Development Associate

Job Title: Development Associate Department & Division: Advancement & Administration Reports To: Director of Corporate Relations and Events Beginning Pay Range: $55,295- $58,367 Classification: Full Time, Salaried, Exempt D.A. Blodgett- St. John's D.A. Blodgett - St. John's is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening children and families through a comprehensive continuum of care, including, but not limited to counseling, family preservation, foster care, adoption, and residential treatment. Guided by the belief that children thrive best with their families whenever safety can be ensured, the organization delivers compassionate, evidence-based services designed to promote healing, stability, and long-term success. Primarily serving children, youth, and families in the greater Grand Rapids area, with select programs reaching communities across Michigan, D.A. Blodgett - St. John's is committed to creating brighter futures through prevention, intervention, and lifelong support. Rooted in dignity, equity, and belonging, the organization is dedicated to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment where all children, all families, and all individuals are valued, supported, and empowered. Mission Statement: To help children and empower families by providing safety, advocacy, and support. Vision: A safe, nurturing home for every child, a supportive community for every family. Values Exceptional Service: Client-focused and teaming at the center of our work. Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: All are welcomed, valued, and belong. Excellence: Ongoing commitment to learning and improvement. Integrity: Responsibility and ownership of our actions and results. Creativity: Imagination, innovation, and intelligent risk taking. Passion: Relentless positive energy toward our mission and vision. Culture Commitments Nonviolence: Maintaining safety for all members of the community. Emotional Intelligence: Managing emotions so we don't hurt ourselves or others. Social Learning: Together we accomplish more, we care for one another. Democracy: Everyone has a voice, not necessarily a vote. Open Communication: Respecting and sharing ideas of our team. Social Responsibility: Say what you mean, don't be mean when you say it. Growth & Change: Creating hope for ourselves and the people we serve. Position Summary The Development Associate plays a vital role in advancing the mission of D.A. Blodgett - St. John's by providing exceptional administrative, operational, and donor stewardship support to the Advancement team. This position manages the day-to-day fundraising operations that ensure a positive donor experience, accurate gift processing, and effective execution of fundraising initiatives. Working closely with the Development Director, the Development Associate supports annual fundraising activities, grant development, donor communications, prospect research, and reporting. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, relationship-focused, and committed to helping children and families thrive. Essential Responsibilities Donor Relations & Stewardship Serve as a primary point of contact for donor inquiries, ensuring timely, professional, and donor-centered communication. Process charitable contributions and ensure gifts are accurately entered into the donor database. Generate timely, accurate gift acknowledgements and tax receipts. Assist in developing and implementing donor stewardship activities that strengthen donor engagement and retention. Maintain confidentiality of donor information and organizational records. Fundraising Operations Manage the daily administrative functions of the Development Department. Maintain accurate donor records and ensure the integrity of the constituent database. Prepare donor lists, mailing lists, reports, and fundraising metrics. Coordinate pledge reminders, recurring gifts, and gift documentation. Assist with donor segmentation and data management to support fundraising strategies. Support execution of annual giving campaigns, appeals, online fundraising, and donor communications. Grants & Foundation Support Research prospective foundation, corporate, and government funding opportunities. Assist with drafting grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and supporting materials. Track grant deadlines, reporting requirements, and submission schedules. Maintain grant files and documentation. Assist with grant reporting by gathering program data, outcomes, budgets, and supporting documentation. Prospect Research Conduct research to identify prospective individual, corporate, and foundation donors. Prepare prospect profiles and briefing materials for donor meetings. Monitor community funding trends and philanthropic opportunities. Events & Community Engagement Provide administrative and operational support to the Director of Corporate Relations & Events in the planning, coordination, and execution of fundraising events, donor engagement activities, and community outreach initiatives, as assigned. Perform event-related responsibilities at the direction of the Director of Corporate Relations & Events, which may include event registration, sponsorship tracking, guest list management, volunteer coordination, logistics, and on-site event support. Assist with the preparation of event communications, printed materials, sponsor recognition, donor stewardship, and post-event follow-up as requested. Support community engagement activities and partnership initiatives that strengthen relationships with donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community stakeholders, under the guidance of the Director of Corporate Relations & Events. Administrative & Department Support Maintain the department fundraising calendar and project timelines. Assist the Development Director with preparing reports, presentations, dashboards, and meeting materials. Prepare agendas and supporting documents for Development Committee and Board meetings. Coordinate department files, contracts, and administrative records. Assist with budget tracking and departmental purchasing as assigned. Provide additional administrative support to advance departmental priorities. Supervision Received: Specific Direction - Follows established work procedures. Receives periodic checks for performance. Refers unique questions/conditions to immediate supervisor. Supervisory Responsibilities: No supervisory responsibilities. Minimum Qualifications Required: Bachelor's degree in nonprofit management, communications, business administration, marketing, public administration, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience. Two or more years of experience in fundraising Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. Ability to manage multiple priorities while meeting deadlines. Demonstrated commitment to confidentiality and ethical handling of donor information. Experience with donor database/CRM systems (e.g., Raiser's Edge NXT or similar). Preferred: Experience with grant writing or grant administration. Familiarity with fundraising best practices and donor stewardship principles. Experience supporting fundraising events and campaigns. Core Competencies Motivation: Ability to inspire and encourage others by recognizing individual strengths, cultural differences, and personal needs; fostering a supportive environment that promotes productivity, selfdirection, and wellbeing. Working under Pressure: Ability to maintain composure and use healthy coping strategies when exposed to stress, while promoting a supportive environment that reduces unnecessary pressure and encourages collective problemsolving. Planning and Organizing: Ability to set priorities and allocate resources equitably, using inclusive planning methods to effectively achieve responsibilities and objectives while accommodating diverse work styles and needs. Customer Service: Ability to serve others by listening actively and empathetically, responding effectively to diverse needs, and ensuring services are accessible, culturally responsive, and traumainformed. Integrity: Ability to adhere to organizational policies and procedures consistently and equitably, acting in a fair, transparent, and just manner while maintaining confidentiality and respecting individual dignity. Communication: Ability to express and receive ideas clearly and respectfully using inclusive, accessible, and culturally aware communication methods; demonstrating active listening and adapting communication for diverse audiences and group sizes. Cultural Responsiveness: Ability to recognize, respect, and adapt to cultural differences, promote equity and inclusion in all aspects of care. Physical/Environmental Requirements Mobility and Movement: Ability to regularly work in a variety of settings, including office environments, meeting spaces, community locations, and virtual platforms. Lifting & Physical Handling: Occasional lifting or carrying of items such as general office supplies (typically 10-25 lbs), and occasional supplies for advancement events. Technology & Documentation: Ability to use computers, phones, and other standard office technology for extended periods to review data, prepare reports, participate in virtual meetings, and complete administrative tasks. Communication: Ability to engage in clear, respectful communication in diverse environments, including in-person meetings, virtual settings, and community discussions. Emotional and Psychological Resilience: Frequent exposure to sensitive, traumatic, or emotionally charged situations involving children and families; ability to maintain professionalism and emotional regulation. Environmental Conditions: Ability to work in environments with varying levels of noise, activity, or interruptions, and to adapt to changing priorities or urgent situations. Confidentiality & Professional Boundaries: Consistent adherence to confidentiality laws, ethical standards, and professional boundaries while working in homes, community settings, and agency offices. DABSJ strives to be a fully inclusive organization as we support a diverse group of children and families. We are building a diverse team that represents our customers and our community and recognize that each of us brings a unique perspective to the organization. We welcome differing thoughts, faiths, beliefs, groups, and lived experiences. The diversity and differences of each team member, foster parent, adoptive parent, child, and family make us #DABSJstrongertogether for children and families. DABSJ is an equal opportunity, at-will employer, and will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment. DABSJ does not discriminate on the basis of race, including but not limited to hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists; culture, ethnicity, religion, national origin, age, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, height, weight, marital status, veteran status, socio-economic status, disability, or other legally-protected characteristics as required by law. This job description does not list all duties of the job. Employees may be asked by management to perform other duties as needed. The Company reserves the right to revise this job description at any time. This job description is not a contract for employment and does not infringe upon the Company's at will employment status. #J-18808-Ljbffr