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Development Assistant Jobs in Gaithersburg, MD (NOW HIRING)

One of our favorite law firm clients is looking for a Business Development Assistant to provide project and administrative support to the Business Development team. In this role, you would assist ...

Marketing Assistant

Washington, DC · On-site

$45K - $57K/yr

... Development of PowerPoint presentations for executives and other speakers (internal and external ... assist with message development - Assist in the development of customer education plans ...

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Development Assistant information

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How much do development assistant jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 4, 2026, the average hourly pay for development assistant in Gaithersburg, MD is $23.59, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $18.94 and $25.96 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.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development jobs in Gaithersburg, MD?

The most popular types of Development jobs in Gaithersburg, MD are:

What are popular job titles related to Development Assistant jobs in Gaithersburg, MD?

For Development Assistant jobs in Gaithersburg, MD, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Development Assistant jobs in Gaithersburg, MD look for?

The top searched job categories for Development Assistant jobs in Gaithersburg, MD are:

What cities near Gaithersburg, MD are hiring for Development Assistant jobs?

Cities near Gaithersburg, MD with the most Development Assistant job openings:

Infographic showing various Development Assistant job openings in Gaithersburg, MD as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 18% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 87% Physical, 4% Hybrid, and 9% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $49,062 per year, or $23.6 per hour.

Development Assistant

Institute for Justice

Arlington, VA • On-site

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted yesterday

New


Job description

The Institute for Justice is a national public interest law firm that litigates to protect private property rights, economic liberty, and free speech. IJ represents its clients free of charge, supported by the contributions of a broad base of individual and foundation donors.
In this position, you will support the cultivation and stewardship of some of IJ’s most dedicated supporters by processing and acknowledging all donations of $1,000 and up, from midpoint supporters through major donors giving $25,000 or more. This includes accurate entry and coding of each gift, producing the acknowledgment letter that goes back to the donor, and, for IJ’s largest gifts, personalizing that letter to reflect the donor’s particular interests or history with the organization. Ensuring accurate record coding is critical to maintaining donor relationships, and this role will be responsible for keeping clean data for some of our most dedicated supporters.
Beyond gift entry, you will also regularly communicate with supporters to help facilitate their gifts, answer questions about their giving, or to respond to feedback after a mass email is sent. Issuing thorough and accurate responses in a timely manner is a hallmark of IJ’s fundraising program, and this position plays a key role in upholding that reputation. You will also contribute to other donor engagement and solicitation efforts, including travel planning for team members meeting with supporters, production of quarterly informational donor webinars, and organization of in-house mailings for our bimonthly magazine and appeal mailings (our primary means of solicitation).
Characteristics:
The ideal candidate brings the close attention to detail that gift processing demands, writes clearly and warmly enough to represent IJ in correspondence with its supporters, and is comfortable picking up the phone. This is an entry point into donor relations; it is best suited to someone who is organized by instinct, invested in the work supporters make possible, and willing to own a process end to end.
Responsibilities:
  • Process and acknowledge all donations of $1,000 and up, including gift entry, producing letters of acknowledgment, and routing them for review and signature.
  • Personalize acknowledgments for major gifts of $25,000 and above so they reflect the donor’s interests and relationship with IJ.
  • Ensure donor records are coded accurately based on the donor’s latest giving, with particular attention to communication preferences.
  • Manage Development’s primary mass email inbox, drafting timely replies to donor questions and routing other inquiries to the appropriate team member for response.
  • Support IJ’s major gifts program through data hygiene work, collecting program data for board and fiscal-year reporting, travel planning for donor meetings, and donor events.
  • Coordinate IJ’s in-house magazine and appeal mailings front to back, from segmenting and printing through stuffing, stamping, and mailing.
Required Skills:
  • 0-2 years of experience working in a professional office setting
  • Strong attention to detail and a commitment to producing error-free work
  • Comfort communicating directly with donors by phone and email in a professional, warm, and accurate manner
  • Ability to write clear, concise, and personalized correspondence
  • Proven ability to independently manage multiple tasks and deadlines, including during periods of high donation volume
  • Interpersonal skills, capacity to work effectively with different teams and team members
  • Ability to manage confidential donor and financial information with discretion
  • Ability to troubleshoot unexpected errors that arise
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office tools (particularly Word and Excel) and Outlook
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Salesforce or similar CRM experience
  • Gift processing, donation entry, or other nonprofit development experience
Benefits:
  • Hybrid work schedule
  • Flexible work hours with our core business hours of 10am and 4pm
  • Health, Dental, and Vision insurance (IJ covers 100% of individual premiums)
  • Free Short-Term Disability, Long-Term Disability, and Life insurance plans
  • HSA employer contributions
  • 401(k) with employer matches
  • Smart casual dress code with casual Fridays
  • Generous PTO package of accruing sick and vacation hours in addition to a paid personal day and floating and traditional holidays
To Apply:
To apply, please submit a resume, persuasive writing sample of one page or less (excerpts are fine), and cover letter detailing why you’re interested in working for the Institute for Justice.
This position is posted at the Assistant level with a salary range of $50,000-$55,000.
 

IJ is an equal opportunity employer.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At IJ we value a diverse workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

To learn more about our culture and benefits, visit our Working at IJ page. No phone calls please.

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