Senior Development Associate

About the Asian American Federation

Founded in 1989, the Asian American Federation (AAF) is one of the strongest leadership voices advocating for better policies, services, and funding that lead to more justice and opportunity for Asian immigrants, one of the most historically under-resourced communities in New York City. As an umbrella leadership organization, we represent 70 community-based organizations serving 2.1million Asian New Yorkers, the fastest-growing population in the city, state and country.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Director of Development, AAF is seeking an experienced and motivated Senior Development Associate to advance the organization's fundraising work at a critical moment of growth. This role sits at the center of AAF's development operations — supporting grant writing, donor relations, prospect research, and event management across a diverse portfolio of institutional and individual funders.

The Senior Development Associate is a crucial member of the Development team and will be instrumental in helping AAF secure the resources needed to sustain and grow its programming. This is an excellent opportunity for an early to mid-career fundraising professional looking to deepen their skills within a dynamic, mission-driven organization serving one of New York City's most vibrant and underserved communities.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning Support

• Support all aspects of fundraising planning, implementation, and strategy in alignment with the organization's mission and annual goals.
• Maintain AAF's annual fundraising calendar in close coordination with the Director of Development, senior staff, and the Communications and Program/Policy teams.

Development Operations

• Oversee the donor database, ensuring accurate and up-to-date donor records, gift processing, and data integrity.
• Prepare reports and analyses for the Board of Directors, funders, and senior staff.
• Coordinate and send donor solicitations, acknowledgements, and stewardship correspondence.
• Collaborate with the Communications team to create compelling fundraising materials, appeals, and donor-facing content.

Prospect Research & Proposal Development

• Assist with the identification and cultivation of new funding opportunities across foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, major gifts, and individual giving campaigns.
• Develop funding proposals aligned with organizational priorities and funder requirements.
• Manage the grant application process, including tracking deadlines, submitting timely proposals and reports, and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
• Help cultivate and maintain relationships with current and prospective donors, ensuring consistent engagement and a strong connection to AAF's mission.

Event Management

• Attend events and meetings with potential donors, collaborators, and community partners.
• Support the planning and execution of fundraising events, including AAF's annual gala, donor engagement and recognition activities, and other special convenings.
• Note: Special events or convenings may occasionally require evening or weekend availability.

Qualifications

We are looking for a motivated development professional with a track record of executing on multiple fundraising workstreams — someone who brings both superb attention to detail and genuine enthusiasm for AAF's mission.

Required

• Bachelor's degree in a related field (public relations, communications, English, nonprofit management, or similar), or equivalent experience.
• 3–4 years of relevant experience in grant writing, fundraising, and grants management within a nonprofit organization.
• Demonstrated ability to write clear, compelling proposals and reports for a range of institutional and individual funders.
• Experience maintaining a donor database and producing development reports (Salesforce, EveryAction, Raiser's Edge, or similar CRM).
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple deadlines simultaneously.
• Commitment to AAF's mission and to equity, diversity, and inclusion in all aspects of the work.

Preferred

• Experience in the social justice, immigrant rights, or Asian American community sector.
• Familiarity with government or foundation grant cycles in New York City.
• Multilingual skills, particularly in any of AAF's primary languages, are a plus.