Headwaters Science Institute is hiring a Program and Fundraising Assistant
Job Overview:
Headwaters Science Institute is searching for a motivated, detailed oriented person to join our growing team. We need someone who is excited about non-profit work that can help with teaching students fieldwork, but also help with database management, invoicing, fundraising, customer service, and general program assistance.
The ideal candidate enjoys a variety of tasks, is proactive, highly organized, able to work independently, curious, connected to our mission of fostering curiosity through science, and easily connects with donors, teachers, and colleagues.

Essential Job Duties
- Customer Care
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- The first point of contact for teachers, parents, and donors, you must provide them with excellent support and customer care
- Point them to the right program or person to talk to
- Donor acknowledgment and communication
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- Basic Admin Work
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- Work with the ED and Program managers, and communications person to help prepare and send accurate and engaging donor, parent, and teacher communications e.g. e-newsletters, campaign materials, printed materials, social media messaging etc.
- Research prospective corporate funders and individual donors as needed
- Research Schools/School Districts for new prospective programs
- Provide support to fundraising and outreach events
- Planning, logistics, and on-the-day support
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- Support the fundraising team
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- Process regular donations from both online and offline sources ensuring procedures are followed, and information is recorded correctly.
- Upkeep of the donor database
- Properly accurate inputting of teachers, parents, donors
- Database culling
- Administer data inputting, amendments, running reports, and creating data queries as necessary
- Keep up to date with fundraising initiatives and news
- Help segment donor database
- Help with workplace-giving campaigns
- donor prospects from programs
- Track a data-driven, relationship-based fundraising engagement plan for each segment
- Make regular and personalized contact with donors to retain and cultivate their giving.
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- Support the Program Managers
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- Teach and mentor for CA and Nevada school and camp programs as needed
- These days are scheduled ahead of time, but require some travel
- Invoice and track School and parent payments
- Answer questions about programs and direct people to the right program manager
- Help market programs
- Help with E-blasts/Newsletters
- Ability to do things such as A/B Testing for subject and or day/time, content
- Use the calendar and ensure that all communications are being sent on time
- Acquire and maintain a sound understanding of the Headwaters programs
- Other duties as assigned.
- Teach and mentor for CA and Nevada school and camp programs as needed
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The successful candidate will possess the following qualifications/experience:
- A passion for science and education
- Organized
- Achievement-oriented — enjoys taking on challenges
- Experience teaching science classes (formal or informal education is ok)
- Background or experience with scientific research and fieldwork
- Bachelors & 1-2 yrs experience or Associates & 3-4 yrs experience
- Strong Customer Service skills: People-oriented — enjoys interacting with people
- Enthusiasm and drive for fundraising and marketing for a great cause is essential; experience is desirable but not essential
- Aptitude for working with databases, ideally in a customer care environment
- Strong attention to detail and focus on accuracy
- Comfortable using many types of technology and willingness to learn new software as needed
- Energetic, can-do approach to work
- Good problem-solving skills at a practical level
- Engaging personal skills, both written and verbal to support donor management and customer care with schools and parents
- Flexible and Adaptability with changing task prioritization
- Distributing mailed, and electronic fundraising appeals to acquire, re-engage, and keep donors, teachers, and program parents
- Self-motivated and disciplined to regularly set and achieve work goals
- Enjoy connecting with people electronically, over the phone, and in person.
Be part of a high-functioning, collaborative, and -dynamic team.
Reports To: Executive Director, Program Managers
Status: Hourly $20-$25 per hour, 25-40 hours per week (potentially more during busy program times)
Location: Northern, CA/ Reno, NV (work from home, travel to schools, in-person summer camps, in-person office work 1-2 times per month).
How to apply:
All interested parties should submit a resume, cover letter, and brief (1-page maximum) statement on how you would contribute to our mission. Email to our Executive Director Megan Seifert, Ph.D. meg@headwatersscienceinstitute.org