Friends of the Rouge (FOTR), founded in 1986, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoration and stewardship of the Rouge River ecosystem through education, citizen involvement and other collaborative efforts. The Rouge River is one of the nation’s most polluted waterways and is located in the Metropolitan Detroit area of southeastern Michigan. The Rouge has been the focus of intensive federal, state and local restoration efforts.
*See the end of this job description for our Mission, Vision and Core Values that drive the core of our work.
Position Background
This position serves as fundraising support and is a member of the Development team. Under the direction of the Development Director, this person will coordinate organization-wide and development specific events including but not limited to: the annual fundraiser, the annual major donor event, and the “Celebrate with Friends” annual meeting and appreciation. Additionally, this role will support donor retention through the creation and coordination of donor touchpoints to targeted donor segments including, but not limited to: monthly donors (BEST Friends), new members, 10+ year members, lapsed members, the Board, and the Stonefly Society. In addition, this position will support database management and Board coordination.
You’ll be successful in this position if you have a keen eye for detail, enjoy event planning, are able to work as part of a team to meet deadlines and troubleshoot the unexpected, are able to verbally communicate with strangers in a direct and kind manner, enjoy creating print and digital collateral, and enjoy supporting administrative systems to further overarching goals. You should have the ability and desire to facilitate collaborative approaches to fundraising and donor management. If you geek-out on growing new approaches to improve donor stewardship and love to meet the mission of a better Rouge River, this position may be for you.
DEIJ Statement
Friends of the Rouge recognizes that to accomplish our mission, we must seek meaningful participation from everyone in our watershed. We create the best solutions for our environment when we have diverse perspectives.
Many of our communities are continuing to experience pollution caused by our region’s history of discrimination against – and disinvestment from – communities of color, recent immigrants, and lower-income areas. We know that we cannot restore, protect, and enhance the Rouge River without social and environmental justice. Because of this, we prioritize community in our work and are committed to removing barriers and centering equity in access. Access – to us – means education, recreation, green spaces, clean water, and decision-making power. We are dedicated to asking questions and supporting the autonomy of our many communities, letting their expertise lead the way.
It is a privilege for us to be entrusted with this work.
Job Duties & Responsibilities
Events (50%)
- Co-design events with the Development team and Executive Director.
- Manage event preparation, communicate with and manage outside vendors, create and communicate staff duties, and drive the run-of-show on event day as the Friends of the Rouge point person – with assistance from and collaboration with the Development and Operations Teams and the Executive Director.
- Create mailings, email, and other print collateral to invite attendees and more broadly promote events.
- Design event programs and outsource to print.
- Attend special events (ex: Stonefly Society Gathering, Annual Fundraiser, Celebrate with Friends, annual meeting) outside of regular hours as the main event point-person for staff and vendors.
Fund Development and Tracking (40%)
With an emphasis on nurturing donor retention through member segment-related activities
- Develop a communication strategy and “touch point” calendar for all member segments; communicate progress and needs with the Development Team.
- Create, coordinate, and oversee membership activities specific to target segments in collaboration with the Development Team.
- Create special communications for targeted donor segments and general audiences.
- Track and record interactions with constituents in Bloomerang (or other donor software).
- Utilize Bloomerang to generate reports as needed.
- Communicate with donors, volunteers, and diverse stakeholders.
- Perform routine database maintenance of donor software (Bloomerang); create and implement a communications schedule to address: constituent formatting issues, expired credit cards to maintain payments, remove bounced/dropped emails, constituents that have marked FOTR as spam, and non-active constituents to improve e-newsletter open rates and database efficacy.
- Support Membership receipts / acknowledgement duties as needed.
- Assist the Development Director and Development Team in developing and executing the annual development plan and strategy for annual giving (membership) and organization-wide fundraising events.
- Support Development Team with a major donor pipeline: identification qualification, cultivation, and stewardship.
Board Coordination (10%)
- Manage time effectively and efficiently, effectively prioritize tasks; attend to a broad and diverse range of activities.
- Track and report activities and time on a daily/weekly/monthly basis.
- Participate in staff meetings, and other organizational events and activities.
- Assist in developing and implementing any needed procedures to continually improve the effectiveness of the organization as related to Trails.
- Participate in program related training as needed or as determined necessary.
- Demonstrate progress in tracking, recording and communicating program and project progress, participation and impact.
- Provide additional support to other FOTR programs as appropriate.
- Other duties as assigned.
