Development Associate (TBF)

The Boston Foundation; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

The Boston Foundation is seeking a Development Associate to support fundraising efforts for BEF and other partnerships. The role emphasizes prospect research, meeting coordination, donor communications and data management.

The position requires a college degree and at least 3 years of grant writing or prospect research experience, with strong writing, organizational and analytic skills. Collaboration with leadership and events support are part of the responsibilities.

Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent.
• Minimum 3 years work experience, grant writing and/or prospect research experience preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail and accuracy.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong customer service orientation.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office; Salesforce experience strongly preferred; familiarity with social media.

Responsibilities

• Execute prospect research to qualify prospects for cultivation and solicitation.
• Prepare staff and leadership for prospect meetings with funders including briefing materials and meeting logistics.
• Maintain donor and fund records in Salesforce; ensure timely entry of activities.
• Coordinate grant writing and reporting for BEF and other partnership efforts.
• Field inquiries from prospects/donors via phone, email and correspondence.
• Draft general correspondence and development packets; maintain fundraising files.

Skills

Grant writing

Prospect research

Donor relations

Data analysis

Salesforce

Event coordination

Communication

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Salesforce

PowerPoint

Excel

Job description

The Development Associate will provide organizational, logistical and strategic support to the fundraising efforts of the Business Equity Fund (BEF) as well as other partnership efforts at the Boston Foundation.

Essential Functions

• Execute prospect research to qualify prospects for cultivation and solicitation;
• Prepare Foundation staff as well as BEF leaderships for prospect meetings with in-state and out-of-state funders including the preparation of briefing materials, coordination of meeting logistics, and coordination of follow-up activities;
• Maintain prospect, donor and fund records in Salesforce database; ensure timely execution and entry of activities;
• Coordinate grant writing and reporting processes for all grants for the BEF as well as numerous other partnership efforts at the Foundation;
• Field inquiries from prospects/donors via telephone, correspondence and email;
• Draft general correspondence, other written communications, and prepare development packets and other materials;
• Maintain files pertaining to institutional funders, including grant proposals and reports;
• Liaise with the President’s Office, the Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, the Vice President of Programs and Program and Finance staff leadership partnership priorities and fundraising progress;
• Provide technical and administrative support for events, with occasional events in the mornings (prior to 9:00 a.m.) and evenings (after 5:00 p.m.), including managing timelines and activities in coordination with the Events Team, tracking and coordination of guest lists, invitation mailings and follow up correspondence;
• Run reports from Salesforce and Foundation Power databases, and review and analyze data related to donor and prospect activities, gifts, and grants; and
• Work collaboratively with colleagues to implement and uphold data integrity protocols to ensure accurate reporting and inform initiative activities.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

• Individuals assigned to this position may perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Preparation, Knowledge, Previous Experience:

• College degree or equivalent; and
• Minimum 3 years work experience, grant writing and/or prospect research experience preferred.
• Strong organizational skills and impeccable attention to detail and accuracy;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; strong customer service orientation;
• Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office products - especially Word, Excel, Outlook and Power Point; database experience (Salesforce) strongly preferred; familiarity and comfort with social media outlets;
• Excellent data management and reporting skills;
• Professional and mature interpersonal work style, ability to interact well with a diverse range of people;
• Ability to adjust work activity to various management styles;
• Ability to make decisions regarding organising own workload and managing multiple tasks;
• Must be independent, proactive and able to work under the pressure of tight deadlines;
• Participatory work style; team player and sense of humor; ability to give and receive feedback;
• Strong goal orientation with flexibility to adapt to changing priorities; and
• Willingness and ability to handle confidential information.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

• Ability to sit for long periods of time;
• Ability to use a keyboard for extended periods of time; and
• Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds, occasionally.

The content is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by persons assigned to this job. It is not intended to constitute an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties required.

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents, who are or become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act or applicable state law, must be able to perform the essential functions of the job (including those listed above) either with or without reasonable accommodation. Reasonable accommodation, if any, will be determined by management in consultation with the employee on a case‑by‑case basis.

This job description is intended to be general and may be revised from time to time. At management’s discretion, the employee may be assigned different or additional duties from time to time.