Development Associate-Non for Profit

Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc.; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 48,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Paid Holidays

Health Insurance

Dental & Vision

FSA

Retirement 403(b)

Life & Disability Insurance

Education Support

Voluntary Benefits

EAP

Job summary

Healthcare Alternative Systems, Inc. in Chicago seeks a Development Associate to support fundraising operations under the VP of Advancement & Strategy. You will manage donor relations, process gifts, and maintain accurate records in the CRM, ensuring timely acknowledgments and robust reporting.

Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, organized, and able to juggle multiple duties while meeting deadlines. Strong writing and collaborative skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Must have 2+ years of experience in nonprofit administration, development or fundraising
• Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems and data reporting
• Experience with project management systems and Microsoft Office/ Google Workspace
• Strong writing and editing skills for donor communications
• Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced environment
• Excellent attention to detail and organizational skills
• Ability to juggle priorities and suggest process improvements
• Proactive and resourceful with initiative

Responsibilities

• Donor relations and database management
• Process gifts and pledges; prepare acknowledgment letters and tax receipts
• Maintain donor/gift records in CRM; data entry and regular clean-up
• Track donor touchpoints and deadlines; coordinate timely follow-ups
• Support donor stewardship with communications and impact updates
• Generate fundraising reports and constituent lists for appeals
• Assist prospect research on individuals, foundations, and corporate funders

Skills

Donor relations

Gift processing

Grants administration

Data entry / CRM management

Writing & editing

Project management

Attention to detail

Fast-paced environment adaptability

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Workspace

CRM systems

Job description

MISSION/VISION

Healthcare Alternative Systems (HAS) provides a continuum of multicultural and bilingual (English/Spanish) behavioral care and social services that empower individuals, families, and communities. The agency envisions a world where affordable, barrier-free, and comprehensive behavioral health and supportive services are available to all who need them. With 12 locations across the Chicagoland area, HAS provides services and resources to individuals at every stage in their behavioral/recovery journey.

JOB SUMMARY

The Development Associate, reporting to the VP of Advancement & Strategy, provides comprehensive support across HAS’ fundraising operations—including donor relations, gift processing and acknowledgment, grants administration, and development communications. This role ensures that the data, systems, and donor touchpoints that underpin fundraising are accurate, timely, and well-organized, and plays a key part in advancing both public and private funding by keeping the development function running smoothly and delivering reliable weekly outputs.

The Development Associate role is ideal for a detail-oriented, highly organized professional with strong writing and relationship-building skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment and is eager to help build the infrastructure of the Development Department. This role requires urgency, follow-through, and comfort working against firm deadlines, and is best suited for someone who enjoys juggling varied responsibilities, moving quickly, working as an efficient and dynamic team member, and being accountable for results.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

• *9am-5pm Monday-Friday Must be flexible
• Donor Relations & Database Management
• Process incoming gifts and pledges, and prepare timely, accurate acknowledgment letters and tax receipts.
• Maintain accurate donor and gift records in the development database (CRM), including data entry, updates, and regular clean-up.
• Track donor touchpoints, deadlines, and follow-up tasks to ensure timely and accurate stewardship.
• Support donor stewardship by coordinating thank-you communications, impact updates, and recognition activities.
• Generate fundraising reports, gift summaries, and constituent lists for appeals, mailings, and leadership review.
• Help maintain organized records, files, and systems that keep the development function running smoothly.
• Assist with prospect research on individuals, foundations, and corporate funders aligned with HAS’ mission.

Grants & Funder Support

• Support the full grant lifecycle by drafting and editing sections of proposals, concept notes, letters of inquiry, and supporting documentation.
• Help prepare and submit grant reports, track reporting deadlines and funder requirements, and support strong funder relationships.
• Maintain a library of boilerplate text, budgets, attachments, and narratives (e.g., mission, theory of change, program descriptions) for use in proposals and reports.

Events, Communications & Development

• Provide logistical and administrative support for fundraising events, donor meetings, and campaigns.
• Assist in drafting and coordinating development communications, including appeals, newsletters, and social media content, in collaboration with the team.
• Support annual giving and individual donor campaigns, from list preparation through follow-up.
• Coordinate with internal program staff to gather impact data, stories, and photos for donor and funder communications.
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS

• Must have2+ years of experience in nonprofit administration, development, fundraising, or a related field, with exposure to donor relations, gift processing, and/or grants.
• Familiarity with donor databases or CRM systems and comfort managing, entering, and reporting on data.
• Familiarity with project management systems and standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Office, Google Workspace).
• Strong writing and editing skills, with the ability to help translate programmatic work into clear, compelling donor and funder communications.
• Self-starter who thrives in a fast-paced, self-motivated environment.
• Strong attention to detail, and organizational and project management skills.
• Comfortable juggling multiple priorities and recommending improvements to systems, templates, and workflows.
• Proactive and resourceful, able to anticipate needs and take initiative.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Sedentary work. Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally and/or negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull or otherwise move objects. Repetitive motion. Substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The worker is required to have close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; extensive reading. Employees must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily and, if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship.

COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS

At HAS, we value our employees and offer a robust benefits package designed to support your health, well-being, and financial security. When you join our team, you’ll receive:

• 19 Generous Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 13 Paid Holidays - Enjoy time off to rest and recharge
• Comprehensive Health Insurance - Affordable HMO, PPO, and HSA options through Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Dental & Vision Coverage - Choose from HMO or PPO dental plans and vision coverage through Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)- Medical, dependent care and commuter
• Retirement Plan - 403(b)
• Life & Disability Insurance
• Education & Training Support - $200 dollars annual
• Voluntary Benefits
• EAP