Development Associate

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DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATE

WHO WE ARE

Foster America is transforming the way our nation supports families. Together with communities and local governments, we’re creating a just, equitable alternative to today’s child welfare system – so parents and children stay together with access to the resources they need to thrive. we:

Drive Innovation: We are designing solutions alongside our nation’s boldest governments and communities. Together, we demonstrate that bolstering support for families is an effective alternative to referring them for a child welfare investigation that may lead to the separation of families.

Develop Changemakers: We’re building a network of people with the imagination – and determination – to transform the child welfare system. We nurture and connect leaders, growing their skills and amplifying our collective impact.

Disseminate Knowledge: We share what works, so more families and more organizations in more places have the support they need. Our workshops and training allow child welfare practitioners, community leaders, and those who have experienced the foster care system firsthand to learn from our team and one another.

To learn more about Foster America, please visit https://www.foster-america.org/

THE OPPORTUNITY

Foster America is seeking a highly motivated and detail-oriented Development Associate to join our growing team. The Development Associate will play a critical role in supporting the organization's fundraising efforts, donor engagement, and grant management activities. The ideal candidate is a self-starter with excellent communication and organizational skills, a passion for our mission, and a commitment to advancing the field of child welfare. Key responsibilities include:

Administrative:

• Assist the VP of Development and Strategic Partnerships in the achievement of yearly fundraising attainment, cultivation, and stewardship goals.
• Assist in producing reports, presentations, and materials for board and other meetings.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams within Foster America to ensure alignment and integration of development efforts with programmatic and strategic goals.
• Collaborate with senior development staff on strategic fundraising initiatives.
• Administrative responsibilities and other related job duties as assigned

Data Management:

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date donor records in the organization's CRM system (Salesforce).
• Generate donor reports and analytics as needed to support fundraising strategies.
• Maintain Development Department records in the Google shared drive and within the project management software (Monday.com).

Donor Relations:

• Manage donor communications, including acknowledgment letters, updates, and thank-you notes.
• Perform, research and contribute to strategies for donors.
• Coordinate donor meetings and prepare materials, as needed.
• Assist in building and maintaining positive relationships with donors, supporters, and partners.

Grant Management:

• Research and identify potential grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, government agencies, and other funding sources.
• Assist in writing, editing, and submitting grant proposals and reports.
• Maintain a grant calendar to track deadlines and reporting requirements.

Communications Support:

• Collaborate with the VP of Development and Strategic Partnerships and the communications team to create fundraising materials— including electronic and print cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship materials.
• Assist in drafting compelling stories and impact reports to engage donors and supporters.

Fundraising Events:

• Support the planning and execution of fundraising events, including donor cultivation events, galas, and campaigns.
• Assist in event logistics, donor outreach, and follow-up activities.

Requirements

WHO YOU ARE

• A committed change-maker, working to achieve Foster America’s vision, mission, and values. You are motivated and inspired to build a movement to transform the systems that touch the lives of children and families. You thrive in an environment that values relationships, feedback, continuous learning and growth, and a deep commitment to social justice and racial equity.
• A leader for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. You use equity-conscious approaches and language, understand the impact of your behaviors, and work to interrupt oppressive structures and power dynamics. You understand subtle and complex diversity and inclusion matters as they relate specifically to groups who are marginalized and understand how identity, power, white conditioning, and privilege impacts your life, others’ lived experience, and our structures and institutions.
• Highly relational, exceptional at connecting authentically with others and compelling them as partners and collaborators. You can engage and influence diverse stakeholders, building effective and unified coalitions. You listen deeply and identify others’ interests and skills, maximizing their greatest superpowers and engaging them as contributors in our work.
• A great storyteller and skilled communicator, with strong writing, editing, presenting, and facilitating ability. You are an active listener, translating complex topics to varied audiences and situations to have the greatest impact. You are clear, proactive, and consistent in articulating ideas and building a compelling identity for Foster America that others can connect with. You center the voices of those most impacted by our work and advance social and racial justice in what we say and how we say it.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion for the mission of Foster America and a commitment to improving the child welfare system.
• Administrative experience, preferably in nonprofit or development-related work.
• Exceptional time-management and organizational skills.
• Strong project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Google Drive, donor management software (e.g., Salesforce), and project management software and tools.
• Exceptional writing and editing skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong judgment and discretion, ability to maintain strict donor confidentiality.
• Proven experience in event planning and execution, preferably for nonprofit organizations or in the social impact sector.
• Willingness to travel to event locations as necessary.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

REPORTING

This role will report to the VP of Development and Strategic Partnerships. The role will also work closely with the Communications, Programs, and Finance and Operations teams.

START DATE

This role begins on July 10th, 2024.

Benefits

BENEFITS & COMPENSATION

Salary is commensurate with experience in the range of $80,000 - $86,000. Foster America offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, paid vacation, paid parental leave, paid holidays, commuter benefits, participation in a retirement plan, paid sick time, and professional development opportunities.

WORK LOCATION

This is a fully remote position. It requires prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer. This role may include up to 40% travel.

Foster America is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity in backgrounds and professional experience. Frequently cited statistics show that underrepresented groups apply to jobs only if they meet 100% of the qualifications. Foster America encourages you to break that statistic and apply. No one ever meets 100% of the qualifications. We look forward to reviewing your application.