The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is recruiting a Development Specialist to support unrestricted fundraising efforts connected with its work in Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Miami.
The full-time position sits within the Resource Development department and focuses on donor engagement, fundraising administration, volunteer tracking, events, research, and database management.
The role is scheduled to close on 31 October 2026. It is represented by the OPEIU union and is subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.
Development Specialist: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Employer | International Rescue Committee (IRC) |
| Position | Development Specialist |
| Department | Resource Development |
| Employment type | Full-time |
| Work areas | Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Miami |
| Posted | 11 September 2026 |
| Closing date | 31 October 2026 |
| Minimum professional experience | 1 year |
| Education | Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred |
| Pay rate | $21.61–$22.75 |
| Work arrangement | Office, remote, and field time |
| Additional work requirements | Weekend/evening work and off-site travel may be required |
| Union representation | OPEIU |
What does a Development Specialist do at IRC?
The Development Specialist supports the IRC’s fundraising and donor-engagement activities while also handling important administrative work for the Resource Development department. The position works closely with the Grants Coordinator and Development Supervisor.
A major part of the job involves helping maintain relationships with individual, corporate, and in-kind donors. This includes preparing written fundraising materials, acknowledging gifts, supporting cultivation activities, and assisting with mail appeals.
The specialist also contributes to fundraising research. They research existing and potential funders and help prepare briefing and debriefing materials for meetings between major funders and the IRC’s Senior Leadership Team.
Event support is another important part of the position. The specialist helps with planning and implementation while tracking attendees, donations, volunteers, and related logistics.
What are the main responsibilities?
The position combines fundraising, donor administration, volunteer coordination, event support, research, and general office responsibilities.
Key areas of work include:
- Helping produce annual appeals, monthly solicitation materials, cultivation content, gift acknowledgements, and other donor communications.
- Researching current and prospective funders and preparing materials for major-funder meetings.
- Supporting special events, including attendee, donation, volunteer, and logistics tracking.
- Maintaining donor information and donation-processing systems through Salesforce.
- Creating and maintaining segmented donor portfolios using predetermined criteria.
- Producing monthly volunteer reports through the Golden Volunteer Platform.
- Tracking volunteer engagement, recruitment, university events, tabling activities, interns, and upcoming volunteer groups.
- Entering monthly volunteer tracking submissions according to Finance department deadlines.
- Supporting calendars, deadlines, and other administrative needs within the Resource Development department.
- Assisting with in-kind donation drives and other assigned duties.
The range of responsibilities means this is not solely a fundraising position. Strong administration, organisation, communication, and database skills are also important to the day-to-day work.
Who is eligible for the Development Specialist role?
Applicants are expected to have at least one year of professional work experience. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is preferred, particularly in Nonprofit Management, Business Administration, or Public Administration with a concentration in fundraising.
The employer also identifies several skills and areas of experience that can strengthen an application. These include:
- Experience with Salesforce donor-management databases and email content management platforms.
- Strong Microsoft Office skills and the ability to learn new computer applications quickly.
- Good organisation in a complex environment involving multiple tasks.
- The ability to establish expectations and measure progress toward outcomes.
- Experience managing several projects and deadlines.
- The ability to work independently and collaboratively.
- Effective and diplomatic communication with donors, volunteers, partner agencies, multicultural clients, and colleagues at different levels.
- Experience with refugees and immigrants, international work, and/or nonprofit organisations is highly desirable.
- Commitment to the IRC’s mission.
The source does not state a specific nationality or residency restriction for this position.
How much does the IRC Development Specialist position pay?
The listed pay rate is $21.61 to $22.75. According to the employer, the range reflects factors such as the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget.
The exact offer can vary according to the work location and the candidate’s experience and skills compared with the defined job requirements.
The position is also represented by the OPEIU union and is subject to the terms and conditions of a collective bargaining agreement.
What is the working environment like?
The Development Specialist works across a combination of standard office, remote, and field settings within the service delivery area.
Applicants should also be prepared for weekend and/or evening work, as well as off-site travel. These conditions are specifically identified as part of the role.
For eligible US staff, the employer lists benefits including sick days, US holidays, paid time off, medical, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, a 403(b) retirement savings plan with immediately vested matching, disability and life insurance, and an Employee Assistance Program.
Professional standards at the IRC
Workers at the International Rescue Committee are expected to follow the organisation’s IRC Way – Standards for Professional Conduct. The stated core values are Integrity, Service, Equality, and Accountability.
The IRC also describes policies covering areas such as safeguarding, conflicts of interest, fiscal integrity, reporting wrongdoing, and protection from retaliation.
The organisation states that it is an Equal Opportunity Employer and considers applicants on the basis of merit without regard to characteristics protected by applicable law.
When is the application deadline?
The Development Specialist position was posted on 11 September 2026, and the stated closing date is 31 October 2026.
Candidates considering the role should review the complete employer posting and ensure their application reflects the required professional experience, relevant education, communication abilities, organisational skills, and any directly applicable experience with fundraising, nonprofits, refugees and immigrants, international work, or donor-management systems.
