Development Associate

Pivotal Now; San Jose (CA); Hybrid; USD 59,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off 15 days yearly

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

Commuter benefits

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Pivotal is seeking a Development Associate to support fundraising, donor engagement, and marketing efforts. You will maintain donor records, process gifts, and coordinate acknowledgments while providing administrative support to the Development team.

You will leverage data to inform fundraising strategies, assist in donor prospecting, and help with email campaigns, social media, and events. This is a great entry point for someone passionate about philanthropy and nonprofit operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in a related field.
• 0-2 years of professional nonprofit development, fundraising, or administration experience.
• Experience with donor CRM systems (Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, HubSpot) or similar.
• Strong MS Office skills and data management abilities.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for Development-related inquiries via phone, email, and social media with excellent service.
• Maintain accurate donor records and process gifts in the CRM.
• Generate and send thank-you letters within one week, coordinating CEO hand signatures.
• Provide administrative support including meetings, supplies, notes, and task tracking.
• Analyze donor data with leadership to inform fundraising strategy and segmentation for campaigns.
• Support donor prospecting and track institutional funding with the Development team.

Skills

Donor CRM systems

Data management

Microsoft Office

Communication

Organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Salesforce

Raiser’s Edge

HubSpot

Job description

Job Title: Development Associate

Department: Development

Reports to: Chief Development Officer

Date: October 2026

About Pivotal

Pivotal supports young people in and from foster care to realize their educational and career goals and ensure their equitable access to opportunity. We envision a community in which every young person gets the education, career, and life they want for themselves. In support of this vision and mission, Pivotal provides highly individualized academic and career-oriented services to current and former foster youth at the secondary and post‑secondary levels. Pivotal also works with community stakeholders to effect systemic change in the opportunities offered to youth from the foster care system.

Pivotal is a dynamic organization that challenges staff to reflect and grow to remain ever more responsive to our youth, donors, and partners, providing the highest quality services. Our approach is data-driven and evidence-based.

At Pivotal, we acknowledge and celebrate the power in diversity. Our collaborative culture promotes innovation and benefits our team, the youth we serve, and our community as a whole. Pivotal is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.

Job Summary

The Development Associate plays a key role in supporting Pivotal’s fundraising, donor engagement, and marketing efforts. This position is responsible for maintaining accurate donor records, processing gifts, coordinating donor acknowledgments, and providing administrative support to the Development team.

The Development Associate leverages data to inform fundraising strategies, assists in donor prospecting, and ensures the integrity of the donor database. In addition, this role collaborates on marketing initiatives, including email campaigns, social media, and event promotions.

The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail‑oriented, and proactive, with strong communication and technical skills to manage multiple projects in a fast‑paced environment. This is an excellent opportunity for an individual passionate about philanthropic development and looking to grow their expertise in fundraising operations, donor relations, and digital marketing.

Key Responsibilities

Development Operations & Administrative Support

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Development-related phone calls, emails, social media inquiries, and other donor communications, ensuring excellent customer service.
• Maintain accurate donor records and gift processing in the CRM database.
• Generate and send thank-you letters within one week, coordinating hand signatures from the CEO.
• Provide administrative support, including managing office supplies, taking meeting notes, scheduling meetings, and completing other tasks assigned by the Chief Development Officer.

Donor Data Management & Reporting

• Collaborate with leadership to analyze donor data and provide actionable insights for fundraising strategy.
• Segment donor data for direct mail and email campaigns, optimizing outreach strategies.
• Support donor prospecting by researching potential supporters and maintaining an evolving donor pipeline in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer.
• Work with the Director of Development Operations and Communications to track institutional funding, ensuring timely submission of grant proposals and reports.

Database Management

• Regularly audit the donor database for accuracy, manage de-duplication efforts, and standardize data entry practices.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and consultants for system upgrades, database migrations, and API integrations with email marketing and online giving platforms.
• Develop and maintain documentation on CRM processes, data workflows, and user guides to ensure system consistency and staff training.

Marketing & Communications Support

• Assist in designing promotional materials for fundraising events and scholar workshops, including flyers, invitations, and social media graphics.
• Support the execution of monthly email marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development Operations and Communications to update website content, ensuring timely posting of the monthly e‑news, blogs, and event information while maintaining SEO best practices.
• Assist with social media management by creating compelling content, building relationships with followers and key stakeholders, and fostering online community engagement.

Event Support & Logistics

• Assist the Development Team in planning and executing event logistics, including coordination with vendors.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience

Pivotal values a combination of education, experience, and training that demonstrates the ability to succeed in this role. We encourage applicants to apply even if they do not meet every listed qualification.

• Commitment to Mission: Passion for Pivotal’s mission to improve the lives of foster youth.
• Education & Experience:
  • Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.
  • 0-2 years of professional experience, preferably in a nonprofit development, fundraising, or administrative role.
• Technical & Data Management Skills:
  • Experience and proficiency with donor CRM systems (e.g., Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, HubSpot, or similar platforms).
  • Familiarity with online giving platforms and data integration tools.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  • Experience with graphic design tools (e.g., Adobe Creative Suite, Canva) is a plus.
• Communication & Collaboration:
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to engage professionally with donors, stakeholders, and team members.
  • Experience supporting marketing and communications efforts, such as email campaigns, e‑news, social media, or website updates, is a plus.
• Organizational & Problem‑Solving Abilities:
  • Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and record‑keeping.
  • Strong ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks effectively.
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing to a collaborative team environment.

Compensation and Benefits

• Position Type: Full-time, non-exempt position
• Hiring Range: Competitive salary of $59,000– $65,930, based on experience and qualifications
• Medical Benefits: Medical, dental, and vision insurance with 100% employer‑covered premiums (depending on plan selection)
• Insurance Coverage: Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance
• Additional Benefits: Flexible Spending Account (FSA), commuter benefits, and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Retirement Plan: 401(k) plan with up to a 4% employer matching contribution
• Paid Time Off: 15 days of vacation accrual during the first year, with increased accrual based on tenure
• Paid Holidays: 12 paid holidays annually, plus a holiday break in December
• Family Support: Generous family leave and workplace accommodations available to eligible employees

Work Conditions

This position is classified as hybrid and is subject to change under Pivotal’s in‑office policy. Regular in‑office attendance (at least four days per week) is required. The role also requires flexibility to work on‑site, remotely, or in a hybrid arrangement; attend mandatory meetings at Pivotal’s main San Jose office and other Bay Area locations; and travel locally for evening or special events as needed.

This position will spend time sitting and using office equipment and computers.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo a full background check and must comply with county contract requirements, including, but not limited to: COVID‑19 vaccination, TB test, completion of mandatory trainings, and any other health and safety requirements as outlined.

This position includes some evening and weekend hours as required by supervisor.

All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of political affiliation, race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, age, disability, or other non‑merit factors.

If you need any assistance or accommodation in the application process, feel free to reach out to us at [phone].