Development Associate

FreeRent.org; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

FreeRent.org in Atlanta is seeking a Development Associate to join its nonprofit fundraising team. You will be the external-facing and operational engine supporting donor relations, events, grants, sponsorships, and fundraising infrastructure as the organization grows.

You will work closely with the Executive Director and Chief Relationship Officer, gaining hands-on exposure to donor meetings, sponsorship pitches, grant proposals, and community partnerships to strengthen financial security for

Qualifications

• Early career in nonprofit development with exposure to donor relations and fundraising.
• Experience supporting grant proposals and sponsorship strategy.
• Ability to work with Executive Director and Chief Relationship Officer.

Responsibilities

• Attend community events and represent the organization.
• Build relationships with community members, partners, donors.
• Support donor communications strategy and donor database updates.
• Draft, compile, and submit grant proposals and reporting.
• Plan and execute annual events, including the Impact Luncheon and Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraiser.
• Identify and fulfill sponsorship opportunities; develop tools and templates.
• Improve development processes and donor experience.

Skills

Donor relations

Communications

Event planning

Grant writing

Sponsorships

Relationship building

Project management

CRM software

Donor database

Grant tracking tools

Tools

CRM software

Donor database

Grant tracking tools

Job description

FreeRent.org is a nonprofit that helps families achieve long-term financial stability by providing rental assistance and support services. We want to see communities where hardworking people have the chance to succeed and build wealth for future generations. We help families facing unexpected challenges by meeting immediate needs, strengthening financial security, and supporting future goals.

About This Role

The Development Associate is a detail-obsessed, relationship-driven professional ready to grow their career in nonprofit development. This role is both an external-facing and operational engine of FreeRent.Org's development work, representing the organization in the community, leading event execution, supporting grant proposals, growing sponsorships, and helping build the fundraising infrastructure that supports Atlanta today and future FreeRent.Org sites as we grow.

This is an ideal role for someone early in their development career who wants hands-on exposure to donor relations, fundraising events, grant writing, and sponsorship strategy, while working closely with the Executive Director and Chief Relationship Officer.

Key Responsibilities

Community & Business Development

• Attend community events and networking opportunities on behalf of FreeRent.org, representing the organization with professionalism and warmth.
• Build and maintain relationships with community members, partners, and prospective donors, identifying new opportunities for engagement and sponsorship support.
• Support the Executive Director and Chief Relationship Officer in preparing for donor meetings, sponsorship conversations, and partnership pitches.

Donor Relations & Communications

• Own donor communications strategy, messaging, and measurement to ensure mass communications and marketing materials are on-brand, accurate, and sent on schedule.
• Support the Executive Director in keeping the donor database current and updated.
• Develop and maintain systems to track donor engagement and giving history, supporting data-informed development strategy.

Grant Proposal Support

• Research and identify new grant opportunities aligned with FreeRent.Org's programs and growth plans.
• Draft, compile, and submit grant proposals and required reporting.
• Track grant deadlines, requirements, and reporting obligations to ensure nothing falls through the cracks.

Event Support

• Support the planning and execution of FreeRent.Org's annual signature events, the Impact Luncheon and Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraiser, from concept through post-event debrief.
• Support maintaining event budgets, vendor relationships, sponsor fulfillment, and committee coordination.
• Be present and hands-on for all in-person event needs, including setup, event-day logistics, and follow-up.

Sponsorships & Overall Development Support

• Support the identification, pitching, and fulfillment of sponsorship opportunities for events and programs.
• Support development needs for the Atlanta program as well as other FreeRent.org sites as they scale, providing consistent tools, templates, and fundraising best practices across the organization.
• Prepare materials, briefings, and follow-up communications to support the Executive Director and Chief Relationship Officer's donor and sponsor relationships.
• Continuously improve development processes and tools to increase efficiency and donor experience quality.