Development Officer

Location: Honolulu, HI (Remote with Executive Approval)             

Reports to: VP of Philanthropy
Classification: Exempt

Kupu’s Story

Kupu, which means “to sprout” or “to grow” in Hawaiian, has a two-fold mission: to preserve the land while empowering youth. The organization provides hands-on training in conservation, sustainability, and environmental education for young adults, with the goal of fostering our next generation of environmental and cultural stewards. Kupu’s work has been likened to the role of the kupukupu fern, which is one of the first plants to recultivate the land after a lava flow. The fern not only serves as a foundational species for rebuilding a healthy, native ecosystem, but it also symbolizes a place where knowledge can grow

Established in 2007 as a 501(c)3 non-profit, Kupu empowers future generations to create a more sustainable, pono Hawai‘i.  Kupu accomplishes this by partnering with conservation and sustainability focused agencies throughout the state and pacific in providing hands-on service opportunities which educate and mentor young adults and emerging professionals to become stewards of our communities and environment.  Since 2007, Kupu has risen to meet the increasing demands of the green job sector by engaging over 3,000 youth in the areas of conservation, sustainability, and environmental education. Kupu affirms the Hawaiian notion of “ma ka hana ka ʻike” or “in working one learns.”  This approach has led to the creation of hundreds of service-learning opportunities which assists in the development of Hawai’i’s emerging professionals in the green job sector while supporting over 150 conservation and sustainability organizations across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific region.

Kupu’s Mission

“To empower youth to serve their communities through character-building, service-learning, and environmental stewardship opportunities that encourage integrity (pono) with Ke Akua, self, and others”

Kupu’s CHOSEN Values

C         Character

H         Humility

O        ‘Ohana

S          Service

E          Excellence

N         Nobility

Position Overview

The Development Officer is a key member of the fundraising team at Kupu, responsible for executing donor stewardship and fundraising activities. This role involves engaging with prospective and existing donors, executing fundraising campaigns and events, processing donations, and contributing to developing promotional and solicitation materials. The Development Officer typically operates at a senior individual contributor level, often working with high-profile donors and large, high-visibility campaigns and events. This role also plays a vital part in supporting outreach efforts to donors, volunteers, and professional advisors to secure charitable donations, all while tracking the progress and success of development activities. Additionally, this position involves maintaining and updating donor and professional advisor databases, managing budgets, and providing necessary reports. Collaboration with various internal teams, including communications, donor services, and events, is essential to achieve development goals.

• Conduct oneself with aloha and drive Kupu’s culture.
• Conduct oneself with integrity, credibility, professionalism, and unwavering commitment to Kupu’s mission.
• Serves as a role model for Kupu’s culture, mission, and CHOSEN Values.

Donor Engagement

• Engage with prospective and existing donors through research and effective communication to cultivate and steward relationships.
• Maintain positive reciprocal relationships with current and prospective donors.
• Develop engagement strategies for corporate, individual, and alumni donor groups.

Fundraising Execution

• Execute fundraising campaigns, events, and mailings, ensuring successful implementation.
• This position will lead the Annual campaign implementation and be a key contributor to the campaign communications, marketing, and overall strategy each year.
• This position will lead the Lau Kupu Day events, fundraising and donor stewardship events by engaging select key donors and stakeholders to participate in meaningful ways for long-term relationship development.

Donor Recognition

• Ensure donations are recognized accurately and in a timely manner.
• Work closely with colleagues in External Affairs and Programs to publicly acknowledge major donors when appropriate through partnerships, news releases, newsletters, events, websites, and social media channels.

Materials Development

• Contribute to the creation of promotional and solicitation materials and communications.

Outreach Support

• Support outreach efforts to donors, volunteers, and professional advisors to grow and secure charitable donations.

Customer Relationship Management and Database

• Monitor and track the progress and success of development activities in Kupuʻs database and customer relationship management (CRM) system.
• Support the enhancement of the CRM practices and policies at Kupu.
• Maintain and update donor and prospect databases, ensuring accuracy and completeness.

Budget Management

• Manage budgets related to development activities, cost center and accounting.

Reporting

• Provide contact reports, fundraising metrics, workplan and other development reports as needed to track the performance of development initiatives.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Collaborate with various internal teams, including communications, programs, board and leadership to achieve development goals.

Minimum Qualifications:

• 5 or more years of related experience in fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Experience working with high-profile donors and large fundraising campaigns and events.
• Proficiency in fundraising software and database management.
• Strong organizational and communication skills.
• Ability to contribute to the development of promotional and solicitation materials.
• Knowledge of best practices in donor engagement and stewardship.
• Excellent administrative and project management skills and experience, both independently and with colleagues.
• Experience in budget management using spreadsheets.
• Strong organizational skills, including attention to detail and the ability to multitask.
• Ability to meet tight, sometimes simultaneous, deadlines with a keen ability to prioritize and partner with others to meet common goals.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Advanced experience in MS Office: Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Adobe.
• Willingness to learn new software tools and use them for program support.
• Proficiency with problem solving, analysis, and applying appropriate level of judgment.
• A commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Positive attitude, sense of humor, and a commitment to being part of, and building, a positive work environment.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree or higher in an applicable discipline or experience equivalent.
• Experience with Salesforce or CRM platform, a plus.

Compensation and Benefits:

• Pay range: $60,000-75,000 based on experience
• Employer paid health benefits (medical, dental, vision)
• PTO
• Eligible for 401(k) plan after one year of service and 1,000 hours of service
• Lifestyle benefits (gym reimbursement, ticket discounts, etc.)

*In accordance with Federal Law, Kupu is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability