Development Associate
About Readers 2 Leaders
Readers 2 Leaders is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that envisions a world where all students have equitable opportunities to thrive as readers and leaders. Our mission is to develop and to equip students for success through the power of reading.
With evidence-based tutoring methodologies at the heart of all we do, Readers 2 Leaders prepares children, caregivers, and educators with the tools to read and share reading with others. We reach children with crucial literacy intervention and enrichment at schools, in out-of-school time (OST), at partner nonprofits, and at home, and we prioritize reaching children of color and those who are economically disadvantaged to help close systemic resource gaps that affect these students most. Our diverse staff and leadership seek to integrate the experiences and concerns of our communities through consistent, culturally competent, and creative approaches to literacy learning.
Readers 2 Leaders is committed to becoming a fully antiracist organization and efforts are underway to further the work by reviewing organizational policies and practices, uplifting voices of those furthest from justice, and ensuring that stakeholders understand the connection between racial inequity and reading deficits. Our Racial Equity Policy Statement can be found HERE. Readers 2 Leaders values the mental health of its employees and has taken steps to implement self-care activities, lightened workloads, and work-from-home opportunities.
The Development Associate will assist the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement with all fundraising tasks. The position requirements involve assisting with fundraising appeals and events, as well as donor relations. Additionally, the Development Associate will be responsible for assisting the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement and the grant writer with grant writing and pipeline management, including research and prospecting. Donor database (Bloomerang) management will also be an area of responsibility.
Department: Development
Reports to: Vice President of Advancement & Engagement
Positions Supervised: N/A
FLSA Status: Exempt
Core Duties and Responsibilities:
Database Management
Manage Readers 2 Leaders’ fundraising database.
Maintain all pledges, ensuring timely acknowledgment and, when necessary, provide pledge reminders
Ensure timely acknowledgment of all financial, in-kind donations, and sponsorships, and record communications in the database.
Assist with payment servers Qgiv and Bloomerang Payment.
Administrative
Assist the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement and the Office & Accounting Manager in reconciling all actual and projected income on a monthly basis
Create and analyze donor reports related to the ongoing fundraising work of the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement and President & CEO
Participate in Development Committee and Advisory Board meetings, providing updates, taking notes, and taking attendance.
Manage calendars and scheduling of the VP of Advancement and Engagement.
Coordinate meetings by handling logistics, ordering food, and taking notes.
Manage and maintain databases, and conduct research on individuals, foundations, and companies.
Office Management: Order supplies, manage office space, and handle general administrative duties.
Project Support: Assist with special projects and provide support to the Development team.
Event Planning: Organize events, workshops.
Confidentiality: Handle sensitive and confidential information with discretion.
Fundraising Activities
Attends events when necessary to support donor engagement and stewardship activities. Some weekends and evenings are required.
Manage and document all stewardship acknowledgments to ensure every donor is properly thanked through personalized letters, emails, and phone calls.
Assist the President & CEO, Vice President of Advancement & Engagement, and Readers 2 Leaders Board of Directors as they work to research, cultivate, recruit, and schedule prospective donors for tours and other development activities.
Assist the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement in coordinating yearly fundraisers to support Readers 2 Leaders’ growing needs by managing registration and all correspondence with event attendees, vendors, and sponsors.
Assist the Vice President of Advancement & Engagement with all donor appeals by generating and managing mailing lists, creating relevant donor reports, and tracking appeal giving.
Assist in grant reporting and grant writing content.
All other duties as assigned by the Vice President of Advancement and Engagement and listed in the Development Manual.
Qualifications
Proficiency in Microsoft and Google Suite applications
Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
Excellent organization and interpersonal skills
Organization and time management: The ability to manage multiple tasks, meet deadlines, and stay organized is crucial.
Analytical and problem-solving skills.
Adaptability: The ability to work under pressure and potentially with flexible hours is often necessary, particularly for events.
Valid driver’s license required
Salary and Benefits
Starting Salary Range: $45,000 - $53,000; commensurate with experience
Full-time employee health insurance premiums paid by Readers 2 Leaders
Dental, vision plans, and ancillary benefits are available
Simple IRA Retirement Plan
25 days paid time off (PTO) allotted per year to encourage work/life balance
Office closed most federal holidays & December 24-January 1
Monthly self-care time
Work from home on Fridays