Development Associate (TBF)

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

Job summary

The Boston Foundation in Boston, MA is seeking a Development Associate to support fundraising efforts for BEF and related partnerships. You will assist with prospect research, meeting preparation, and coordinating grant writing and reporting.

Responsibilities include maintaining Salesforce donor records, assisting with events, and producing briefing materials and correspondence. The role requires strong communication, data management, and the ability to work with a diverse team under deadlines.

Qualifications

• College degree or equivalent; fundraising or environment preferred.
• Minimum 3 years related experience in grant writing or prospect research.
• Excellent written and verbal communication with strong organizational skills.
• Proficiency in Salesforce and MS Office; ability to manage multiple tasks.

Responsibilities

• Execute prospect research to qualify prospects for cultivation and solicitation.
• Prepare staff and BEF leadership for meetings, including briefing materials and logistics.
• Maintain donor and fund records in Salesforce; ensure timely data entry.
• Coordinate grants writing and reporting for BEF and other partnerships.
• Field inquiries from prospects/donors via phone, email, or mail.
• Draft general correspondence and development packets for materials.
• Maintain institutional funding files, including proposals and reports.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to track fundraising progress and reporting.
• Support events with scheduling, guest lists, invites, and follow-up.

Skills

Grant research

Prospect research

Donor relations

Communication

Data analysis

MS Office

Salesforce

Event coordination

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

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 organizing 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.