Careers

Current Openings

Development Operations Assistant

TITLE: Development Operations Assistant
CLASSIFICATION: Full time
REPORTS TO: Development Operations Manager
LOCATION: Saint Paul, MN

SUMMARY

The Development Operations Assistant provides essential administrative, data entry, and donor services support to the Development Department at Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. This individual must be passionate about working well with other members of our small team and willing to fully embrace the mission of the organization. This role ensures timely gift processing, accurate records, organized systems, and logistical support for events and fundraising campaigns.

PRIMARY RELATIONSHIPS

● Our passionate members who support the protection of the Boundary Waters
● Reports directly to the Development Operations Manager
● Works to support the goals of the Development Director and Development Team
● Works effectively with other departments within the Friends on projects as needed
● Works closely with all staff and volunteers on any fundraising events

RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative Support
● Serve as first point of contact for donor inquiries via email, phone, mail, and in person
● Assist with mailings, donor communications and stewardship activities
● Order departmental and fundraising event supplies
● Schedule department meetings and book meeting spaces
● Maintain an organized team calendar (appeals, events, grant deadlines, report dates, and communication deadlines)
● Maintain electronic and paper filing systems and assist with annual financial audit
● Participate in training, systems improvement, and special projects
● Assist in maintaining office equipment

Data Entry and Gift Processing
● Open, sort, and process incoming mail
● Process donations and prepare acknowledgements
● Process tribute gifts (memorials and honorariums)
● Track fundraising campaign pledges, including support for reconciliation of multi-year campaign pledges, payment schedules, reminders, and campaign coding in EveryAction CRM.
● Maintain accurate donor records in EveryAction CRM and perform routine data updates and cleanup
● Process gift memberships and member benefit fulfillment

Events, Vendors & Logistics
● Process event registrations in OneCause event management system and EveryAction CRM
● Support event logistics including silent auction, games, registration, item pickup and delivery
● Coordinate vendor timelines, invoices, payments and follow-ups
● Provide onsite support for all fundraising events as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

● 1-2 years of administrative or customer service experience preferred but not required
● Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel and Google applications
● Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills
● Proven ability to manage multiple projects at once while remaining detail-oriented
● Strong initiative and ability to prioritize tasks
● Willing to be a flexible member of a small but effective and passionate team that creates impact. This includes some evening and weekend work for the Gala and other Member events.
● Ability to handle confidential information – about donors, people, plans, and policies
● Experience with customer relationship management (CRM) software preferred but not required
● Passion for preserving the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and its ecosystem

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

● $23.00 – $26.50 per hour, 40 hours per week
● Paid vacation and sick leave, health and dental insurance, and a 403(b)-retirement plan.
● In addition to paid vacation and sick leave, Friends provides a $600 stipend and five additional paid vacation days to each employee to take time off and recharge in the Boundary Waters.
● Flexible working hours and hybrid in-person/remote working options
● We encourage life-long learning and ongoing professional development.

TO APPLY

Submit a cover letter, resume, and three references:

Case McCullough
Administrative Coordinator
casey@friends-bwca.org

In the subject line of any electronic communication, please put “Development Operations Assistant.”

Applications will be accepted until June 9, 2025.

At Friends, we have a clear vision to be the place where a diverse mix of talented people want to come, to stay, and do their best work. Friends is committed to creating a diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.

Opening – Board of Directors

Summary

The Board of Directors determines the mission, strategic direction, and programming for Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (“Friends”). A Director ensures and nurtures adequate human and financial resources and actively monitors and evaluates the Executive Director’s performance and the Friends’ financial results. A Director approves and systematically implements policies to ensure achievement of the mission of the Friends.

Primary Relationship
  • Reports to the Board Chair
  • Works closely with the Executive Director and other staff to ensure the achievement of the mission
  • Works closely with and gets to know other Board and committee members and builds collegial working relationships that contribute to consensus
  • Serves as a spokesperson outside the organization and delivers consistent, compelling messages on mission, programs, and finances, and encourages civic participation
Leadership Responsibilities
  • Knows and commits to the Friends’ mission, vision, and values
  • Provides leadership continuity by ensuring Board succession, including identifying, recruiting, and orienting new members
  • Is knowledgeable about Friends’ policies, programs, and operations, and oversees their implementation and evaluation
  • Is accessible and responsive to other Directors and staff
  • Actively seeks out financial and other resources for the organization
Management Responsibilities
  • Engages in strategic planning
  • Approves written policies and procedures governing the work and actions of the Friends’ employees and volunteers
  • Hires, sets the compensation for, and annually evaluates the performance of the Executive Director
  • Reviews the overall compensation structure for staff and establishes policies on employee benefits, vacation, and sick leave
Fiscal Responsibilities
  • Approve the annual operating budget; at least four times per year assesses the organization’s financial performance
  • Assists in developing fundraising plans and actively participates in fundraising initiatives each year
  • Makes an annual gift to the Friends as circumstances allow. There is no minimum contribution amount, but the Friends should be in a Director’s top three charities for annual giving.
  • Ensure that an internal review of the Friends’ compliance with legal, regulatory, and financial reporting requirements is conducted annually
Board Meetings and Committees Responsibilities
  • Regularly prepares for, attends, and participates in Board meetings
  • Participates actively in at least one Board committee
Committee Chair Description
  • The Committee Chair presides or assigns someone to preside at all meeting of the respective committee. The Committee Chair has general supervision, direction, and active management of the committee’s affairs, working in partnership with staff and volunteers. The Committee Chair reports to the Board Chair.
To Be Considered

Email a CV or Resume and the answers to the following questions:

  • What about joining the Friends’ Board of Directors interests you?
  • What is your connection, if any, to the Boundary Waters?
  • Are you willing and able to participate in quarterly Board meetings (about 3 hours), quarterly committee meetings, and at times ad hoc meetings as needed?

To Case McCullough at casey@friends-bwca.org. In the subject line of any electronic communication, please put “Board of Directors.”