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Development Assistant Jobs in Downers Grove, IL (NOW HIRING)

Sarah's Inn

Development Assistant

Forest Park, IL · On-site

$46K - $50K/yr

Development Assistant Department: Development Reports To: Development and Communications Manager Status: Exempt/Full-Time Position Summary: The Development Assistant provides essential administrative ...

Seyfarth Shaw LLP

Practice Development Assistant

Chicago, IL · On-site

$18.75 - $25.75/hr

The Opportunity As the Practice Development Assistant for the Corporate and Real Estate departments, you will assist the Practice Development/Marketing & Business Development team with practice ...

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Development Assistant information

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How much do development assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 1, 2026, the average hourly pay for development assistant in Downers Grove, IL is $21.78, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.50 and $23.99 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a development assistant?

A development assistant handles the administrative and public relations aspects of fundraising for an organization. As a development assistant, your duties include working on donor relations, managing a database of fundraising efforts, and creating reports on individual and institutional donors. In this career, you may also direct public relations strategies to attract support for your organization. Qualifications for a development assistant job include a bachelor’s degree in communications or public relations and experience with fundraising efforts. You usually apply your skills for educational organizations, nonprofit groups, or other institutions that rely on donors for funding.

What does a development assistant do?

A Development Assistant typically supports the fundraising and donor relations efforts of a nonprofit organization, educational institution, or similar entity. Their responsibilities often include managing donor databases, assisting with event planning, preparing fundraising materials, and providing administrative support to development staff. They play a key role in ensuring that fundraising campaigns and events run smoothly and that donors receive timely communication and acknowledgments. Strong organizational and communication skills are important for success in this role. Development Assistants often have opportunities to learn more about nonprofit management and fundraising as they gain experience.

How does a development assistant typically support fundraising campaigns and donor relations within a nonprofit organization?

Development Assistants play a crucial role in fundraising campaigns by managing donor databases, preparing materials for outreach, and coordinating logistics for fundraising events. They often draft acknowledgment letters, track donations, and ensure donors receive timely communications. By working closely with development officers and other team members, Development Assistants help maintain strong donor relationships and contribute to the overall success of fundraising efforts. This collaborative environment provides valuable exposure to fundraising strategies and offers opportunities for skill development and career growth in nonprofit development.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a development assistant, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Development Assistant, you need strong organizational abilities, attention to detail, and a background in fundraising or nonprofit administration, often supported by a bachelor's degree. Familiarity with donor management databases like Raiser's Edge, Microsoft Office Suite, and online fundraising platforms is typically required. Excellent communication, time management, and interpersonal skills help you build relationships and manage multiple priorities effectively. These skills ensure efficient support of development operations, successful donor engagement, and contribute to the overall fundraising goals of the organization.

What is the difference between Development Assistant vs Fundraising Coordinator?

AspectDevelopment AssistantFundraising Coordinator
Required CredentialsHigh school diploma or equivalent; some roles may prefer associate's degreeBachelor's degree often preferred; experience in fundraising helpful
Work EnvironmentOffice setting, supporting development teamsOffice and event environments, actively engaging in fundraising activities
Employer & Industry UsageNonprofits, charities, educational institutionsNonprofits, charities, arts organizations
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding roles supporting development effortsLearning about active fundraising roles

The Development Assistant typically provides administrative support within development teams, focusing on data entry, donor records, and general office tasks. The Fundraising Coordinator, on the other hand, actively manages fundraising campaigns, organizes events, and engages with donors. While both roles support nonprofit growth, the Development Assistant is more administrative, whereas the Fundraising Coordinator has a more active, campaign-focused role.

How much do development assistants make?

Development assistants in the district typically earn between $40,000 and $55,000 annually, depending on experience, organization size, and specific responsibilities. Entry-level roles may start lower, while those with specialized skills or advanced education can earn higher salaries. Benefits often include health insurance and paid time off.
More about Development Assistant jobs

What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in Downers Grove, IL?

The most popular types of Development jobs in Downers Grove, IL are:

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For Development Assistant jobs in Downers Grove, IL, the most frequently searched job titles are:

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Cities near Downers Grove, IL with the most Development Assistant job openings:

Development Assistant jobs near you
Infographic showing various Development Assistant job openings in Downers Grove, IL as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 16% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $45,304 per year, or $21.8 per hour.

