Development Associate

Job Overview: 

The ACLU of Utah seeks a full-time Development Associate. The Development Associate is a non-exempt, salaried position that reports to the Development Director. This position is classified as "For-Cause" as defined in the ACLU of Utah handbook after an initial 6-month probationary period. 

The Development Associate provides dedicated support to the Development Director across donor stewardship, special event execution, grant management, and donor portfolio management. This position takes ownership of donation acknowledgements and reporting, coordinates and helps lead fundraising events, manages a portfolio of smaller-dollar donors and prospects, represents the ACLU of Utah at public events, and plays a lead role in the organization's grants program. The Development Associate helps maintain healthy relationships with ACLU of Utah members and donors and plays a key role in expanding the organization's capacity to raise funds in support of the ACLU of Utah’s mission. 

Primary Responsibilities: 

Donor Stewardship & Reporting: 

• Timely process and manage acknowledgement letters for all incoming donations. 

• Generate donor and gift reports, as assigned. 

• Assist with reconciliation of CRM (Salesforce/Blackbaud CRM) and QuickBooks records, as needed. 

• Attend and take minutes for the Board's Development Committee meetings. Provide support to the Committee as needed. 

• Serve as a first point of contact for donors or prospective donors with questions, concerns, or feedback. 

• Coordinate with the Development Director and relevant contacts at ACLU National to manage and update monthly and quarterly recurring donors. 

• Serve as backup support for additional Development and Administration support tasks as assigned by the Development Director. This may include entering incoming donations to any relevant databases, processing recurring or third-party donations, etc.

Donor Portfolio & Cultivation: 

• Own and manage a portfolio of smaller-dollar donors and prospects under the supervision of the Development Director. (The Development Director and Executive Director also each manage a portfolio of higher-dollar donors.) 

• Serve as the primary point of contact for this portfolio: inclusive of regular check-ins, event invitations, and in-person one-on-one or group meetings. Serve as their primary point of contact with the organization. 

• Identify and evaluate prospective donors for inclusion in this portfolio and collaborate regularly with the Development Director to identify donors/prospects ready to transition into the Director's major gifts portfolio. 

Grants: 

• Research potential grantors and funding opportunities. In coordination with the Development Director, prepare, update, and manage a grants calendar including submission and reporting deadlines.

• Prepare most grant requests and reports, inclusive of proposals, budgets, and supporting documents, under the Development Director's supervision and final review. For larger or more complex grants, prepare first drafts of proposals and reports, with the Development Director completing and finalizing the submission. 

• Coordinate with internal departments and staff to gather information needed for grant proposals and reports. 

Fundraising and Special Events: 

• Serve as lead project manager for assigned fundraising events, including coordinating with hosts and vendors to set a date, managing catering, creating event materials, sending invitations, managing the RSVP list, and conducting invitee follow-up calls/emails/text messages. Partner with the Development Director on events where leadership is shared, taking on the bulk of day-to-day logistics. 

• Coordinate with the Communications Department to effectively advertise events and manage communications with guests. 

• Support additional special events and donor gatherings as assigned. 

Community & Donor Outreach: 

• Attend events associated with community partners, supporters, or donors on behalf of the ACLU of Utah, as assigned. 

• Alongside the Campaigns Department, table at rallies, protests, Pride, and other community events as assigned.

Requirements and Skills: 

• Ability to and comfortability in assisting with fundraising efforts, including managing and fostering relationships with donors. 

• Experience in event planning, including planning organizing and executing events. 

• Experience working in a role that requires interacting with customers, donors, clients, etc. in a direct and sustained way. Experience and comfortability serving as the “face” of the organization for these individuals. 

• Strong writing, verbal, analytic, and time-management skills with exceptional attention to detail. Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing with diplomatic skills. 

• Ability to work effectively with and gain the respect of diverse constituencies, including donors, board members, volunteers, and staff. 

• An utmost dedication to discretion and confidentiality. The ideal candidate will be capable of maintaining strict privacy regarding donors’ personal information and details. 

• Ability to maintain databases and record-keeping, including donor database/CRM. 

• Excellent organizational skills with strong follow-through and the ability to meet tight deadlines. 

• Ability to use sound judgment in maintaining confidentiality of donor information. Strict adherence to privacy protocols is required. 

• A highly detail-oriented work style. As this role interacts with sensitive areas of work, including financial information, donor relation management, and grant reporting, a demonstrated ability to meet deadlines, document processes and decision making, and ensure appropriate follow-through is critical. 

• The ability, on occasion, to work evenings, weekends, and irregular hours. Some travel may be required. 

• A commitment to diversity: a personal approach that values the individual and respects differences of race, ethnicity, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, religion, ability, involvement with the criminal justice system, and socio-economic circumstance. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• 2-4 years of experience in nonprofit Development or a similar role with directly transferrable skills. 

• Demonstrated success in interacting with nonprofit donors with a wide variety of personalities and preferences. 

• Direct experience with nonprofit donor databases, such as BlackbaudCRM, Salesforce, the Raiser’s Edge, etc. 

• Professional writing experience in areas such as grant-writing, financial reporting, copywriting for annual reports, etc. Writing samples may be requested. 

Physical Demands: 

• Ability to work at a computer for multiple hours per day. 

• Ability to participate in person for donor meetings, donor events, and fundraising efforts. In person office work may be required by the Development Director. 

• Ability to perform the physical acts associated with donor event organizing, including lifting & pulling items that weigh approximately 5-15lbs; standing, sitting, kneeling, or squatting. 

• Ability to travel short distances within Salt Lake City and its immediate vicinity. On occasion, travel elsewhere in Utah or to professional conferences or events outside of Utah may be required. 

Work Environment: 

Hybrid work requirement consisting of approximately a 40-hour work week with work from home permitted when work responsibility permits. This position does have some in-person responsibilities that must occur at the office, see above. 

SALARY & BENEFITS: 

The Development Associate salary range is $62,000-$80,000 based on experience. Demonstrated experience is strongly preferred, but candidates with applicable skills who think they might be a great fit are encouraged to apply. Excellent benefits include: generous paid time off, medical, vision, and dental insurance, and a 401(k) plan with employer matching contribution that vests immediately. 

TO APPLY: 

Please upload BOTH a resume and cover letter in order for your application to be considered. 

Application review will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled. 

The ACLU of Utah is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail HR at View email address on us.fitly.work. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.

The ACLU of Utah is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If you are a qualified individual with a disability and need assistance applying online, please e-mail HR at View email address on us.fitly.work. If you are selected for an interview, you will receive additional information regarding how to request an accommodation for the interview process.