Communications & Development Specialist

Communications & Development Specialist 
Wendt Center for Loss & Healing 

Position Summary 

The Communications & Development Specialist supports the Wendt Center’s fundraising, communications, and donor engagement efforts through high-quality content creation, database management, and event coordination. This role is ideal for a detail‑oriented, creative professional who thrives in a mission‑driven environment and wants to help expand the Center’s visibility and philanthropic impact. The Specialist reports to the Director of Development & Communications and collaborates with program, clinical, and administrative teams.   

Key Responsibilities 

Development Support 

Support annual fundraising efforts across foundation giving, individual giving, donor stewardship, and corporate partnership outreach. 

Prepare donor acknowledgments, impact updates, and stewardship materials. 

Assist with funder and donor research, proposal drafting, and reporting. 

Database Oversight 

Oversee the maintenance, accuracy, and integrity of the donor database, including gift entry, coding, segmentation, and reporting. 

Implement data hygiene practices and ensure consistent data standards across the organization. 

Produce regular reports and dashboards to support fundraising analysis and forecasting. 

Train staff on database procedures and support organization wide data consistency. 

Communications & Content Creation 

Develop and publish content for newsletters, social media, website updates, and donor communications. 

Create compelling stories that highlight client impact, program outcomes, and organizational milestones. 

Maintain brand consistency aligned with the Center’s values of healing, kindness, collaboration, and learning. 

Support media outreach and the development of press materials. 

Event Coordination 

Assist with planning and executing the annual Benefit Gala and other fundraising or community events. 

Produce event materials, talking points, and promotional content. 

Support donor engagement and stewardship activities before, during, and after events. 

Internal Collaboration 

Work with program and clinical teams to gather stories, data, and updates for communications and fundraising materials. 

Lead the production of the internal newsletter by gathering updates from staff, drafting and editing content, designing the layout, and managing timely distribution. 

Support the Director of Development & Communications in strengthening departmental systems and workflows. 

Collaborate with the Volunteer Coordinator to promote volunteer engagement and recognition. 

Administrative Support 

Support scheduling, meeting preparation, and follow-up to keep development priorities and workflows moving smoothly. 

Maintain organized files, track deadlines and deliverables, and ensure key materials are accessible and up to date. 

Serve as a point of contact for internal teams, vendors, and partners, ensuring timely communication and effective coordination. 

Carry out related and/or unrelated tasks and projects as requested that support departmental goals and organizational priorities. 

 Qualifications 

Required 

2–4+ years of experience in nonprofit development, communications, marketing, or related fields. 

Strong writing, editing, and storytelling skills. 

Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Raiser’s Edge, Boomerang, DonorPerfect). 

Ability to manage multiple projects and meet deadlines. 

Strong attention to detail and comfort working with data. 

Utilize Microsoft 365 tools (Outlook, OneNote, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) to support efficient communication, collaboration, and workflow management. 

Preferred 

Experience in trauma-informed, mental health, or human‑services organizations. 

Graphic design or digital media skills (Canva, Adobe Creative Suite). 

Experience supporting fundraising events and donor stewardship. 

Compensation & Work Environment 

Salary: Up to $75,000 depending on experience. 

Hybrid schedule (Tuesday and Wednesday onsite in Washington, DC). 

Comprehensive benefits including health, dental, vision, retirement match, generous leave, and 20+ holidays. 

About the Wendt Center 

For 50 years, the Wendt Center for Loss & Healing has provided trauma-informed mental health services to individuals and families navigating grief, loss, and trauma. The Center is a $5–5.5M organization supported by government and foundation grants, fundraising events, and counseling fees.