Development Assistant

Humane Society of Sonoma County; Santa Rosa (CA); On-site; USD 60,174,000 - 65,904,000; Full time

Job summary

The Humane Society of Sonoma County is seeking a Development Assistant to support fundraising and donor engagement. This entry-level role provides administrative, database, and operational support to the Development Department, working closely with the Senior Development Director and Development Manager.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, adaptable, and eager to learn, with a growth mindset and a passion for building positive donor relationships.

Qualifications

• Highschool degree or equivalent required.
• One year experience in administrative support, fundraising, nonprofit operations, donor relations, or related field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Strong organization skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with donors and volunteers.
• Growth-minded, eager to learn, and able to build relationships and take on new responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Process charitable contributions and maintain donor records.
• Manage donor database and gift histories with accuracy.
• Support fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
• Assist with event support, acknowledgments, and post-event follow-up.
• Collaborate with Development staff and other departments.

Skills

Administrative support

Fundraising

Donor relations

Database management

Communication skills

Organization

Teamwork

Attention to detail

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Outlook

Teams

Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

• Location 5345 Highway 12 West,Santa Rosa, CA, 95407,United States
• Base Pay $21.00 - $23.00 / Hour
• Employee Type Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

Description

Mission Statement:

Committed to kindness in service to the community since 1931, the Humane Society of Sonoma County is a donor-supported safe haven for animals. Our mission is to save lives and benefit the wellbeing of pets and their people with kindness, innovation, and leadership.

SUMMARY:

The Development Assistant plays a vital role in supporting the Humane Society of Sonoma County’s fundraising and donor engagement efforts. This entry-level position provides administrative, database, and operational support to the Development Department while offering opportunities to learn, grow and take on additional responsibilities over time. Working closely with the Senior Development Director and Development Manager, the Development Assistant is responsible for gift processing, database management, campaign support, and general departmental administration, with opportunities to contribute to content creation and other projects as skills and experience develop. The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, organized, adaptable, and eager to learn, with a growth mindset and enthusiasm for contributing to the success and continued growth of both the Development Department and HSSC. This role requires strong communication skills and a genuine interest in building positive donor relationships. The Development Assistant will have opportunities to expand their skills, take on new responsibilities, and grow within the department and organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Gift Processing & Donor Database Management – 40%

• Process charitable contributions and associated documentation securely, accurately, and efficiently, in coordination with Development and Accounting/Finance staff.
• Create and maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records, gift histories, and constituent information within the donor database.
• Ensure all gifts are fully processed through completion, including accurate donor record updates that include all available contact information, supporting documentation, acknowledgments, and related database entries.
• Assist with ongoing database maintenance, data cleanup projects, and record management.
• Support reconciliation efforts between Development and Finance as needed.

Donor Stewardship & Constituent Relations – 30%

• Prepare and distribute timely, accurate, and personalized donor acknowledgements, for a variety of gift types, including memorial and tribute, donor-advised funds, grants, stock gifts, vehicle donations, recurring gifts, third-party fundraisers and program-designated donations.
• Assist with stewardship efforts for recurring, new, lapsed and major donors.
• Respond to donor inquiries and requests in a professional, courteous, and timely manner.
• Assist with donor communications and other stewardship initiatives as needed.
• Support direct mail and digital fundraising campaigns by entering solicitation codes, uploading acknowledgement letters, and assisting with campaign tracking.
• Assist with peer-to-peer fundraising and third-party fundraising initiatives.
• Support donor cultivation and stewardship activities throughout the year.
• Help prepare fundraising materials, donor communications, and other development-related projects as assigned.

Administrative & Department Operations – 10%

• Assist with departmental filing systems and document management.
• Participate in departmental meetings, organizational initiatives, and professional development opportunities.
• Support cross-departmental collaboration to advance organizational goals.
• Assist with maintaining development office supplies and administrative processes.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of HSSC’s fundraising and community engagement efforts.
• Attend and support selected events, including guest check-in and check-out, event setup and materials preparation.
• Assist with sponsor acknowledgments, tracking, and post-event follow-up.
• Support volunteer coordination for special projects in collaboration with Development staff.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Highschool degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience required.
• One year experience in administrative support, fundraising, customer service, nonprofit operations, donor relations, database management, or related field.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Teams, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, with the ability to quickly learn new software systems.
• Strong organization skills with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate professionally with donors and volunteers.
• Growth-minded and eager to learn, with the ability to build strong relationships, make meaningful connections, and take on new responsibilities as skills and experience develop.
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively as part of a team.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

This role is primarily sedentary and office-based; however, the position requires occasional participation in community and fundraising events. Event support may include set-up and breakdown activities requiring the ability to lift and carry materials up to 50 pounds, stand for extended periods. This work is centered around animals, so experience and comfortably around animals is a must. The work environment is usually quiet, with some exposure to moderate noise levels (such as barking dogs).

Notes

Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time and the employee is expected to adhere to all company policies. The above information is representative of the work performed in this position; however, it is not all-inclusive. The omission of a specific duty or responsibility does not exclude it from the position if the work is similar or related to the essential duties and responsibilities.

EEO STATEMENT

HSSC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to building a diverse, inclusive, and equitable team. We encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds and identities, especially those historically underrepresented in animal welfare and veterinary medicine.