Development Associate Jobs in Elizabeth, NJ (NOW HIRING)

Development Associate

The Fresh Air Fund is a youth development organization providing transformative outdoor experiences, at no cost, for New York City children from underserved communities. At six sleepaway camps in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley, children have new experiences, learn new skills and gain new perspectives. Youth also participate in year-round leadership, career exploration and educational programs.

The Fresh Air Fund’s Development Associate supports the department in administrative and operational roles. The Associate position is an excellent opportunity to learn about all aspects of fundraising in a non-profit.

Position Summary:

The Development Associate is an important part of the donor relations team, ensuring that donation and donor information is accurately entered into The Fund’s database, that donors are acknowledged in a timely manner, and that members of the Development team and external vendors receive accurate and timely information.

The Development Associate will be trained and share responsibility with a peer Development Associate for multiple functions related to data and donation processing. The Associate will work closely with the Special Events Manager on generating and maintaining accurate invitation and guests lists and tracking event support. The Associate will demonstrate proficiency with technology, a curiosity about learning and improving systems and a commitment to maintaining high quality of data integrity, as well as strong writing and editing skills. The Associate will also be responsible for administrative duties in support of the Development team.

The Associate position is a full-time hybrid position based in our New York City office and currently requires three days in the Office. The position reports to the Development Operations Manager and will work closely with the Special Events Manager, as well as all members of the Development team.

Responsibilities:

• Responsible for accurately entering donation and donor information into the Salesforce NPSP donor database; processes gifts that come via credit card, checks and the external caging operation.
• Ensure donors are acknowledged in a timely and accurate manner by producing and executing acknowledgment letters.
• Provide administrative support to the Development Team, including managing the Development team calendar, coordinating cross-departmental meetings, prepping materials for internal and external meetings, preparing donors invoices, managing vendor invoices for events, maintaining order in the development and events supply closets and other administrative tasks as needed by team members.; Serve as back-up to Executive Assistant for phone and other needs for Chief Executive Officer.
• Conduct Prospect Research using The Fund’s subscribed research tools and publicly available information, create profiles of current and potential donors as well as briefing materials to support the Major Gifts program.
• Actively participate in planning meetings for Fresh Air Fund Benefits, as well as other events and meetings generated by Development/ Special Events and the organization as a whole, participate as a key staff member in execution of all events.
• Support monthly, quarterly, and annual reconciliation with Finance team.
• Continually seek improvement in systems and processes to ensure information is being captured accurately and efficiently. Maintain and update database procedure instructions as needed.
• Provide excellent customer service by addressing donor concerns via phone and email.
• Support donor and Board events in NYC and at The Fund’s camp as necessary. Ability to work occasional evenings and weekends for events.
• Other support and projects as needed to assist the Development team and The Fresh Air Fund.

Qualifications:

• College degree; experience working in an office setting; experience working in a non-profit development office a plus.
• A commitment to and enthusiasm for The Fresh Air Fund’s mission and work.
• Excellent technology skills; strong experience with Microsoft Excel required; experience with Customer Relationship Management (CRM) - Salesforce preferred.
• Strong writing, copywriting, proofreading and editorial skills.
• Comfort with and ability to learn new systems and technology quickly and seek improvements and efficiencies.
• Excellent interpersonal skills; able to represent The Fund well via phone and email.
• Excellent organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Strong writing, copywriting, proofreading and editorial skills.
• Team player who is eager to collaborate within the department and across the organization.
• Ability to handle pressure with grace and diplomacy; able to anticipate problems and present solutions quickly.
• Excellent problem-solving ability; comfortable with researching solutions independently to provide best options to key stakeholders.

• Ability to effectively juggle multiple tasks and priorities while communicating progress.

Salary & Benefits:

The salary range for this role is $48,000 – $52,000, commensurate with experience. The Fresh Air Fund offers a generous benefits package including medical, dental and vision insurance, flexible spending accounts, commuter benefits, and employer and employee retirement contribution plans. 

Application Instructions:

To apply, please submit an Development Associate application and cover letter. We are hiring on a rolling basis and encourage interested applicants to apply as early as possible. No calls or recruiters, please. 

The Fresh Air Fund is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, committed to inclusive hiring, and dedicated to diversity in its work and on its staff. We strongly encourage candidates of all identities, experiences, orientations, and communities to apply.