Development Associate

Sonrisas Dental Health; San Mateo (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sonrisas Dental Health in California is seeking a Development Associate to support gift acceptance, donor reconciliation, and administrative operations within the Development team. Reporting to the Director of Development, you will help manage data integrity, prepare acknowledgments, generate reports, and assist with campaigns and events to sustain community-based oral health programs.

This role requires a Bachelor’s degree and strong CRM/MS Office skills, with on-site support for events in San

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred; proven ability to leverage relationships with staff, board members, and volunteers.
• 2+ years nonprofit development experience with a heavy focus on database management and CRM software.
• Strong written and oral communication skills suitable for drafting meeting agendas, minutes, and supporting materials.
• Experience with donor acknowledgments, reconciliation, and reporting is preferred.
• Willingness to provide on-site support for occasional nights and weekends at events.

Responsibilities

• Ensure accurate coding and entry of contributions (gifts, pledges, in-kind donations, stocks, DAFs).
• Assist with the acknowledgement process to recognize donors promptly.
• Generate reports to support giving, fundraising, and grants; maintain pledge invoices.
• Maintain task lists, timelines, and meeting notes for Development operations.
• Support campaigns, event ticketing pages, and RSVP lists for fundraising events.
• Produce communications assets; help with annual reports and newsletters.

Skills

Database management

CRM software

Attention to detail

Collaborative

Growth mindset

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Bloomerang

WordPress

Canva

Job description

Benefits: A comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), 401(K) match, paid holidays and time off is available.

The Mission

At Sonrisas Dental Health, we believe that a healthy smile is for everyone. As a safety net dental provider, we are dedicated to providing access to high quality dental care and oral health education to those in need. We serve 10,000 community members through clinical care and community-based programming each year.

The Opportunity

Sonrisas’ Development team raises $3.5 million annually to fill critical care gaps and sustain community-based oral health programming for those in need. We are supported by the generosity of grant partners, event sponsors, and individual donors in this endeavor.

As the Development Associate, you will be the backbone of the Sonrisas Development team. Under the direct supervision of the Director of Development (DoD), you will provide critical, tactical support with a primary focus on gift acceptance, donor reconciliation, and administrative excellence.

The Team

Our Development staff is led by the Director of Development, supported by a Corporate Partnerships Manager, the Development Associate, and consultants supporting grant management and event logistics.

Our team, strategy, and activities are also supported by the CEO and the Board’s Development Committee.

Key Impact Areas

• Gift & Data Integrity: Ensure the accurate coding and entry of all contributions - including pledges, gifts, in-kind contributions, stocks, and DAFs.
• Donor Stewardship Support: Assist with executing the acknowledgement process by preparing timely acknowledgments, ensuring every donor feels valued.
• Reporting & Monitoring: Generate reports with high precision to support individual giving, corporate fundraising, and foundation grants and maintain pledge invoices to ensure consistent revenue flow.
• Administrative Backbone: Maintain task lists, timelines, and meeting notes for Development staff, Board committee, and contractors supporting Development operations. Collaborate with DoD to ensure deadlines are met.
• Digital Campaign & Event Tactics: Help build and maintain campaigns, event ticketing pages, and RSVP lists to support our signature fundraising events.
• Communications & Communication Assets: Support the communications strategy through production and distribution of social media content, annual reports, newsletters, and stories. Maintain internal content library.
• Research & Grants: Conduct deep-dive donor research using web and in-house tools to empower frontline fundraisers, while assisting in grant research and data generation.
• Performs other duties and responsibilities as assigned to support Development operations and objectives.

Who You Are

• A Database Enthusiast: You have 2+ years of nonprofit development experience with a heavy focus on database management and CRM software.
• Detail-Oriented & Accurate: You have a demonstrated ability to manage complex projects and deadlines with a high level of attention to detail.
• A Collaborative Partner: You enjoy working with program staff and volunteers to cultivate a "culture of philanthropy" across the organization.
• Growth-Minded: You have a desire to grow professionally as a development professional.
• Cross-Functional Collaborator: You take deep ownership of your primary portfolio but maintain a flexible mindset, ready to brainstorm, pivot, or lend a hand to colleagues when organizational priorities shift.

The Essentials

• Experience: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent preferred; proven ability to leverage relationships with staff, board members, and volunteers.
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), CRM databases (e.g., Bloomerang), and basic administrative tools like WordPress and Canva.
• Communication: Exceptional written and oral communication skills suitable for drafting meeting agendas, minutes, and supporting materials.
• Operational Agility: Willingness to adopt a semi-flexible schedule to provide on-site assistance for occasional nights and weekends at events.
• Local Insight: Knowledge of San Mateo County businesses and community organizations is preferred.
• Planning, organizing, and effective time management.
• Problem analysis and assessment.
• Integrity, confidentiality, and professionalism.
• Humble confidence and initiative.

Physical and Travel Expectations

• This position requires hours of sitting, walking, and standing associated with a normal office environment.
• Ability to lift small boxes up to 20 lbs.
• Ability to travel and transport supplies throughout San Mateo County.