Development Associate

Perkins; Watertown (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance

401(k) Plan with employer match

Paid Time Off

Tuition reimbursement day one

Employee Recognition Programs

Job summary

Perkins is seeking a Development Associate to support fundraising and marketing initiatives, coordinating cross-department projects and executive communications. You will work directly with the Chief Development & Marketing Officer and Managing Director of Development to drive donor initiatives and milestone tracking.

The role suits an organized, data-aware professional who can translate high-level goals into actionable work plans and maintain seamless daily operations across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in development, coordination, or administrative support, preferably in nonprofit.
• Strong written and verbal communication with ability to manage cross-team projects.

Responsibilities

• Support fundraising and marketing strategies, coordinating cross-departmental projects.
• Prepare materials and communications for leadership, Board meetings, and donors.
• Manage scheduling, travel itineraries, and executive communications.
• Monitor milestones and ensure timely completion of action items and deadlines.
• Synthesize data into reports and presentations for leadership and funders.

Skills

Communication

Project coordination

Data analysis

CRM familiarity

Education

Bachelor's degree in Communications or related field

Tools

Salesforce

Job description

Perkins helps children with disabilities find their place in the world. An international NGO, we are committed to delivering best-in-class education to children, providing immersive training and support to professionals and families, advocating for inclusion, and accelerating innovation for people with disabilities. At Perkins, we think courageously, act collaboratively, and we own our work. Join a supportive community committed to growth where your work makes a difference.

What you can expect as our Development Associate

As our Development Associate, you will play a central role in supporting the efficiency, communication, and execution of our fundraising and marketing strategies. Reporting directly to the Chief Development & Marketing Officer (CDMO) and working closely with the Managing Director of Development (MDD), you will coordinate cross-departmental projects, manage executive communications, and support key donor initiatives.

This is an ideal role for an organized, data-aware, and collaborative professional who excels at turning high-level organizational goals into actionable work plans and seamless daily operations.

How you will make an impact:

Communication, Relationship & Administrative Support

• Serve as the primary liaison for the CDMO, managing and prioritizing incoming requests to ensure timely responses.
• Draft and edit compelling talking points, briefing documents, presentations, and correspondence for the CDMO and MDD.
• Manage meeting scheduling, detailed travel/meeting itineraries, and general administrative needs for development leadership.
• Support the preparation of materials, and follow-up for Board of Trustees and senior leadership meetings, maintaining clear and consistent communication.
• Represent the CDMO in select meetings when appropriate to maintain momentum on strategic priorities.
• Assist with special cross-departmental initiatives, campaign projects, and donor stewardship efforts on behalf of executive leadership.
• Monitor project milestones to ensure decisions, action items, and departmental deadlines are met consistently.

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Coordinate strategic initiatives across Major Gifts, Annual Giving, Corporate & Foundation Relations, Planned Giving, and Donor Relations.
• Help translate overarching organizational goals into clear, measurable work plans for development teams.
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions and track ongoing departmental progress toward targets.

Operations & Workflow Optimization

• Evaluate internal team workflows to identify resource efficiencies, process enhancements, and operational best practices.
• Maintain central team tools, including master calendars, reporting schedules, and performance dashboards.

Data, Analytics & Reporting

• Partner with Development Operations to evaluate fundraising metrics, analyze performance, and identify growth trends.
• Synthesize data into clean, informative reports and presentations for executive leadership, the Board of Directors, and key funders.

Education/Experience:

• Bachelor's degree required in Communications, Nonprofit Management, Public Administration, or a related field.
• 1-3 years of experience in development, project coordination, administrative support, or related roles. Experience in a non-profit environment is preferred.
• Proven experience organizing complex projects, managing multiple deadlines simultaneously, and coordinating across diverse teams.
• Comfort working with data analysis and basic reporting tools. Familiarity with fundraising systems and CRMs (e.g., Salesforce) is highly desirable.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, strong organizational instincts, discretion, and a proven ability to build positive working relationships across all levels of an organization.

Perkins offers a comprehensive benefits package for part time and full time employees, including:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Wellness programs available.
• Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA)
• Flexible Spending Accounts
• Employer-Paid Life & Long-Term Disability Insurance
• 401(k) Plan with employer match
• Education Benefits: Tuition reimbursement day one
• Paid Time Off
• Extras: Employee Recognition Programs, EAP, legal services, referral bonuses, credit union access, pre-tax MBTA passes and more!

Perkins is a mission-driven community that supports your well-being at work and beyond.

Perkins is an equal opportunity employer. Please view our Notice of Discrimination Here