How to apply for Operations and Development Specialist

About The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas

The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas is a nonprofit that creates communities of belonging for young people through writing and storytelling. It focuses on children and youth, arts and music, and community development. The role reports to the Board President and involves working with a small staff team and board members.

About the role

This part-time, term-limited role runs from late October 2026 to late February 2027, with potential extension, at 10 hours per week. You will coordinate board fundraising efforts, track grants, and help with grant reporting and financial documents. The work supports the organization's writing and storytelling programs for young people.

A typical day

A typical week might include entering donor data into the CRM, running reports for the board, and checking in with staff on grant deadlines. You might also draft or review grant application sections and prepare financial documents for reporting. Some evenings each month are reserved for board meetings or fundraising calls.

Who The Greater Seattle Bureau of Fearless Ideas is looking for

• Has mid-level experience in development and administrative work, including data entry and running reports in a CRM.
• Is organized and efficient, able to manage grant tracking and deadlines across a small team.
• Can communicate clearly with board members and staff about fundraising prospects and grant submissions.
• Is comfortable working remotely and available for specific monthly evening hours.

Tips for this application

• In your application, mention any experience you have with CRM systems and running reports, as this is a key task.
• Highlight your experience coordinating with board members or volunteers on fundraising efforts.
• Be explicit about your availability for the required monthly evening hours.
• Show that you understand the term-limited nature of the role and are open to a part-time schedule of 10 hours per week.
• Reference the organization's focus on writing and storytelling for young people to show you align with their cause.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your experience with development and administrative tasks, especially data entry and CRM reporting.', 'Your ability to track grants and coordinate timely submissions across a small team.', 'Your communication skills with board members and staff regarding fundraising prospects.', 'Your interest in supporting youth arts and storytelling programs.']

Research before applying

• Learn about the Bureau of Fearless Ideas' programs and their impact on young people through writing and storytelling.
• Understand the role of the Board President and how the board interacts with staff.
• Look into common grant reporting requirements for youth arts nonprofits.
• Check if the organization has any recent annual reports or news to understand their current fundraising priorities.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you have managed grant tracking and reporting in a previous role.
• Your experience working with board members on fundraising efforts.
• How you prioritize tasks when working remotely and part-time.
• Your familiarity with CRM systems and generating reports.
• Your availability for the specific monthly evening hours and the term-limited schedule.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Applying without noting your experience with CRM data entry and reporting, which is a major function.
• Ignoring the term-limited and part-time nature of the role in your application.
• Failing to mention any experience working with boards or volunteers on fundraising.