Development Assistant

Madison Square Park Conservancy, Inc.; Madison (WI); On-site; USD 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Choice of Aetna health plans

Dental and vision plan

401(k) plan with employer match

12 annual floating holidays

Job summary

A leading nonprofit organization in Madison is seeking a motivated Development Assistant to support various aspects of fundraising. This role entails providing administrative support, assisting with membership programs, and engaging in event planning. Ideal candidates will have 1-2 years of experience, strong organizational abilities, and a passion for nonprofit work. The position offers a salary of $45,000 to $55,000, depending on experience, along with a competitive benefits package.

Qualifications

• 1–2 years of administrative, customer service, or nonprofit experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Provide critical administrative support to the Development team.
• Assist with membership program execution and donor events.
• Conduct data entry and maintain donor records.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Customer service

Tools

DonorPerfect

Google Drive

Job description

Reporting to the Chief Development Officer

Organization Overview

Madison Square Park Conservancy (MSPC) is the nonprofit entrusted by the City of New York to operate Madison Square Park, a 6.2-acre public space in the heart of Manhattan. Our mission is to conserve, maintain, and program this ever‑evolving historic green space, including raising 100% of the park’s operating budget. Our dedicated team takes great pride in caring for and shaping an urban oasis for all to enjoy.

Anchoring a diverse and vibrant live‑work community, Madison Square Park is both an intimate neighborhood park and an international destination for 60,000 daily visitors. A public space since 1686, the park has long been a gathering place for people from all walks of life. Today, it is also a public garden, urban forest, wildlife habitat, public art exhibition space, a haven for children and pets to play, and one of New York City’s most transcendent and welcoming places.

As MSPC expands its development team and prepares for future growth, we are seeking a highly organized, personable, and motivated Development Assistant who is eager to build a career in fundraising and nonprofit management.

Position Overview

The Development Assistant plays an essential role in supporting all areas of MSPC’s fundraising program, including institutional, corporate, individual, and Board giving. This position provides vital administrative, research, and database support; assists with membership program execution; and contributes to the success of donor events and engagements.

This role is ideal for someone with 1–2 years of administrative or customer service experience who is excited about a future in development, is exceptionally organized, and brings a donor‑centered professionalism.

The Development Assistant reports to the Chief Development Officer, collaborates with everyone on the Development team, and interfaces with all program areas.

Key Responsibilities

Administrative & Department Support

• Provide critical administrative support to the Development team at‑large.
• Organize department‑wide systems and software to ensure efficient operations and timely completion of tasks.
• Administer an accurate, well‑organized, and timely donor acknowledgement process with the Development staff, Chief Curator, and Executive Director.
• Assist with preparing materials for donor meetings, Board communications, and other projects as needed.
• Compile easy‑to‑follow, informative, and analytical reports on the results of Development initiatives.
• Run Development department meetings, and compile notes and action items.
• Manage the matching gift promotion and processes.

Database & Research

• Conduct data entry, record‑keeping, and reporting within the donor database (DonorPerfect experience a plus). Maintain consistent and well‑organized donor records and department folders in Google Drive.
• Run donor and prospect research, including wealth screening and drafting donor/meeting briefings.

Membership & Individual Giving

• Assist with the execution of all membership programs (general, art and dog programs), including fulfillment of benefits, processing acknowledgement letters and renewals, communications and marketing, and member inquiries.
• Assist with the administration needed to execute all individual giving vehicles (eg, bench dedications, legacy giving, etc.)

Foundation, Corporate & Government Giving

• Provide support in preparing materials for grant proposals and reports.
• Run administrative tasks and tracking around the corporate volunteering program, as needed.

Events & Donor Engagement

• Help with data management, planning, promotion, and execution of cultivation events (including monthly in‑park “Bench Hours”), corporate and individual volunteering, membership programs and events, and other fundraising events.
• Support event logistics, including managing RSVPs, check‑in, donor communications, and onsite hospitality.
• Represent MSPC at events with warmth, professionalism, and confidence.

Qualifications and Requirements

• 1–2 years of administrative, customer service, or nonprofit experience.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills while exercising discretion.
• Strong organizational skills, proactive, high attention to detail, and ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks.
• Comfortable working in a small to mid‑sized nonprofit environment where responsiveness, collaboration, and adaptability are essential.
• Experience with handling customer inquiries with grace and care. Personable communicator with a donor‑centered mindset and hospitality‑forward approach.
• Genuine enthusiasm for pursuing a career in nonprofit fundraising.
• Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems is a plus (DonorPerfect preferred).
• Curiosity, openness, eager to learn, a sense of humor, and passion for the organization’s mission.

Compensation, Benefits, and Schedule

Annual Salary: $45,000 to 55,000, depending on experience

Highly competitive benefits package, including:

• Choice of three Aetna health plans with zero to minimal employee contribution
• Dental and vision plan with no employee contribution
• 12 annual floating holidays
• 401(k) plan with employer match after one year of employment
• Short‑term disability and Health Advocate benefits

Schedule: 40 hours/week on a 5‑day schedule; minimum 4 days in the office required; availability to work evenings and weekends as needed for meetings, events, or funder engagements.

Only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.

Madison Square Park Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to complying with all federal, state, and local equal employment opportunity (“EEO”) laws. The Conservancy prohibits discrimination against applicants for employment because of the individual’s race or color, religion or creed, alienage or citizenship status, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, marital status, domestic partnership status, genetic information or predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, arrest or pre‑employment conviction record or any other characteristic protected by law.