Development Associate

Position Summary:

Are you a highly organized and detail-oriented professional with an interest in nonprofit development? If so, Democracy Forward Foundation (“Democracy Forward”) is looking for a Development Associate to join our team. 

This position will be responsible for providing critical administrative and data management support for our Development team such as grants tracking, document management and preparation, record retention, and calendar management to ensure smooth operations of the development portfolio. The Development Associate will need to be a systems-thinker who can execute our development operations while also having an eye for process improvement.

This position is full-time. Democracy Forward’s office is located in Washington, DC. While this position offers flexibility to work remotely, it requires regular in-office presence eight (8) times per month (averaging 2 times per week) for DC-based employees. Remote candidates within the United States will also be considered. If a candidate is outside of the DC area, travel to DC is expected 1–2 times per quarter.

The Development Associate will report to the Senior Director of Development and will work closely with all members of the Development team staff across the organization.

Key Responsibilities:

Below are the key areas of responsibility for this role. The specifics of each responsibility may vary based on the needs of the organization and department.

Data Management:

• Manage grants data flow and documentation processes through Google Drive, accounting spreadsheets, and Customer Relations Software.
• Build and maintain file structures to retain development data.
• Manage compliance and record retention practices.
• Develop and track executive memos and deliverables.
• Assist the Director of Partnerships in developing reporting materials, tracking and recording financial transactions, and planning monthly and quarterly deliverables.

Development Support:

• Support the drafting of internal executive reporting products.
• Support the tracking of multiple grant obligations and reporting products.
• Manage a grantmaking calendar.
• Prepare reports and proposals through maintaining a document library.
• Manage version controls on drafted reports and proposals. 
• Other tasks at the direction of the Senior Director of Development.

Qualifications:

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet 100% of the qualifications listed. If you believe you can contribute meaningfully to our team, we encourage you to apply.

Required:

• 1-3 years of relevant experience.
• Strong organizational, communication, and time-management skills.
• Ability to meet strict deadlines across multiple simultaneous projects.
• Thorough and organized administrator.
• Detail oriented and independently motivated.
• Systems-thinker who can build on and improve our practices and systems for documentation, retention, department coordination, and deliverable execution.
• Meticulous thinker who can improve upon our data management and information system transition horizons.
• Willingness to learn new technical systems and capable of implementing best practices.
• High degree of discretion, sensitivity, and respect for confidentiality.
• Mission-focused and capable of flexing time/energy to meet the demands of a high pace and high energy work environment.
• High degree of ownership and accountability in managing a complex information ecosystem.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and document management tools (e.g., Adobe Acrobat, SharePoint).
• Well-developed collaborative and interpersonal skills including demonstrated self-awareness, commitment to diversity and inclusivity, and ability to work with colleagues and stakeholders across diverse cultures and backgrounds.

Preferred:

• Experience working in nonprofit development, fundraising, or donor relations
• Familiarity with grant tracking systems and donor management software

Work Environment & Physical Demands:

• This role may require occasional travel for team retreats, conferences, or organizational meetings.
• This role may involve sitting for extended periods and working on a computer. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed.

The salary for this position is $72,100 plus excellent benefits. This role is overtime eligible. Compensation is commensurate with experience.