Research Development Associate Jobs in Boston, MA

Development Associate

TheLuminosFund, an international nonprofit bringing education opportunities to the world's most vulnerable children,seeks a Development Associate to contribute to its rapid growth.

The Development Associate role includes providing systematic and administrative support for all Luminos fundraising and stewardship activities, including database and process management, gift processing and donor recognition, and prospect research. The successful candidate will be an early career professional who firmly believes that all children should have the right to education, regardless of where they are born. Additionally, they will be a team player, exceptionally detail-oriented and organized, process-driven, and a superb writer.

The Development Associate will report to the Director of Development and collaborate closely with team members across our energetic and international organization. This full-time position will be based in Boston, Massachusetts.

Candidates must have existing work authorization for the United States. We are currently unable to support relocation for this role.

About the Luminos Fund

The Luminos Fund (www.luminosfund.org) provides transformative education programs to thousands of vulnerable children each year, helping them to catch up to grade level and prepare for lifelong learning. Working in partnership with community-based organizations in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, Luminos is scaling up its accelerated learning program through the Luminos Method (www.luminosmethod.org) - an evidence-based approach that helps children catch up fast and discover the joy of learning.

Luminos is supported by a range of funding partners, including Cartier Philanthropy, the Gates Foundation, UBS Optimus Foundation, and UNICEF. Luminos has been recognized for its achievements globally, receiving the Klaus J. Jacobs Best Practice Prize, the Library of Congress International Literacy Award, the Lipman Family Prize, and the WISE Award, and is a member of the HundrED Hall of Fame.

Duties and Responsibilities

Database and process management:

• Enter gifts and donor information in Salesforce in an accurate and timely manner

• Manage the creation and maintenance of accurate, informative Salesforce reports and dashboards

• Implement quality checks and ensure continued data integrity and comprehensiveness

• Oversee database processes proactively, with an eye on continuously enhancing the system

Donor recognition:

• Promptly prepare tax receipts and thank-you letters upon receipt of gifts

• Track and file documents appropriately in Luminos Fund systems

• Lead additional donor recognition requests with creativity and timeliness

Prospect research and briefings:

• Compile and disseminate pertinent, insightful donor research and briefs for meetings and events, as requested by Development team leadership

Donor and organization communications:

• Support frontline fundraisers to draft compelling, detailed, accurate donor communications, including personalized thank-you letters, event invitations, and PowerPoint presentations, always adhering to the highest standards of professionalism, with a goal of exceeding donors' expectations

• Manage the Luminos Fund organizational email account and phone line with the utmost professionalism and discretion, activating appropriate team members and coordinating with colleagues to provide prompt responses

Administrative and logistical management:

• Schedule team meetings, managing meeting agendas and note-taking

• Provide general administrative support for the global Development team and our small Boston office, including but not limited to, providing executive meeting support, regularly checking the Luminos Fund mailbox, managing outgoing shipments on time and with the highest quality standards, and tracking inventory and office supplies

Qualifications

Required Experience

• Bachelor's Degree required

• 2+ years of relevant professional experience with a demonstrated track record of success, a keen interest in pursuing a career in fundraising, and proven skills supporting senior executives

• Excellent organization and time management skills

• Exemplary writing and communication skills

• Proven experience providing administrative support, including mailings

• Advanced skills in Microsoft Office (especially Word, PowerPoint, and Excel)

• Fluency in written and spoken English

• Proven success working with remote colleagues is strongly desired

Core attributes

• Demonstrated passion for education, children's causes, international development, and the values of the Luminos Fund

• Impeccable attention to detail and an innate sense of responsibility for the delivery of high-quality work

• Can-do attitude: comfortable working with a dynamic team in a very fast-paced, ever-evolving environment

• Self-motivated and tenacious

• Ability to juggle multiple assignments, adhering to strict deadlines

• Natural curiosity and hunger for continuous learning

• Strong sense of integrity, confidentiality, and discretion

• Empathetic, with respect for and pleasure engaging with different effective working styles

• A deep commitment to open and clear communication

• Readiness to problem solve creatively

• Deep appreciation for working with diverse constituents, teams, and colleagues

Luminos Core Beliefs and Values
1.We believe that every child is capable of learning a remarkable amount in a short period of time, if given the chance.
2.We keep children's joy and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
3.We embrace assessment as a key component of effective teaching and learning.
4.We celebrate and empower local leadership throughout our work with partner communities and governments.
5.We use research, program data, and skilled classroom observation in the tenacious pursuit of excellence.
6.We celebrate the unique contexts and cultures of the communities we serve in our curricula and pedagogy.
7.We act with the highest standards of integrity and care, ensuring mutual accountability among colleagues and partners.
8.We take the initiative to solve problems where we find them, managing details large and small, with urgency.
9.We act deliberately to ensure that our organization is inclusive for people of different genders, racial backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations, religious beliefs, abilities, and other sources of diversity.
10.We build deep, authentic relationships with our supporters in celebration of the mutually transformative power of giving.

To apply for this role, please complete the online application with your resume or CV and a cover letter describing why you are a good match for this position.

We often receive hundreds of applications for our roles, and many applicants submit materials or answers generated by AI tools. We are looking for information written by you, about you. We want to understand your interests, experience, and enthusiasm for the role. Materials written with AI support tend to be generic and are often identical to that of other applicants. They do not give us enough insight into your unique profile. We request that you do not use AI for your application or that, if you must do so, that you mindfully edit or review the AI-generated information appropriately.

You will be asked to confirm the following information as part of your application:

• Permanent address and present address (if different from permanent), e-mail address, and telephone number
• Disclose any existing personal relationships with existing Luminos Fund employees or Implementing Partners (IPs.)

Salary range: USD 50,000-65,000

The Luminos Fund is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.