve as Board Secretary.
• Coordinate board meetings, agendas, materials, and logistics.
• Attend meetings, take accurate minutes, and maintain official records.
• Support onboarding and ongoing communication with board members.

REQUIRED

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Extremely strong attention to detail and organization.
• Comfortable talking directly with people on the phone and in person, including cold outreach.
• Strong…