Job Title: Philanthropy Specialist

Department: Philanthropy

Reports to:  Director of Donor Impact, matrixed to Vermont Women’s Fund Executive Director

Effective Date: November 2025

Salary Range: $26.00 - $30.00 per hour, nonexempt

Working at the Vermont Community Foundation

For over 35 years, the Vermont Community Foundation (VCF) has served Vermont families through philanthropy and building stronger communities. Our mission—Better Together: inspiring giving and bringing together people and resources to make a difference in Vermont—provides the bedrock for our workplace culture. Our employees are passionate about making a difference every day. We approach our work with curiosity, respect, and integrity and believe in collaboration, equity, and diversity. When you join our team, your work will matter.

Position Overview

The VCF is growing, and we are looking for strong administrative and operational skills to support the Philanthropy team, including specific administrative, development, and stewardship support for the Vermont Women's Fund (VWF).

Being a strong administrator requires excellent organizational skills, a passion for delivering excellent customer service, and a talent for multi-tasking and tracking details. Responsibilities include administrative office duties such as answering phones, responding to emails, coordinating mailings, scheduling meetings, and development-related duties such as event planning (on-site and virtual), coordinating vendors, consultants, and suppliers, designing flyers, and crafting presentation materials. This position will also need to be tech-savvy to use our systems for data entry and reporting. This is a great role for someone who is detail-oriented and likes working collaboratively with a wide variety of responsibilities and independence. 

This position will report directly to the Director of Donor Impact and will work closely with both the Vermont Women’s Fund Executive Director and the VCF Philanthropic Advisor team.

This role will split time, 50% supporting the Vermont Women’s Fund (VWF) Executive Director and 50% on other Philanthropy team activities.

Essential Functions:

This role supports fundraising/asset development, stewardship, and administrative duties of the Philanthropy Team and VWF. 

Responsibilities will include:

• Working closely with the VWF Executive Director and VCF Philanthropic Advisors on development activities which may include preparing materials for donor stewardship, scheduling fundraising appeals, proposals, and grant reports as well as quarterly newsletters and emails
• Logistical support for events (small events–such as with professional advisors, house parties, council meetings, etc., and the Women’s Fund Annual Event)–working with donors/council/fundholders, sending and tracking invitations and responses, coordinating with venues, providing logistical support, representing VCF/VWF, and engaging participants, etc.
• Customer service for donors/fundholders (joint with Donor Impact Specialist)–answering questions and triaging inquiries from a wide range of customers including high-net-worth clients; providing VCF Donor Portal support and troubleshooting
• Data/Administrative support–pulling donor, fundraising, and gift reports, organizing and ordering collateral/physical materials, opening/sorting mail, capturing meeting minutes, logging contact notes with donors/prospects, tracking outreach/engagement activities (e.g. who received an appeal, who attended an event, etc.)
• Manage data and activities in various systems–including Classy, Constant Contact, GiveLively, Salesforce, and the VCF Donor Portal; maintain a database on donors, fundholders, sponsors, and workgroups to support stewardship, communications, and reporting
• Research and analysis about nonprofits (in support of grant opportunities) or fundholders (in support of engagement/prospecting)
• Back-up support and cross-training in Gifts Processing and Donor Services as part of an integrated support team for Philanthropy
• Perform other related duties as required

Qualifications:

Our organization’s culture is designed to inspire and empower employees to do their best work every day, and we are committed to creating a safe, inclusive, and positive workplace. In keeping with our core values, we are seeking team players who bring the skills and qualifications named below and who value collaboration, diverse perspectives, and community. 

• Excellent organizational skills and problem-solving attitude, ability to manage competing priorities, manage their time/workload, and escalate appropriately 
• Capabilities and interest in data analytics and research
• Demonstrated skills in providing excellent customer service
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and the ability to represent the Foundation and its supporting organizations with community members, other foundations, donors, representatives of grantees and other organizations, etc.
• Demonstrated qualities of a team player, ready to pitch in for any all-hands-on-deck moments
• Strong technology skills, including understanding the interaction of social networking media and development; skilled at Zoom/Teams video conferencing, and supporting software for development (Salesforce and FIMS or equivalent)
• Ability to work independently and not afraid to take initiative
• Demonstrated attributes of honesty, respect, and professional integrity
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, possess cultural awareness, sensitivity, and commitment to our core values

Experience & Education 

• Three or more years of administrative, development, or client service experience
• Experience working on a capital campaign or for a development department is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree in a business-related field is preferred

Location

Hybrid; on-site at the Middlebury Vermont office 2-3 days/week and some travel around the state to various events as needed.

Instructions for Applying

Please fill out the application, including adding a cover letter and resume. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The Vermont Community Foundation is an equal employment opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on merit and business needs, and not on race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, sex, age, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, place of birth, citizenship, military or veteran status, HIV status, genetic information, disability, or any other legally protected status as defined and required by state and federal laws.