General
- Willingness to participate in professional development opportunities
- Ability to develop meaningful and broad connection with FOTR program managers and coordinators to maintain understanding of current needs and opportunities
- Manage time effectively and efficiently, prioritize tasks; attend to a broad and diverse range of activities
- Track and report activities and time on a daily/weekly/monthly basis
- Participate in training as needed or as determined necessary
- Provide additional support to other FOTR programs as appropriate
- Participate in staff meetings, and other organization events and activities
- Other duties as assigned
Qualifications
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to multitask, prioritize and maintain attention to detail
- Excellent organizational skills
- Demonstrate great customer service and kindness
- Demonstrate quality project management skills and programmatic planning
- Demonstrate comfort and practice in talking with strangers – “cold-calls”, emails, etc…
- Ability to assess giving trends, manage and analyze data, draw conclusions for future efforts
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team
- Demonstrate excellent writing skills, strong interpersonal skills
- Demonstrate content creation – social media, mass email communications, presentations for different audiences
- Demonstrate and/or develop a philosophy of donor-centric giving
- Demonstrate “soft-skills” and ability to work with and read diverse audiences and individuals
- Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
Preferences
- Adept at learning, evaluating, implementing and maintaining new software platforms for more robust virtual fundraising
- Previous experience in fundraising
- Previous marketing / communications experience
- Previous customer service experience
- Previous event planning and management experience
- Exhibit a deep and abiding commitment to the preservation of our environment and the good stewardship of water resources in particular
Key Competencies
- Organizational agility
- Planning and organization
- Communication
- Fundraising
- Creativity
Physical Requirements
Office work will include extended periods of time sitting while using a computer. Some physical lifting is required (up to 30 lbs.). Outdoor work may involve walking on uneven ground, carrying materials, or working on a boat for the Rouge Cruise fundraiser event. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Ability to speak and listen in English required.
Work Environment
This position is primarily an office position with occasional outdoor work. Flexible hours and work from home options are negotiable after 6 months of employment.
Nondiscrimination Policy
It is the policy of Friends of the Rouge (FOTR) to provide equal membership, employment and service opportunities to all eligible persons and to administer personnel policies and practices in accordance with all applicable laws.
We do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, creed, religion, color, personal appearance, national origin, citizenship, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, family responsibilities, and the presence of any sensory, physical or mental disability, learning disability, matriculation, membership in any labor organization, lawful source of income, political affiliation, or political ideology.
Application Instructions:
All interested parties are invited to submit as a single PDF file in the following format: Your Full Name – FOTR Development Coordinator Application.pdf the following:
- a cover letter indicating why you are interested in this position which describes experience and interest in the position,
- A resume,
- Three references
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
E-mail application to Lara Edwards, Development Director at ledwards@therouge.org with the subject line: Development Coordinator: Events & Member Specialist Application. Applications will not be received after Friday, March 28, 2025, 5:00 PM EST. Late submissions will not be considered. No phone calls please.
MISSION
To restore, protect, and enhance the Rouge River watershed through stewardship, education, and collaboration.
VISION
We envision a future where a clean and vibrant Rouge River is the center of our community. Individual and community actions protect and improve the health of the Rouge River, assuring that its natural, economic, and recreational value enhances the quality of life in the Rouge River ecosystem.
CORE VALUES
Integrity
We ensure public trust by acting with honesty, transparency, ethicality and fiscal responsibility in all actions regarding the watershed and our community.
Stewardship
We commit to protecting and enhancing the watershed and improving the lives of the community through their interaction with the river. Our focus is on enhancing, monitoring and conserving the ecological health of the watershed for the benefit of all members of the community and future generations.
Education
We encourage protection and restoration of the Rouge River by providing opportunities that offer hands-on-immersive learning opportunities. We involve the public and promote engaged and educated stakeholders in the Rouge River watershed.
Evidence based decision making
We provide and utilize evidence based decision making in our promotion of Rouge River restoration and stewardship. We deliver reliable and verified information to watershed stakeholders in order to evaluate the watershed, determine priorities and prioritize restoration efforts.
Community collaboration
We team with individuals, businesses, government, non-profits, citizen groups, and other community organizations for the creation of a strong network of champions.
Quality of life
We provide communities with the ability to personally, economically, and ecologically benefit from the Rouge River by transforming how the river is perceived, accessed, and appreciated.
Diversity-Equity-Involvement
We strive to recruit and retain membership, leadership and staff who reflect the diversity of the communities in which we serve. We believe that the entire community benefits when everyone has equal access to information, programs, services and activities.
Terms of Employment – At-Will Employment Status
All persons employed by FOTR, regardless of classification status, are employed on an “at-will” basis. As such, employment can be terminated with our without cause, and with or without notice, at any time, at either your option of the option of FOTR. No supervisor, coordinator, manager, or other representative of FOTR other than the Executive Director has the authority to enter into any agreement or contract for employment for any specified period of time. The provisions contained in this policy supersede any and all previous oral or written statements or representations that have been made by FOTR or by someone purporting to represent FOTR. Employees should be aware, while FOTR employees are required to participate in regular performance evaluation; this evaluation process is not intended to be a means of creating legal rights and does not affect the “at-will” nature of the terms of employment.