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Development Communications Associate Jobs in Illinois

Development Assistant

Forest Park, IL · On-site

$46K - $50K/yr

Development and Communications Manager Status: Exempt/Full-Time Position Summary: The Development ... associate board meetings. Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory ...

Development Assistant

Forest Park, IL

$18 - $24.50/hr

Development and Communications Manager Status: Exempt/Full-Time Position Summary: The Development ... associate board meetings. Supervisory Responsibilities: This job has no supervisory ...

Communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a professional manner using tact, courtesy ... Opportunity for professional growth and development. * A hybrid work schedule. * Competitive salary ...

Associate, Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85 - $103/hr

Associate, DevelopmentSkip to main content#Associate, Development page is loaded## Associate ... Coordinate landowner communication efforts.* Take a lead role in obtaining certain local, state and ...

... communications teams. * Develop and outreach to prospect lists of corporate sponsorships ... Location and Travel The Development Associate role is remote, based in one of our chapter locations ...

New

Associate, Development

Chicago, IL · On-site

$85K - $103K/yr

Position Overview As an Associate, Development, you will be responsible for leading development of ... Strong public speaking, communication, and personal skills. * Strong organizational, problem ...

Showing results 41-60

Development Communications Associate information

What is a development communications associate?

A Development Communications Associate is a professional who supports fundraising and donor engagement efforts within an organization by creating, editing, and managing communications materials. They often work in nonprofit or educational settings, collaborating with development teams to produce newsletters, grant proposals, social media content, and donor reports. Their goal is to effectively communicate the organization's mission and impact to current and prospective donors, helping to build and maintain strong relationships. This role requires strong writing, editing, and project management skills.

How does a development communications associate typically collaborate with fundraising and program teams?

A Development Communications Associate works closely with both fundraising and program teams to ensure that messaging aligns with organizational goals and donor interests. They often translate complex program outcomes into compelling stories and reports, supporting grant proposals, donor updates, and campaign materials. Regular meetings and open communication with these teams are essential to gather accurate information, stay updated on project milestones, and tailor outreach strategies. This collaboration helps create unified, impactful communications that drive donor engagement and support fundraising objectives.

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

To thrive as a Development Communications Associate, you need strong writing, editing, and research skills, often supported by a degree in communications, marketing, or a related field. Familiarity with donor management databases, email marketing platforms, and basic graphic design tools like Canva or Adobe Creative Suite is typically expected. Excellent interpersonal skills, attention to detail, and the ability to craft compelling narratives help you stand out in this role. These competencies are crucial for effectively engaging donors, enhancing organizational visibility, and supporting successful fundraising efforts.

What is the difference between Development Communications Associate vs Communications Coordinator?

AspectDevelopment Communications AssociateCommunications Coordinator
Required CredentialsBachelor's in Communications, Marketing, or related fieldBachelor's in Communications, Public Relations, or related field
Work EnvironmentNonprofit organizations, NGOs, or development agenciesCorporate, nonprofit, or government agencies
Employer & Industry UsageFundraising, donor engagement, and awareness campaignsMedia relations, internal/external communications, event planning
Common Search & ComparisonYesYes

The Development Communications Associate primarily focuses on creating content to support fundraising and donor engagement within nonprofit or development sectors. In contrast, the Communications Coordinator handles broader communication tasks, including media relations and internal messaging across various industries. While both roles require similar educational backgrounds and skills, their core responsibilities and work environments differ, making this comparison useful for those exploring careers or job opportunities in communications roles.

What are the most commonly searched types of Development Communications jobs in Illinois?

The most popular types of Development Communications jobs in Illinois are:

What are popular job titles related to Development Communications Associate jobs in Illinois?

For Development Communications Associate jobs in Illinois, the most frequently searched job titles are:

What job categories do people searching Development Communications Associate jobs in Illinois look for?

The top searched job categories for Development Communications Associate jobs in Illinois are:

What cities in Illinois are hiring for Development Communications Associate jobs?

Cities in Illinois with the most Development Communications Associate job openings:

Infographic showing various Development Communications Associate job openings in Illinois as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 78% Full Time, 19% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 86% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 11% Remote job distribution.

Development Assistant

Sarah's Inn

Forest Park, IL • On-site

$46K - $50K/yr

Full-time

Posted 17 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