Development Assistant

Sarah's Inn

Forest Park, IL • On-site

$46K - $50K/yr

Full-time

Posted 12 days ago

Job description

Sarah's Inn is a community-based non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the lives of
those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations. Our
services and initiatives focus on ending relationship violence through domestic violence crisis intervention,
community education, and violence prevention programs for youth.
Job Title: Development Assistant
Department: Development
Reports To: Development and Communications Manager
Status: Exempt/Full-Time
Position Summary: The Development Assistant provides essential administrative and operational
support to Sarah's Inn's development program, with primary responsibility for accurate and timely gift
processing, donor database maintenance, private grant administration, and event support. The
Development Assistant works closely with the Development team to ensure donor records are accurate,
gifts are properly documented and acknowledged, fundraising and grant deadlines are tracked, event
information and materials are organized, and development systems remain current and reliable. The
Development Assistant reports to the Development & Communications Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities: Other duties may be assigned.
Provide administrative and operational support to the Development Department to ensure accurate gift
processing, effective donor stewardship, organized fundraising systems, and successful execution of
events and other development activities as assigned. Success in this position requires exceptional
attention to detail, strong follow-through, sound judgment, and the ability to identify and resolve
discrepancies.
  • Manage accurate and timely entry and acknowledgment of gifts ensuring gifts are entered using
    established coding and documentation procedures, while reviewing gifts and constituent
    information for accuracy and completeness prior to entry.
  • Maintain the accuracy and integrity of the donor database through consistent data entry practices,
    routine quality-control review, record updates, duplicate management, and ongoing database
    clean-up.
  • Complete timely reconciliation of gifts, and support monthly reconciliation of private contributions
    between Development and Finance departments; provide and maintain clear supporting
    documentation and resolve discrepancies as needed.
  • Support the successful planning and implementation of development events through effective
    administrative coordination, logistical support, and timely maintenance of event records and
    tracking systems.
  • Provide administrative and logistical support for development activities, including appeals, donor
    stewardship, and related initiatives, while maintaining accurate records and documentation.
  • Maintain organized inventory and storage of Development supplies, outreach materials, and other
    development materials.
  • Collaborate with the Volunteer & In-Kind Coordinator to ensure in-kind donations are accurately
    documented in the donor database and acknowledged according to established procedures.
  • Provide administrative support for development related communication and digital fundraising
    activities, as needed.
  • Assist with preparing materials for meetings, including committee, board and associate board

meetings.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
This job has no supervisory responsibilities.
Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty
satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill,
and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals
with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Location and Schedule:
Sarah's Inn Office- Forest Park
Overall, this position is Monday through Friday during normal business hours, however there will be exceptions
requiring evening and weekend hours (i.e. for Client or Sarah's Inn Events, outreach events).
Education and/or Experience:
  • Bachelor's degree required.
  • 2+ years of relevant professional experience in nonprofit development, fundraising, administration,
    database management, and/or event administration.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, etc.) and Google Suite
    programs.
  • Experience working with donor databases or CRMs required; nonprofit experience
    strongly preferred.
  • Experience with gift processing, reconciliation, fundraising events, and/or
    development operations strongly preferred.
  • Experience with design software, such as Canva, preferred.
  • Availability to work some evening and weekend hours.Knowledge and Skills:
  • Commitment to Sarah's Inn's mission and anti-violence.
  • Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
  • Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize workload and maintain multiple
    tracking systems, deadlines, and recurring processes simultaneously.
  • Demonstrated ability to follow established procedures consistently while recognizing
    when information is incomplete, inconsistent, or requires clarification.
  • Strong follow-through and ability to independently monitor assigned work through
    completion.
  • Excellent communication, organizational, writing and proofreading skills.
  • Ability to problem solve and make decisions individually and/or within a team and
    take necessary action.
  • Ability to communicate effectively in diverse and persistent situations.
  • Ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with a wide variety of people,
    including but not limited to, board members, staff, volunteers, interns, government
    officials, community partners, organizational donors, media.
  • Commitment to and experience in working with people from diverse cultural, ethnic,
    social economic backgrounds and lifestyles.
  • Valid driver's license, current insurance and reliable car.

Success Factors/Job Competencies:
  • Integrity & Ethics - models Sarah's Inn's Vision, Mission & Values
  • Customer Focus - demonstrates commitment to customer
  • Collaboration & Teamwork - embraces an inclusive workplace
  • Quality - produces quality work product
  • Innovation/Continuous Improvement - finds new and better ways of doing things
  • Job Knowledge - demonstrates a clear understanding of and executes roles and responsibilities
  • Time Management/Productivity - manages time and resources effectively
  • Problem Solving/Decision Making - demonstrates proper judgment, problem solving and decision
    making
  • Independence/Initiative - works with little or no supervision and seeks out new work
  • Communication - effectively communicates

Physical demands and work environment:
The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those
that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical demands: While performing duties of job, incumbent is occasionally required to stand; walk; sit;
use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects; reach with hands and arms; talk and hear. Specific vision
abilities required by the job include close vision and distance vision.
Performance Standards:
  • Annual performance evaluation
  • Attainment of annual goals established between supervisor and incumbent

Approval/revision date: August 2026
Sarah's Inn is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for
employment without regard to race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, veteran status, national origin, or
disability. EOE/M/F/D/V

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