Development Associate

Cornerstones; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Cornerstones is seeking a Development Associate to provide essential administrative support for fundraising and development efforts in Reston, VA. You will handle gift processing, donor database maintenance, acknowledgments and reporting, and assist with campaigns and events.

The role supports in‑kind donations, seasonal drives, and coordination with the Manager of Individual Giving and the development team to ensure timely, accurate development operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• One to three years of experience in nonprofit administration, fundraising operations, database administration, customer service, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with a development or CRM database preferred; Raiser’s Edge experience is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Reliable, adaptable, and self‑directed with strong follow‑through.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Passion for Cornerstones’ mission and commitment to making a difference in the community.

Responsibilities

• Process and accurately record monetary, recurring, pledge, and in‑kind gifts in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date donor records, including contact information, gift information, coding, and other relevant data.
• Prepare and process donor acknowledgments, tax receipts, and other routine donor correspondence.
• Support gift batching and reconciliation in coordination with the Finance team.
• Assist with recurring gift administration, including updating payment information and donor records.
• Maintain established procedures for gift processing, database maintenance, and data integrity.
• Prepare donor reports, mailing lists, and data exports to support fundraising campaigns and communications.
• Assist with donor mailings, appeals, and other fundraising initiatives.
• Provide administrative support for donor meetings, campaigns, and development projects.
• Maintain accurate development records, files, and calendars.
• Respond to routine inquiries regarding in‑kind donations and coordinate with donors, volunteers, and Cornerstones staff.
• Record and track in‑kind donations and ensure appropriate acknowledgment.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for Cornerstones’ seasonal drives, including Back‑to‑School, Thanksgiving, and Holiday Gift initiatives.
• Assist with communications, supply tracking, deliveries, and volunteer coordination related to seasonal drives.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for donor and fundraising events, including registration, guest lists, materials, and follow‑up.
• Assist with event and campaign data entry and tracking.
• Provide general administrative support to the development team and assist with special projects as needed.

Skills

Attention to detail

Organization

Communication

Team collaboration

Time management

Customer service

Data entry

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent

Tools

Raiser’s Edge NXT

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Job description

Development Associate

Reports to Job Role: Manager of Individual Giving

FLSA: Non-Exempt

R/S/T/O/I: Regular

Level: Team Member

Descriptive Summary

The Development Associate provides essential administrative and operational support for Cornerstones’ fundraising and development efforts. This position is responsible for accurate gift processing, donor database maintenance, acknowledgments, reporting, and administrative support for fundraising campaigns and events.

The Development Associate also supports in-kind donations and seasonal drives and works closely with the Manager of Individual Giving and other members of the development team to ensure timely, accurate, and efficient development operations.

Qualifications

Essential Functions

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

Gift and Database Administration

• Process and accurately record monetary, recurring, pledge, and in‑kind gifts in Raiser’s Edge NXT.
• Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date donor records, including contact information, gift information, coding, and other relevant data.
• Prepare and process donor acknowledgments, tax receipts, and other routine donor correspondence.
• Support gift batching and reconciliation in coordination with the Finance team.
• Assist with recurring gift administration, including updating payment information and donor records.
• Maintain established procedures for gift processing, database maintenance, and data integrity.

Reporting and Fundraising Support

• Prepare donor reports, mailing lists, and data exports to support fundraising campaigns and communications.
• Assist with donor mailings, appeals, and other fundraising initiatives.
• Provide administrative support for donor meetings, campaigns, and development projects.
• Maintain accurate development records, files, and calendars.

In‑Kind Donations and Seasonal Drives

• Respond to routine inquiries regarding in‑kind donations and coordinate with donors, volunteers, and Cornerstones staff.
• Record and track in‑kind donations and ensure appropriate acknowledgment.
• Provide administrative and logistical support for Cornerstones’ seasonal drives, including Back‑to‑School, Thanksgiving, and Holiday Gift initiatives.
• Assist with communications, supply tracking, deliveries, and volunteer coordination related to seasonal drives.

Events and General Development Support

• Provide administrative and logistical support for donor and fundraising events, including registration, guest lists, materials, and follow‑up.
• Assist with event and campaign data entry and tracking.
• Provide general administrative support to the development team and assist with special projects as needed.

Minimum Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities)

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• One to three years of experience in nonprofit administration, fundraising operations, database administration, customer service, or a related field preferred.
• Experience with a development or CRM database preferred; Raiser’s Edge experience is highly desirable.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, particularly Word and Excel.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and work effectively under pressure.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team.
• Reliable, adaptable, and self‑directed with strong follow‑through.
• Demonstrated ability to handle confidential information with discretion and integrity.
• Passion for Cornerstones’ mission and commitment to making a difference in the community.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills with staff, clients, volunteers.
• Excellent organizational and time management skills.
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Strong customer service and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work collaboratively with others and as a member of a team.

Attitude

• Attentive to constraints of time and funds in setting stretch goals
• Respectful of staff, volunteers, funders and clients
• Forward thinker, considering not just today but what are the implications for tomorrow
• Collaborative leader, working with others individually and in teams

Work Environment

• This position is performed in a traditional office environment as well as in Cornerstones’ community‑based programs.
• This position may require occasional evening and weekend work to support fundraising events and organizational activities. Physical requirements may include lifting boxes and materials up to 30 pounds and moving items related to drives, donations, and fundraising events.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the functions.

• Prolonged sitting and a desk and working on a computer.
• Regular in person interaction with the public, clients, and stakeholders.
• Handle or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 15 pounds
• Occasional navigation of stairs, ramps, ladders.
• Noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate