Development Associate

Pratham USA; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Pratham USA is seeking a Development Associate to support fundraising across the Central Region, including Chicago, Houston, Austin and Dallas. The role reports to the Director of Philanthropy Operations and works with volunteers, chapter leaders, and the broader Pratham USA team.

You will manage donor portfolios, develop sponsorship outreach, maintain CRM records, coordinate regional galas, and assist with events, communications, and reporting to drive fundraising impact.

Qualifications

• 1-3 years' experience in fundraising or project organization.
• Strong interpersonal and written skills.
• Passion for education and international development.
• Experience supporting events and logistics.

Responsibilities

• Manage and steward a mid-level donor portfolio in the region.
• Develop outreach to corporate sponsorships and community partners.
• Maintain donor data and CRM records; generate reports.
• Coordinate donor outreach and gala logistics regionally.
• Support planning of other regional cultivation events.
• Liaise for Readathon, Young Professionals, and University chapters.
• Provide admin support to the development team and board.
• Deliver on special projects and campaigns as needed.

Skills

Donor stewardship

Event coordination

Salesforce

CRM management

Communications

Regional travel

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Google apps

Job description

Pratham is committed to helping build future-ready schools and communities where every child, youth, and woman has the education, skills, and opportunities to thrive in an ever-changing world.

Founded in India in 1995, Pratham is one of the world's leading education nonprofits, known for its award-winning, evidence-based approaches to improving learning outcomes. Working in partnership with governments, communities, parents, teachers, and volunteers, Pratham develops and scales innovative solutions that address some of the most pressing challenges in the learning landscape worldwide.

Today, Pratham's work reaches millions of children and young people annually across India and is being adapted in 30 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and Southeast Asia

Pratham USA

Pratham USA is part of the global Pratham network and serves as the organization's fundraising and engagement arm in the United States. Through 14 chapters and a nationwide community of donors, volunteers, corporate partners, and advocates, Pratham USA raises awareness and mobilizes resources to support Pratham's mission and impact globally.

Together, Pratham's global network is working to ensure that children, young people, girls and women have the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive in an ever-changing world. For more information on Pratham USA click here.

Pratham’s Focus

CHILDREN & LEARNING: Engages children ages 3-14 in order to improve their basic reading, and math skills.

YOUTH & SKILLING: Promotes economic self-sufficiency for young adults through training and job placement.

GIRLS & WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT: Assists female dropouts over the age of 14 in completing their secondary school education and earning their 10th grade diploma.

RESEARCH & ADVOCACY EFFORTS: Measures and provide reliable data on children’s learning.

DIGITAL SOLUTIONS: AI offers a way to reimagine learning for students who lack access to high-quality educational resources. Pratham’s innovation enables children to verify and deepen their knowledge beyond textbooks while strengthening teacher effectiveness at scale.

Job Description

Pratham USA is recruiting a Development Associate to assist in supporting the fundraising efforts of the Central Region. This region currently includes chapters in Houston, Austin, Dallas and Chicago. This role will be accountable to the regional development team and will work closely with the Pratham USA team and volunteers. The Associate will report to the Director of Philanthropy Operations.

Specific Responsibilities

• Manage and steward a mid-level donor portfolio ($1,000-$5,000) in the region in collaboration with the development, marketing, and communications teams.
• Develop and outreach to prospect lists of corporate sponsorships & community partners in collaboration with and input from the development team and chapter leadership.
• Maintain donor data and CRM records, develop donor-facing and internal materials (presentations, briefings, memos), and generate reports to support fundraising analysis, strategic planning, and Chapter Board meetings.
• Coordinate donor outreach, guest list management, and logistics for regional fundraising galas. Collaborate across internal teams (events, marketing, IT, and development) and external Gala committees to deliver a seamless guest experience.
• Support the planning and execution of other regional cultivation and stewardship events throughout the year, including pre- and post-event logistics, guest coordination, and volunteer management.
• Serve as a liaison for chapter initiatives such as Readathon, Young Professionals, and University chapters.
• Provide administrative and operational support to the development team and Chapter Board members, including scheduling coordination and maintaining minutes for key donor and board meetings.
• Deliver on special projects and campaigns as needed.
• The role will involve regional travel with some evening and weekend work schedules based on need.

Required Skills and Competencies

• 1-3 years' experience working in fundraising or project organization.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Passionate about education and demonstrated empathy for international development.
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Knowledge of Salesforce preferred, and proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google applications required.
• Experience supporting events, including logistics and planning.
• Motivated self-starter with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a results-oriented environment and meet established deadlines.
• Able to work with minimal supervision as well as part of a team.
• Able to work effectively with volunteers.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel as needed.

Compensation

The position is full-time with competitive compensation and benefits commensurate with the US market in the social impact field.

Location and Travel

The Development Associate role is remote, based in one of our chapter locations(Chicago/Austin/Dallas/Houston), specific location flexible. This role requires flexibility to attend in-person meetings and events as needed throughout the region.