Development Associate

River Oaks Baptist School; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

River Oaks Baptist School is seeking an organized, relationship‑driven Development Associate to support its Advancement team in Houston. You will coordinate events, manage donor communications, and engage volunteers to advance the school’s mission within a thriving Christian community.

The role emphasizes project management, collaboration with Development, Enrollment Management, and Communications teams, and hands‑on experience in fundraising operations in a mission‑centered environment.

Qualifications

• At least three years of fundraising events experience.
• Proven ability to manage multiple events and volunteers.
• Strong written and oral communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive calendar of Advancement events, including galas, auctions, tournaments, alumni gatherings and donor engagements.
• Serve as the primary project manager for events, developing timelines, coordinating vendors, overseeing budgets, and ensuring flawless execution from planning to post‑event follow‑up.
• Manage event communications with invitations, webpages, printed materials, signage, RSVP processes and post‑event communications, collaborating with designers and vendors.
• Oversee gala and auction operations, procurement tracking, sponsorship fulfillment, bidder experience and coordination with volunteers and vendors.
• Develop detailed project plans and production schedules to keep events on time and within budget.
• Coordinate post‑event responsibilities, acknowledgments, donor stewardship, gift processing support, and expense reconciliation.

Skills

Fundraising events

Event planning

Volunteer engagement

Donor stewardship

Project management

Communication

Microsoft Office

Leadership

Tools

Raiser’s Edge

OneCause

Job description

River Oaks Baptist School is seeking an organized, relationship-driven, and enthusiastic Development Associate to join our Advancement team.

Reporting directly to the Director of Development, this position collaborates closely with members of the Development, Enrollment Management, and Communications & Marketing teams to support the mission and growth of the school community.

The Development Associate plays a vital role in supporting Advancement initiatives through event planning, volunteer coordination, donor stewardship, and administrative and operational support. This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative professional who enjoys building relationships, creating meaningful experiences, and contributing to a thriving Christian school environment.

The ideal candidate is detail-oriented, creative, adaptable, professional, and service-minded, with exceptional organizational and interpersonal skills. This role offers valuable hands‑on experience in fundraising, project management, event coordination, volunteer engagement, communications, and donor database management within a supportive and mission-centered team.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive calendar of Advancement and community events, including the School’s biennial gala and auction, biennial sporting clays tournament, donor cultivation events, alumni gatherings, graduation, volunteer meetings and parent engagement events.
• Serve as the primary project manager for assigned events, developing timelines, managing logistics, coordinating vendors, overseeing event budgets, and ensuring all details are executed with excellence from initial planning through post-event follow-up.
• Manage event communications in close collaboration with the Communications team including invitations, event webpages, printed materials, signage, RSVP processes and post-event communications. In addition, this position will work closely with a contract graphic designer, printer and mail house.
• Oversee gala and auction operations, including procurement tracking, auction software management, sponsorship fulfillment, bidder experience and coordination with volunteers and vendors to ensure a seamless event experience.
• Develop and maintain detailed project plans and production schedules to ensure events remain on timeline and within budget.
• Coordinate post-event responsibilities, including acknowledgements, donor stewardship, gift processing support, reconciliation of expenses, evaluation of event outcomes, and maintenance of accurate event records.
• Support strategic relationship-building through events by creating meaningful experiences for new and current families, alumni, grandparents, past parents, donors, and volunteers.
• Recruit, coordinate and support volunteers for Advancement events, with a primary focus on gala committees and sporting clays host committee.
• Serve as the staff liaison for gala committees, helping to organize meetings, communicate timelines and expectations, delegate responsibilities, and maintain momentum throughout the planning process.
• Foster meaningful volunteer engagement by providing clear communication, guidance, training, and ongoing support to ensure volunteers feel informed, valued, and equipped for their roles.
• Coordinate volunteer assignments and event‑day responsibilities to ensure smooth event execution and a positive experience.

Capital Campaign Support

• Support the planning and execution of the School’s upcoming capital campaign through event coordination, donor engagement support and administrative project management.
• Coordinate campaign‑related events and gatherings, including leadership briefings and donor cultivation meetings hosted on and off campus.
• Manage campaign event logistics, including invitations, RSVP tracking, meeting materials, presentation support, vendor coordination, and on‑site event execution.
• Assist with campaign administration by maintaining timelines, coordinating scheduling, preparing briefing materials, and supporting donor stewardship and follow‑up efforts.
• Partner closely with the Director of Development and campaign leadership to ensure a high level of organization and attention to detail, hospitality, communication, and constituent experience throughout all campaign‑related activities.

General Development Assistance

• Develop a deep understanding of the ROBS mission and programs in order to communicate the value of the ROBS experience to all constituencies.
• Support the cultivation and stewardship of relationships with all ROBS constituencies, including new families, current parents, alumni, grandparents, past parents, volunteers and donors.
• Provide administrative and operational support to the Development Office as needed, including scheduling meetings, maintaining calendars and project timelines, preparing materials and agenda, coordinating mailings, and assisting with donor communications.
• Assist with donor stewardship and acknowledgement processes, ensuring timely and thoughtful follow‑up with donors, volunteers and event supporters.
• Support the management and maintenance of accurate donor, prospect, and event records within the fundraising database, including gift processing, data entry, prospect research, reporting support, and other development‑related administrative tasks as needed.
• Partner collaboratively with members of the Development team to support annual fundraising initiatives, campaign efforts, constituent engagement activities, and department‑wide projects.

Associated Responsibilities

• Promote ROBS mission and values; articulate the ROBS value proposition.
• Collaborate with colleagues on the Development, Enrollment Management and Communications teams to contribute to the school’s strategic goals.
• Willingness to engage in continuous professional development.
• Attend all team, school, and relevant department meetings.
• Actively participate in Advancement Council.
• Assist with carpool, lunch, and/or reception desk duty, two to three times a week and as needed.
• Be on campus from approximately 7:45 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. on school days, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends for event‑related activities.

Qualifications

• A vibrant Chirstian faith and a desire to work in a Christian environment.
• At least three years of fundraising events experience.
• Creative and strategic thinking.
• Leadership, creativity, enthusiasm, innovation, and collaborative problem—solving skills.
• Possesses a strong attention to detail.
• The ability to work in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational and communication skills – written, verbal, presentation, and training – that support a broad set of school employees: teachers, staff, and administration.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office products such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint required.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Highest ethical and confidentiality standards.
• Positive team player.
• Successful completion of background checks and verification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in an independent school environment.
• Experience with fundraising and event management software, including Raiser’s Edge and OneCause.