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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Development Associate

💰 $ - $

🎯 Role Definition

The Development Associate is an early- to mid-level fundraising professional who supports gift solicitation, donor stewardship, grant submissions, and development operations. Working closely with the Development Director and cross-functional teams, the Development Associate maintains donor databases, prepares compelling proposals and acknowledgement letters, coordinates fundraising events, and produces fundraising reports and analyses that drive strategy. This role requires strong written and interpersonal communication, attention to detail, and familiarity with CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, DonorPerfect) and donor-reporting best practices.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Development Coordinator or Fundraising Intern
  • Events Coordinator or Program Coordinator with donor-facing responsibilities
  • Communications Associate or Marketing Coordinator with fundraising exposure

Advancement To:

  • Development Manager
  • Major Gifts Officer
  • Director of Development / Senior Development Officer

Lateral Moves:

  • Grants Manager / Grants Coordinator
  • Donor Relations Manager
  • Communications and Stewardship Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Manage and maintain the donor database (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, DonorPerfect), ensuring timely data entry, gift coding, segmentation, and accuracy to support solicitation and reporting efforts.
  • Prepare, edit, and submit grant proposals, attachments, and post-award reports; track deadlines and coordinate with program staff to gather outcomes, budgets, and supporting materials.
  • Draft compelling donor communications including solicitation letters, stewardship notes, impact reports, case statements, and email appeals tailored to segments and giving levels.
  • Process gifts, pledges, and acknowledgements accurately and promptly; reconcile donations with finance records and ensure compliance with donor restrictions and IRS guidelines.
  • Conduct prospect research and screening to identify new donor prospects, upgrade opportunities, and affinity-based outreach strategies using research tools and philanthropic databases.
  • Support annual giving campaigns by creating mail and email schedules, coordinating copy and design, and producing performance reports to inform campaign optimization.
  • Coordinate logistics for fundraising events — including invitations, registration tracking, sponsorship fulfillment, program materials, on-site donor engagement, and post-event follow-up — to maximize revenue and donor retention.
  • Execute donor stewardship plans, including personalized stewardship touches, recognition activities, donor reports, and cultivation events aimed at strengthening long-term relationships.
  • Produce monthly and quarterly development reports and dashboards that summarize giving, pipeline status, grant progress, and key performance indicators for leadership review.
  • Assist in the development and maintenance of prospect portfolios; schedule donor visits, prepare briefing materials, and support major gift officers during solicitations and stewardships.
  • Support digital fundraising activities such as crowdfunding, peer-to-peer campaigns, and social media appeals by preparing content, monitoring performance, and providing analytics.
  • Coordinate matching gift and corporate philanthropy efforts by researching employer programs, assisting donors with submissions, and following up with corporate partners.
  • Maintain and update gift processing procedures, contribution forms, and stewardship templates to ensure consistency and compliance across fundraising channels.
  • Prepare briefing memos, talking points, and impact summaries for leadership, board members, and volunteers to support donor meetings and solicitations.
  • Monitor grant budgets and deliverable timelines; coordinate with finance and program staff to ensure expenditures align with donor restrictions and reporting requirements.
  • Support the creation and editing of proposals, brochures, and fundraising collateral that clearly articulate organizational impact and case for support.
  • Track and report on donor retention and acquisition metrics; recommend process improvements to increase donor lifetime value and improve conversion rates.
  • Coordinate volunteer and board engagement in fundraising activities by preparing materials, briefing notes, and follow-up actions.
  • Implement donor recognition programs, including thank-you events, naming opportunities, and annual donor lists, ensuring timely and appropriate recognition.
  • Maintain confidentiality of donor information and ensure all development activities adhere to ethical fundraising practices and organizational policies.

Secondary Functions

  • Assist with segmentation analysis and A/B testing of appeals to optimize response rates and average gift size.
  • Support ad-hoc research requests from leadership to identify philanthropic trends, major gift prospects, or funder alignment for new programs.
  • Contribute to the development calendar by tracking proposal timelines, campaign launches, and stewardship milestones across departments.
  • Collaborate with communications and program staff to translate program outcomes into measurable impact statements and donor-facing reports.
  • Participate in cross-functional project teams (events, marketing, finance) to align fundraising activities with organizational priorities and timelines.
  • Help maintain a library of past proposals, grant templates, and program evaluation materials to accelerate future solicitations.
  • Train and support volunteers and board members on basic fundraising best practices, CRM use for tracking conversations, and meeting preparation.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Donor database management (Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Raiser’s Edge, DonorPerfect, Bloomerang) — data entry, segmentation, and reporting.
  • Grant writing and grant management — proposal development, budgeting, and post-award reporting.
  • Fundraising operations — gift processing, pledge tracking, and acknowledgment workflows.
  • CRM reporting and dashboard creation (e.g., Salesforce reports, Excel pivot tables) to monitor pipeline and KPIs.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office (Excel advanced functions, Word, PowerPoint) and Google Workspace for document collaboration.
  • Email marketing platforms and segmentation (e.g., Mailchimp, Constant Contact, EveryAction).
  • Basic HTML or email template editing and familiarity with deliverability best practices.
  • Event planning and sponsorship coordination — budgeting, logistics, and attendee tracking.
  • Prospect research tools and techniques (WealthEngine, DonorSearch, GuideStar, Foundation Directory).
  • Social media and digital fundraising familiarity — peer-to-peer fundraising platforms and online giving best practices.
  • Experience with financial reconciliation and basic budgeting related to restricted and unrestricted funds.
  • Experience producing data-driven donor reports and impact metrics for stewardship and grant compliance.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional written communication and storytelling skills tailored to donors, corporate partners, and foundations.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport quickly with donors, volunteers, and internal stakeholders.
  • High attention to detail and strong organizational skills to manage competing deadlines and multiple pipelines.
  • Project management mindset with the ability to coordinate cross-functional initiatives and small teams.
  • Analytical thinking and comfort working with data to inform fundraising strategy and measure outcomes.
  • Discretion and professionalism when handling confidential donor information and sensitive financial data.
  • Adaptability and problem-solving orientation in a fast-paced nonprofit environment.
  • Customer service orientation — responsive, donor-centered, and service-minded approach.
  • Time management and prioritization skills to balance prospecting, reporting, and operational tasks.
  • Collaborative team player who can influence without direct authority and work effectively across departments.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Nonprofit Management, Business, Marketing, Public Relations, or a related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree plus a certificate in Fundraising Management, Nonprofit Leadership, or a Master’s degree in a relevant discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Nonprofit Management
  • Communications or Journalism
  • Business Administration or Marketing
  • Public Relations
  • Public Policy or Social Work

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–4 years of experience in development, fundraising, nonprofit operations, or related fields.

Preferred:

  • 2–5 years of progressive experience supporting fundraising programs, grants coordination, donor stewardship, CRM management, and event logistics; direct experience with Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud or Raiser’s Edge strongly preferred.
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