Development Specialist - Ad185

Title: Development Specialist

Location: River House- NARA NW Administration Building- 211 SE Caruthers St, Portland OR, 97214

Schedule: Hybrid (after a probationary period), Min-Fri, 8:00am-4:30pm (with schedule flexibility)

Wage Range: $26.20 - $30.25, Non-Exempt, Hourly

If you are a motivated and dedicated Development Specialist looking for an opportunity to contribute to an organization making a positive impact, we want to hear from you!

At NARA Northwest, you'll find a supportive work environment where every team member is valued and respected. Whether you're passionate about healthcare, behavioral health, education, or social services, there's a place for you to make a meaningful difference.

Company Mission:

The mission of NARA NW is to provide education, physical, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment that is culturally appropriate to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and anyone in need.

At NARA NW, we deliver services and support to Native American and Alaska Native communities, helping individuals lead healthier, more fulfilling lives.

With over 450 employees across a variety of programs-including medical and dental care, addiction treatment, housing assistance, and enrichment initiatives NARA NW offers numerous opportunities for growth and advancement, all while making a tangible, positive impact on the lives of others.

Position Overview:

The Development Specialist plays a key role in advancing NARA NW's fundraising and philanthropic goals through funding research, grant development, donor database management, and development operations. Working closely with the Director, this position helps identify and secure funding opportunities, coordinates the development of grant proposals and reports, maintains accurate donor and funder records, and supports fundraising initiatives that strengthen the organization's mission and impact.

In addition to development and grant-related responsibilities, the position supports community engagement and fundraising events throughout the year and represents NARA NW at community gatherings, conferences, and other outreach activities. This is an excellent opportunity for an analytical, strong writer with nonprofit development experience who is interested in long-term professional growth and the potential to advance into development leadership.

What you will do:

• Research and identify prospective grant, foundation, corporate, and other funding opportunities.
• Ensure data integrity through accurate recordkeeping, gift tracking, funding pipeline management, and timely updates.
• Maintain donor, funder, and prospect information within the organization's CRM and donor database systems.
• Analyze data and prepare reports to assess progress and adjust strategy.
• Monitor deadlines, reporting requirements, and project timelines.
• Draft or assist with grant proposals, reports, thank you letters, and donor communications.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship through meetings, events follow up, and personalized outreach.
• Assist with planning and implementation of fundraising, donor stewardship, and community engagement events.
• Participate in event planning and assist with logistics, activities, and donor engagement opportunities.
• Partner with program leaders, finance staff, grant accountants, and organizational leadership to develop compelling funding requests and project budgets.
• Coordinate with internal stakeholders to collect stories, impact data, outcomes, and organizational information for fundraising and grant proposals.
• Represent NARA NW at community events, conferences, meetings, trade shows, and cultural events.

Travel: Local travel throughout the workday may be required. Fleet vehicles are available for work-related travel. Occasional evening or weekend participation in community events may be requested. Approved drivers for NARA must have a valid & active drivers license, auto insurance, and clean driving record.

Key Role Functions:

• Funding and foundation research
• Grant/proposal writing
• CRM and donor database management
• Development reporting and analytics
• Budget development support
• Funder communications
• Independent project management
• Cross-functional collaboration