Background

Launched in 1993, the Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) is the largest and longest-running showcase for environmental films in the United States. Each March, our signature Festival presents more than 100 documentary, narrative, and short films from around the world in venues across greater Washington, D.C. Alongside the screenings, we offer panels and special events featuring filmmakers, subject matter experts, and other invited guests to foster dialogue and deepen engagement.

We also offer a full slate of year-round programming, such as our signature Youth Program for D.C. public and charter school students and regular community-based screenings, including both first-run and encore Festival presentations. A leading D.C. cultural institution, we were named Best Film Festival in D.C. by Washington City Paper readers in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and honored with the 2017 D.C. Mayor’s Award for Excellence in Creative Industries. Our 31st Annual Festival will take place from March 16-26, 2023.

 

Job Summary

The Development Assistant is a position dedicated to strengthening donor relations and ensuring that all interactions with donors and other diverse constituents are of the highest caliber. Reporting to the Director of Development, the Development Assistant is responsible for day-to-day aspects of gift/pledge processing, data entry, and donor stewardship; timely donor recognition and tracking; and donor database maintenance and reporting. He/she/they will also provide administrative support to the Director of Development in other areas of development, such as the fulfillment of annual fund campaigns and special events, researching and identifying funding opportunities, donor/prospect research and constituent contact recordkeeping, preparation of grant attachments and Board/Advisory Council materials, and custodianship of institutional funder/sponsor logos. The Development Assistant will also help with coordinating logistical aspects of year-round fundraising and stewardship events, as well as receptions and special programs throughout the March Festival.

This is a part-time (up to 30 hours/week) position with the potential for full-time advancement in the new fiscal year (July 2023). This position is based in Washington, D.C. However, candidates may apply to fill the position remotely, with the expectation that the individual will be in D.C. for the key days ahead of and during the March Festival (March 16-26, 2023).

 

Reports To

Director of Development

 

Responsibilities

Gift Processing and Stewardship and Database Maintenance (65%)

  • Execute and implement gift processing and stewardship activities:
    • Accurately record all gifts and pledges in the donor database and provide tax receipts and acknowledgement letters to donors in a timely fashion
    • Help execute regular donor communications through mailing pledge reminders, personalized thank-you cards, welcome phone calls or emails, and other gift stewardship communications
    • Develop, document, and adhere to best practices and procedures as they relate to gift processing and stewardship
  • Maintain the Festival’s donor database, DonorPerfect, in accordance with industry best practices and with a high degree of integrity:
    • Ensure data integrity through capturing and tracking relevant donor information and reflects compliance with institutional protocols and procedures
    • Manage and update constituent records with contact notes, event attendance notes, and/or gift notes, including scanning and attaching all relevant documents to the constituent record
    • Build queries and reports to support development efforts
    • Review and update constituent records on a regular basis and initiate data enrichment updates to ensure accurate mailing addresses, phone numbers, and/or e-mail addresses
    • Assist with the provision of financial reports for gift reconciliation
    • Document data entry and constituent recordkeeping procedures and assist staff in maximizing database use and functionality

 

Administrative Support (20%)

  • Provide administrative support to the Acting Director of Development in other areas of development:
    • Collect and consolidate results of annual giving appeals and special events and enter financial data in database as appropriate
    • Collaborate on creating mail and e-mail recipient lists for solicitation, events, and donor stewardship activities, as well as other development communications materials
    • Manage the drafting and scanning of acknowledgement letters and donation collateral (i.e. reply cards, personal notes from the donor, check receipts, etc.), as well as creating new templates for acknowledgements based on changing campaigns, such as Giving Tuesday and special events
    • Assist with scheduling and preparation of materials used for site visits, donor/prospect meetings, and special events
    • Contribute to researching and identifying funding opportunities and entering new information in our donor database about potential donors and event attendees with the aim of upholding a robust moves management framework
    • Assist with preparation of common grant attachments and Board/Advisory Council meeting materials
    • Maintain and comprehensively update in-house cache of institutional funder/sponsor logos and act as point of contact for all aspects of institutional funder/sponsor public recognition
    • Provide impeccable customer service to diverse internal and external stakeholders and reinforce a culture of philanthropy across the institution

 

Festival and Event Support (15%)

  • Help the Festival Coordinator and development team as needed to ensure smooth operations of signature annual Festival and year-round programs and events:
    • Help create checklists of materials and runs-of-show for all staff and volunteers
    • Help coordinate volunteer assignments and roles and responsibilities for each event
    • Build and maintain strong relationships with all Festival venues and volunteers
    • Coordinate audience and filmmaker events (i.e. receptions and/or happy hours) in conjunction with Festival partners
    • Provide support at events, including overseeing volunteers and volunteer roles, acting as point-person for caterers/valet/photographer, and welcoming guests
    • Serve as a public-facing ambassador of the Festival at all programs and events

 

Qualifications

We welcome applications from systematic, highly organized, meticulous, and detail-oriented development professionals with a distinct interest in donor database management and donor stewardship, as well as a dual passion for film/media arts and the environment.

Successful candidates will also possess the following:

  • At least one (1) to two (2) years of professional experience in a development role, preferably in an arts or environmental nonprofit setting
  • Experience with event management, including staffing film festivals and/or comparable gatherings (preferred)
  • Demonstrated understanding of development best practices and the moves management process, especially donor relations and stewardship
  • Excellent project and time management skills with attention to detail and accuracy and the ability to prioritize tasks, responsibilities, and deadlines
  • Strong commitment to implementation and follow-through and a clear command of logistical thinking
  • Experience with generating database reports and compiling, reviewing, and presenting donor and financial data with a high degree of accuracy and accessibility
  • Strong proficiency in nonprofit CRMs, especially DonorPerfect; G Suite, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Suite; prospect research tools; and online research tools
  • Strong research, writing, editing, and oral communication skills
  • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to interact professionally and collegially with colleagues, funders, venue partners, the general public, and other diverse stakeholders
  • Willingness to staff and contribute to departmental and organizational initiatives and events as they arise
  • Creativity, adaptability, and a sense of humor
  • Ability to maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality and tact in relation to donor and data information
  • Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent experience) required

 

Compensation

Compensation constitutes full consideration for the services of this position and will amount to $35/hr., not to exceed 30 hours per week. Potential for full-time advancement for the right candidate.

 

How to Apply

The Environmental Film Festival in the Nation’s Capital (DCEFF) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Job applicants are considered with no discrimination on the bases of race, religion, color, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity, and sexual orientation), parental status, national origin, age, disability, family medical history or genetic information, political affiliation, military service, or other non–merit-based factors.

Interested candidates should submit a thoughtful cover letter and résumé in PDF format to jobs@dceff.org.