At the Tennessee Aquarium, we strive to connect people with nature and empower them to make informed decisions about water and wildlife. We are passionate about our values, which include respect for conservation, a mindset of lifelong learning, and a collaborative, learning-based, respectful work environment.

The Development Support Specialist plays a key role in supporting these values by processing donations and acknowledgments, coordinating donor circle renewals, and providing comprehensive support for all donor engagement and correspondence efforts.

Key Responsibilities

• Input and analyze donor contributions to ensure accurate processing. Enter gifts—including checks, credit cards, and ACH/EFT transactions into the appropriate databases with high accuracy and attention to detail.
• Act as the main point of contact for donor-advised funds (DAFs), IRA distributions, and matching gift organizations. Coordinate with the finance department to ensure accurate reconciliation of ACH and other electronic gift transactions.
• Maintain accurate donor records within the Humanitru and Ticketure databases. This includes managing donor circle memberships and renewals, updating donor wealth screening profiles, and tracking all correspondence.
• Oversee the acknowledgment and renewal mailing process, including monthly inventory of printed materials, preparation of donor acknowledgment letters, and distribution of annual fund donor circle renewal notices.
• Maintain working knowledge of both the CRM and POS systems, including running donor reports, providing database health and clean up, and digitizing/updating current donor records to ensure accurate reporting.
• Provide responsive support to donor requests, including facilitating ticket access, coordinating personalized experiences, managing event reservations, and fulfilling additional needs as directed.
• Engage with donors at the direction of the Director of Strategic Advancement.
• Assist with planning and executing donor and member events, providing support as needed.

Key Requirements

• College degree in a related field required (Non-Profit Management, Public Administration, Communications/Public Relations, Business Administration/Management, Fundraising, etc.)
• 2 years of experience providing development, administrative, or customer service support
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written, listening)
• Exhibits strong interpersonal skills and a professional attitude in the workplace
• Strong computer proficiency and ability to learn new software quickly
• Ability to work well within a team environment
• Proven track record of managing competing priorities efficiently while ensuring accuracy and exceptional attention to detail
• Must uphold strict confidentiality in all aspects of the role

Full-time (Mid $40,000’s, hourly, commensurate on education and experience); Occasional evening and weekend work for events as needed.