Arena Careers

We are seeking a Development and Member Engagement Strategist to develop and execute our national strategic fundraising initiatives. The role requires a dynamic team player who can drive donor engagement strategies that raise resources for COS and move resources into state-based power building strategies. The Development and Member Engagement Strategist will work closely with internal stakeholders, including staff, board of directors, and state leaders, to align fundraising goals with organizational priorities. This position will also support COS’ member-facing communications, including our newsletter and impact reports.

We are a small, scrappy, and growing organization. We are looking for a candidate who is willing to roll up their sleeves and get in the trenches with us as we work to protect democracy and build long-term power in states across America.

Fundraising Strategy and Membership Growth

• In partnership with the COS Leadership, develop and implement a comprehensive fundraising and recruitment strategy to expand COS’s membership and financial resources;
• Cultivate and steward relationships with COS members, including high-net-worth individuals, foundations, labor unions, and institutional donors to drive sustained giving;
• Conduct prospect research and develop strategies to grow membership and giving
• Provide strategic insight and guidance to ensure member relations remain aligned with COS values, program goals, and long-term strategy.

Membership Engagement

• Drive an exceptional member experience through onboarding, stewardship, and sustained engagement that deepens trust and long-term commitment;
• Steward donors with an emphasis on appreciation and long-term, high impact giving;
• Support programming for member engagement, including donor briefings, in person events, and other opportunities to build community with our members;
• Develop an onboarding process to welcome new members into the COS community;
• Represent the organization in meetings, conferences and events, as needed.

Communications

• Develop engaging materials for member communications, including one-pagers, reports, and other educational materials;
• Lead on member-focused communications to tell the story of states and COS’ impact through newsletters, impact reports, and other collateral;
• Support the alignment of narrative strategy with fundraising and organizational priorities.

Operations and Administration

• Support the Executive Director in stewarding member and donor relationships;
• Develop and lead on systems to support donor engagement, including documentation of engagement with donors and leveraging our CRM as a development management tool;
• Manage organizational workflows for member engagement, including standing check-ins and team accountability;
• Support the Operations Manager in the membership renewal process,
  acknowledgements, and follow up as needed;
• Lead on special projects and other duties as assigned.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Committee on States is seeking a Development and Member Engagement Specialist who is a strong relationship builder, highly organized and has a drive for raising money. While experience in every one of these areas is not required, candidate profile may include:
Qualifications

• Deep commitment to Committee on States’ strategy to leverage state donor alliances to build state power;
• 5-7 years of experience in fundraising, with a deep knowledge of donor cultivation, stewardship, events, budgeting and institutional giving;
• Proven success in developing and delivering on fundraising strategies that drive membership and/or revenue growth among individual and institutional donors;
• A self-starter who can work independently and own their role;
• Experience with CRMs, including Mailchimp, Little Green Light, or other constituent engagement tools;
• Expert relationship builder across different audiences, including with staff, donors, state leaders, and national partners;
• Excellent written, verbal communication, and interpersonal skills;
• Organized and able to multitask;
• Analytical and problem-solving ability;
• Maintain confidentiality of sensitive materials and use discretion with donor information;
• Ability to assess and mitigate risk to the organization;
• Strong strategic thinking, communication, and collaboration skills to effectively engage stakeholders at all levels.

What You Bring:

• A positive and team-centered mentality to get work done;
• A fast learner of new/evolving systems and technology;
• An uncanny ability to keep track of deadlines, people, places, and things;
• A savviness to self-prioritize and navigate complex sets of tasks and demands. An ease of switching between activities seamlessly while also managing up;
• A knack and patience for communicating with a variety of people via phone, email and in-person. The drive to investigate questions down to the most precise details;
• Familiarity with the nonprofit sector and/or advocacy sector, and 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) compliance;
• A willingness to grow in this position as aligned with the organization’s resources and strategy

What We Bring:

• A positive, inclusive, constructive, winning, leading edge culture;
• A diverse team that brings a wide range of professional and personal experiences to bear in our work and culture;
• Opportunities to learn about the ins-and-outs of nonprofit, political, philanthropic, and advocacy work throughout the country;
• Work Environment: This is a fully remote position, with a preference for applicants in states where current staff reside (Colorado, Florida, New Jersey, North Carolina, an Rhode Island).

*This list includes a lot of varying levels and specific examples of expertise. If you do not have all the expertise listed, we still encourage you to submit a proposal and be sure to highlight how you would contribute to our team.

Physical Demands:
Must have the physical ability to move boxes weighing 20 or 30 pounds. Must be able to travel.

Salary and Benefits: Salary band is $100,000-$150,000, and includes health, dental and vision insurance, 401k with 5% employer match, 25 PTO days, work from home stipend, and other benefits to be discussed
Location: Fully remote
Travel: Some travel is required, up to 20%
Deadline for Submission: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, with a priority deadline of March 9, 2026
Work Schedule: Exempt, Full-time

Applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to [email protected], by March 9, 2026. Email MUST reference “Development and Member Engagement Specialist” in the subject line.