Development Associate

Development Associate Location: Marin Headlands, Sausalito, California Reports to: Senior Director of Development Position Classification & Expected Hours Of Work, And Travel This is a full‑time onsite position. Work hours are typically 8:30 am – 5:00 pm. Days and hours of the work week may vary according to the needs of The Marine Mammal Center. Evening, weekend, and holiday work may be required as job duties demand. Some local travel may be required as job duties demand. Compensation Range: $26.00 – $28.75 per hour Benefits Holidays Sick Time Vacation Medical, Dental, and Vision Life Insurance Long‑Term Disability Insurance 401(k) Retirement Plan Employee Assistance Program Job Summary The Development Associate supports donor stewardship, legacy giving administration, and philanthropic operations for The Marine Mammal Center’s Advancement team. They help ensure thoughtful donor engagement, strong operational systems, and excellent donor service across stewardship and planned giving activities. Through donor stewardship and planned giving support, this position helps build philanthropic partnerships and provides key support with donor communications, tours and events, the donor acknowledgment processes, CRM record management, reporting, and legacy giving administration. The Development Associate also assists with the planned giving program, which may include stewardship of Steller Legacy Circle members, reporting and analysis, and communications related to estate and legacy gift administration. Essential Functions Donor Relations and Stewardship (50%) Serve as a key point of contact for donor and stakeholder inquiries by phone, email, and mail, providing excellent donor‑centered service. Support stewardship and engagement activities for individual donors through tailored communications, donor tours, events, and other engagement opportunities. Maintain accurate and timely donor records and interactions within CRM systems to support relationship management, reporting, and donor engagement strategies. Assist with donor acknowledgment processes, stewardship mailings, appeals, and other donor communications. Support preparation and coordination for fundraising events, donor tours, house parties, and stewardship activities, including materials preparation, nametags, reports, and onsite logistics. Assist with stewardship fulfillment, donor recognition tracking, and donor engagement initiatives. Help maintain stewardship supplies, donor packets, and materials used by fundraising staff and volunteers. Support special donor engagement initiatives and programs, including donor naming opportunities and recognition programs. Communicate the organization’s mission and impact clearly and professionally to donors and stakeholders. Support cross‑functional coordination and collaboration across Advancement and other departments. Planned Giving & Legacy Administration (45%) Support stewardship and relationship management for Steller Legacy Circle members and prospects. Support administration and coordination of planned giving and estate‑related activities. Maintain planned giving reports, dashboards, queries, and tracking systems. Assist with analysis and reporting related to planned giving program goals and trends, including Steller Legacy Circle membership, estate gift activity, and other program metrics. Participate in communications and follow‑up with prospective and current Steller Legacy Circle members, donor representatives, attorneys, trustees, executors, and financial institutions, as appropriate. Monitor planned giving platforms and inquiries, such as FreeWill and related systems, and ensure timely follow‑up and documentation. Maintain organized and accurate planned giving records, files, and documentation with a high degree of confidentiality and attention to detail. Assist with stewardship and engagement activities for legacy donors and planned giving prospects. Support process improvement, organization, and documentation efforts related to planned giving operations and administration. Other Duties as Assigned (5%) Attend meetings and other events as needed to support the teams. Perform special projects and research as assigned. Perform other duties as assigned. Supervisory Responsibility None Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities Enthusiasm for marine and environmental conservation. Commitment to learn and adhere to the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) and Grant Professionals Association ethical standards. Ability to provide excellent customer service. Excellent verbal and written communication skills; able to convey information clearly and concisely. Ability to handle confidential donor and estate information with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment. Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, multi‑tasking, and time management. Ability to analyze information and assist in editing and drafting content in a clear, accurate, and accessible style. Ability to understand and follow written and oral instructions and priorities as set by management. Ability to work collaboratively and maintain open communication in a team environment. Ability to adapt and learn from change, challenges, and feedback. File management skills including but not limited to naming and labeling, organizing, folder structuring, logical hierarchy, and storage consistency. Skilled in using Microsoft Office applications (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Word) and videoconference technology (Slack, Teams, Zoom). Skilled in using or ability to learn Adobe Acrobat. Skilled in using project management tools (e.g., Asana) to coordinate tasks and track progress. Skilled in using or ability to learn Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, with preference for Salesforce. Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, which may include staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public. Ability to practice self‑awareness and respect while engaging with staff, volunteers, training participants, and members of the public. Willingness to support and participate in The Marine Mammal Center’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. Certifications And/or Licenses Valid driver license with acceptable motor vehicle record to maintain standards of insurability. Must be 21+ years old as frequently driving company vehicles is required for this position. Preferred Education And Experience This position requires a combination of education and experience equivalent to being currently enrolled in college or having an associate or bachelor’s degree in administration, development, business, or related field; and at least 1 year of relevant experience in development, fundraising, or equivalent. Work Environment & Physical Requirements This position operates in a professional office and hospital environment both indoors and outdoors with access to other parts of the facilities via outdoor pathways. Routinely uses standard office equipment requiring repetitive motion in tasks. Ability to work at a desk for extended periods using a computer. Ability to drive/operate a vehicle for periods of time. Ability to perform some physical work including the ability to lift and/or move to twenty‑five pounds. Ability to spend extended periods on your feet, walking, standing, and climbing stairs (potentially in inclement weather conditions). Limited exposure to allergens and zoonotic diseases. May involve smells associated with animals and the care of animals. Equal Opportunity Employer The Marine Mammal Center is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes everyone to our team. If you need reasonable accommodation at any point in the application or interview process, please let us know. #J-18808-Ljbffr