Development Associate job description template
A development associate supports a nonprofit's fundraising: entering gifts, sending thank-you letters, researching grants, keeping the donor database clean and helping run events and appeals. At a small organization they often work directly with the executive director, so a good post says which fundraising areas matter most to you and what tools you use.
Development Associate
Full-timeYour Company is looking for a development associate to help grow the support that keeps our programs running. You'll process and acknowledge gifts, keep donor records accurate, help write grant applications and appeals, and pitch in on fundraising events. You'll work closely with our executive director and learn every part of nonprofit fundraising. If you're detail-oriented, a strong writer and believe in our mission, we'd love to hear from you.
What you’ll do
- Enter and process donations accurately in our donor database and reconcile them with finance
- Send timely, personal thank-you letters and gift acknowledgments
- Research foundations and corporate funders and track grant deadlines on a shared calendar
- Draft grant proposals, reports and letters of inquiry for the director's review
- Help plan year-end appeals, email campaigns and giving days
- Coordinate fundraising event logistics, from invitations and RSVPs to sponsor recognition
- Pull donor lists and fundraising reports for staff meetings and board updates
- Keep donor records, notes and contact information clean and up to date
What we’re looking for
- Strong writing and proofreading skills, with a warm, clear tone
- Careful attention to detail with numbers, names and records
- Experience with Excel or Google Sheets and willingness to learn our donor database
- Experience in fundraising, nonprofit administration, marketing or a related office role
- Discretion with confidential donor and financial information
- Flexibility to staff a few evening or weekend fundraising events each year
Nice to have
- Experience with donor databases such as Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Little Green Light or Salesforce
- Grant research experience, including tools such as Candid's Foundation Directory
- Interest in working toward the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential
Schedule
Full-time, Monday through Friday during business hours, with occasional evenings and weekends for events. Some remote days may be possible once you're trained.
What we offer
- Paid vacation, sick time and holidays, plus a winter break when the office closes
- Health insurance, with the organization covering part of the premium
- Paid fundraising training, such as Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) workshops
- Hybrid schedule with some remote days after training
Add your pay, location and schedule when you post. Jobs that show pay get noticeably more applicants.
Development Associate our company is looking for a development associate to help grow the support that keeps our programs running. You'll process and acknowledge gifts, keep donor records accurate, help write grant applications and appeals, and pitch in on fundraising events. You'll work closely with our executive director and learn every part of nonprofit fundraising. If you're detail-oriented, a strong writer and believe in our mission, we'd love to hear from you. What you’ll do • Enter and process donations accurately in our donor database and reconcile them with finance • Send timely, personal thank-you letters and gift acknowledgments • Research foundations and corporate funders and track grant deadlines on a shared calendar • Draft grant proposals, reports and letters of inquiry for the director's review • Help plan year-end appeals, email campaigns and giving days • Coordinate fundraising event logistics, from invitations and RSVPs to sponsor recognition • Pull donor lists and fundraising reports for staff meetings and board updates • Keep donor records, notes and contact information clean and up to date What we’re looking for • Strong writing and proofreading skills, with a warm, clear tone • Careful attention to detail with numbers, names and records • Experience with Excel or Google Sheets and willingness to learn our donor database • Experience in fundraising, nonprofit administration, marketing or a related office role • Discretion with confidential donor and financial information • Flexibility to staff a few evening or weekend fundraising events each year Nice to have • Experience with donor databases such as Bloomerang, DonorPerfect, Little Green Light or Salesforce • Grant research experience, including tools such as Candid's Foundation Directory • Interest in working toward the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) credential Schedule Full-time, Monday through Friday during business hours, with occasional evenings and weekends for events. Some remote days may be possible once you're trained. What we offer • Paid vacation, sick time and holidays, plus a winter break when the office closes • Health insurance, with the organization covering part of the premium • Paid fundraising training, such as Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) workshops • Hybrid schedule with some remote days after training
Screening questions for a development associate
Ask these on the application form to sort applicants quickly. They’re added automatically when you post this template.
- Can you staff occasional evening or weekend events, such as galas and donor receptions?Yes / No · required
- Which donor databases or CRM tools have you used, and for what tasks?Short answer
- Please paste or link a short writing sample, such as a letter, appeal or report.Paragraph · required
Development Associate interview questions
- Walk me through how you'd process a check donation, from the mail to the thank-you letter.
- How quickly should a donor receive a thank-you, and what makes one feel personal?
- How would you find new foundations that might fund a program like ours?
- Tell me about a time you caught an error in data or records. What did you do?
- A longtime donor calls, upset that their name was misspelled in our newsletter. How do you respond?
- Which parts of fundraising are you most interested in growing into?
- How do you keep track of several grant deadlines at once?
Tips for hiring a development associate
- Give finalists a short writing exercise, such as a thank-you letter to a first-time donor. It shows tone, accuracy and speed in one go.
- Test attention to detail with a quick data-entry task using sample donor records.
- Ask references about accuracy and discretion with confidential information, not just writing ability.
- Share the post with your local Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) chapter, and ask board members to pass it along.