Philanthropy Operations & Donor Relations Associate

Greater Worcester Community Foundation; Worcester (MA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 62,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Benefits package

401(k) plan

Paid holidays

Community impact

Job summary

Greater Worcester Community Foundation in Worcester, MA is seeking a Philanthropy Associate to support donor engagement, fundholder services, and philanthropy administration. The role emphasizes relationship-building, multi-priority planning, and a strong service mindset.

The position is full-time, on-site, with competitive benefits and opportunities to contribute to community impact through donor partnerships and effective grant management.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience required.
• 2–4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, philanthropy, business, or legal fields.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and capable of managing multiple priorities under deadlines.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for effective interaction with donors, partners, and colleagues.
• Proven ability to build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders.
• Self-motivated and collaborative, able to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with donor databases (e.g., C-Suite, Foundant) is a plus.
• Quick to learn new technologies and software platforms.
• A strong customer service mindset with the ability to effectively communicate with tact and diplomacy.
• A passion for our community and for improving the lives of others.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary administrative contact for current and prospective donors and fundholders, providing responsive support on grantmaking, fund balances, portal access, and general inquiries.
• Manage fundholder and fund records in C-Suite and Foundant databases, ensuring accurate entry, updates, reporting, and data integrity—including fund creation, modifications, closures, and updates prompted by events such as obituary notices.
• Oversee and approve timely processing of incoming donations; accurately classify and acknowledge gifts in accordance with Foundation standards.
• Oversee and approve timely processing of incoming grant requests from Donor Advised and Nonprofit Funds, and bi-annual Designated Fund processing in accordance with Foundation standards.
• Confirm and track multi-year pledges, open grant applications, and manage compliance reporting requirements for donors and funders.
• Collaborate with colleagues on the infrastructure and compliance needs of charitable funds with complex governance and stewardship requirements.
• Support professional advisor engagement, donor and prospect engagement by coordinating meetings, preparing materials, tracking follow-up, and managing targeted communications and mailings.
• Provide administrative support across the department, including the Professional Advisors Council, Community Leadership Fund, event support, and serve as backup for general office functions such as phone coverage.
• Coordinate staff calendars to schedule meetings on behalf of other staff members as needed.
• Attend Foundation events outside regular business hours as needed.
• Maintain strict confidentiality in all communications and operations.
• Collaborate across the organization and partner closely with other departments on donor-focused initiatives to enhance donor satisfaction and philanthropic impact.

Skills

Donor relations

Communication skills

Project management

Team collaboration

Customer service mindset

Tech-savvy

Microsoft Office

Database experience

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent professional experience

Tools

C-Suite donor database

Foundant

Job description

Greater Worcester Community Foundation in Worcester, MA is seeking a Philanthropy Associate to support donor engagement, fundholder services, and philanthropy administration. The role emphasizes relationship-building, multi-priority planning, and a strong service mindset.

The position is full-time, on-site, with competitive benefits and opportunities to contribute to community impact through donor partnerships and effective grant management.