Development Coordinator

Position: Development Coordinator Location: Retreat Farm, Brattleboro, VT Type: Full-time Overview: Retreat Farm seeks an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Development Coordinator ... Read More

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Overview

Retreat Farm seeks an enthusiastic and detail-oriented Development Coordinator to help us grow! This new position is a hands-on role at the intersection of grants, donor relations, and our soon-to-launch membership program.

The Development Coordinator will help diversify and strengthen how Retreat Farm sustains itself: researching and helping write and administer grants, keeping our donor and member records accurate and up to date, making sure every gift is acknowledged in a timely manner and with care, and helping shape, launch, and execute a renewed membership program.

About the Role

The Development Coordinator is a new position at Retreat Farm, reporting to the Managing Director of Development & Collaboration, and working closely with Finance and other leadership staff. The role blends detail-oriented administrative work such as grant research and reporting, CRM upkeep, and gift processing, with the more relationship-facing work of donor cultivation, and launching and nurturing Retreat Farm’s new membership program.

This is a good fit for someone who likes both sides of development work: the detailed work of database management and grant administration, and the satisfaction of welcoming new members and helping donors feel genuinely appreciated.

Specific Responsibilities

Grants & Institutional Giving (approx. 30%)

• Research prospective grant opportunities (foundation, corporate, and government) aligned with Retreat Farm’s mission and programs.
• Assist the Managing Director of Development & Collaboration with writing and assembling grant applications, working with program and finance staff to gather narrative content, budgets, and supporting materials.
• Maintain a grants calendar tracking deadlines, reporting requirements, and compliance dates.
• Prepare interim and final grant reports on time and to funder specifications.

Donor Data Management and Donor Stewardship (approx. 40%)

• Maintain accurate, up-to-date donor and member records in Retreat Farm’s CRM (SalesForce).
• Enter gifts, pledges, and membership transactions promptly and accurately.
• Run donor and membership reports and mailing/segment lists for leadership, board, and appeals as needed.
• Support regular data hygiene: de-duplication, updates, and consistent record-keeping.
• Process timely, accurate acknowledgment letters and for gifts and memberships.
• Support stewardship touchpoints for donors and members, such as thank-you notes, recognition listings, and small appreciation gatherings.
• Help maintain donor recognition materials (e.g., annual report listings, on-site signage).
• Support development, events, and other relevant staff with campaigns, appeals, and donor or member events as needed.

Membership Program (approx. 30%)

• Help finalize program structure, benefits, and systems ahead of launch, in partnership with Development, Community Engagement, and Retreat Farm Market leadership.
• Build and manage day-to-day membership operations: sign-ups, renewals, upgrades, and member questions.
• Track and confirm volunteer-hours for volunteer memberships, coordinating with relevant staff.
• Coordinate anniversary-based renewal communications and welcome package fulfillment.
• Monitor and report on membership KPIs.
• Coordinate with Market and Events staff to ensure member benefits (discounts, event admission, pre-sale access) are delivered smoothly and correctly.

What We’re Looking For: • 3+ years of experience in development, grants, membership, or nonprofit administration.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• Familiarity with donor/membership CRM systems and digital recordkeeping, SalesForce and Google Suite preferred. Comfort learning new software required.
• Strong, clear writing for grant narratives, acknowledgment letters, and member communications alike.
• High attention to detail and comfort with recurring, deadline-driven administrative work.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines at once.
• A genuine interest in Retreat Farm’s mission and in building something new.

Physical Demands: • Ability to sit or work at a computer for extended periods

• Ability to walk Farm grounds, including uneven terrain
• Ability to lift and move up to 25 pounds

Reporting

The Development Coordinator reports to the Managing Director of Development & Collaboration and works closely with the Finance Director on gift and grant records.

Compensation: • $55,000 – 60,000/year depending on experience and qualifications

• Optional health, vision, and dental insurance with employer contributions
• Paid time off
• Eligibility for enrollment in Retreat Farm’s SIMPLE IRA retirement plan with 3% employer matching
• Staff discount at the Retreat Farm Market

To Apply

Please send a cover letter and resume to jobs@retreatfarm.org. Applications submitted through Indeed only will not be considered. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Employment is contingent upon a successful background check.

Retreat Farm is an Equal Opportunity Employer dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion. We believe diverse teams make the strongest teams and encourage qualified people of all backgrounds, identities, ages, and abilities to apply.

About Retreat Farm

Located on the north end of downtown Brattleboro, Retreat Farm is an essential Vermont place whose mission is to connect people to the land and to one-another.

Established in 1837, the original Retreat Farm was a working and therapeutic farm serving patients at the nearby Brattleboro Retreat. A prominent feature of the region for nearly 190 years, the Farm today encompasses 550+ acres of conserved forests, farmlands, trails, and waterways, and a historic eight-structure Farmstead.

The nonprofit Retreat Farm, Ltd. was formed in 2015 to restore the lands and structures of this place, and to establish a vibrant program of education, stewardship, and community gatherings. By creating a creative third place, Retreat Farm is helping to ensure a healthy future for the region. Learn more at retreatfarm.org.

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