Development Assistant

Sarahs Inn; Forest Park (IL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Sarah’s Inn in Forest Park, IL is seeking a Development Assistant to provide essential administrative support to the Development team, focusing on gift processing, donor database maintenance, grant administration, and event support. You will help ensure accurate donor records, timely acknowledgments, and coordinated fundraising activities, working closely with the Development & Communications Manager.

Bachelor’s degree and 2+ years nonprofit experience preferred; evening/weekend hours may be

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 2+ years of nonprofit development/administration experience.
• Experience with donor databases or CRMs preferred.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
• Experience with gift processing, reconciliation, and events preferred.

Responsibilities

• Process and acknowledge gifts in the donor database accurately.
• Maintain donor records and perform data quality checks.
• Reconcile gifts monthly and support Finance in reporting.
• Plan and support development events and materials.
• Provide administrative support for donor communications and campaigns.
• Coordinate with the Volunteer & In-Kind team on in-kind donations.

Skills

Attention to detail

Donor stewardship

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

CRM software

Canva

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

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement

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