Development Associate, Major Donor Relations

Brennan Center for Justice•New York, NY

7d•$65,000 - $70,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law is a nonpartisan law and policy institute that seeks to improve the systems of democracy and justice in the United States. We work to hold our political institutions and laws accountable to the twin American ideals of democracy and equal justice for all. The Brennan Center’s work ranges from voting rights to campaign finance reform, from ending mass incarceration to preserving constitutional protections in national security policies. Part think tank, part advocacy group, part cutting-edge communications hub, we start with rigorous research. We craft innovative policies. And we fight for them — in Congress and the states, in the courts, and in the court of public opinion. The Development team is responsible for raising revenues needed for the Brennan Center to operate and remain sustainable into the future. It is comprised of three portfolios: Major Donor Relations, Institutional Relations, and Direct Response & Donor Services. The Brennan Center entirely relies on donations; it receives no funding from NYU or the government. Position Overview: We seek a Development Associate to join the Major Donor Relations team, a vital part of our 20-person Development department. This industrious, organized, and collaborative individual will support the major individual giving program, which raises $35-40M+ annually from individuals and families contributing five-, six-, seven-, and eight-figure gifts to the Brennan Center annually. The Associate will play a central, supportive role in the daily operations of the six-person Major Donor Relations team, maintaining operational and administrative excellence across activities. The Associate will conduct donor and prospect research; ensure accurate and complete donor and gift records; edit donor correspondence and other written products; assist with event logistics and execution; and work with other Development team members to manage an array of supportive, coordinating duties that contribute to the success of the major giving portfolio and entire department. Success in this role will require exceptional attention to detail as well as project management, interpersonal, and organizational skills. Candidates must also have excellent written and oral communication competencies, with the ability to enthusiastically manage up, down, and across to accomplish ambitious goals in a quickly changing environment. We seek an individual who is not only talented at minding administrative tasks – but eager to oversee them for a highly ambitious team. The Associate will report to the Director, Major Donor Relations, supporting the full breadth of the Major Donor Relations team, including officers and team directors, as well as organizational leadership. Note: This position is in-office 4 days/week (Monday through Thursday) and is based at our headquarters in New York City. This role may occasionally require in-person work on Fridays and supporting early morning, evening, or weekend events.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
Minimum 1-2 years of post-undergraduate, full-time work experience required, preferably at a mission-driven organization; fundraising experience is a plus but not required
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail and accuracy
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Sound judgment and discretion with confidential and sensitive information
Proactive self-starter who works independently, problem-solves, and anticipates issues
Energetic team player who responds productively to direction and feedback and seeks opportunities for growth and learning
Ability to multitask and thrive in a fast-paced, unpredictable environment
Maturity, professionalism, and emotional intelligence to work effectively with staff, donors, external contacts, and leadership at all levels
Flexibility to work overtime as needed to meet deadlines or urgent priorities
Proficiency with office systems and databases, including but not limited to CRMs (experience with programs such as Salesforce or Raisers Edge preferred); Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook), and project management tools (Asana)
Genuine commitment to the Brennan Center’s mission and organizational core values

Nice To Haves

Fundraising experience is a plus but not required
Experience with programs such as Salesforce or Raisers Edge preferred
Experience with project management tools (Asana)

Responsibilities

Manage organization of Major Donor Relations team’s weekly flow of donor correspondence, proofreading final products with assiduous attention to detail
Support team of frontline fundraisers in the full scope of donor cultivation and stewardship practices, including but not limited to producing and editing written materials and preparing for virtual and in-person meetings
Prepare mailing lists, event invitation lists, donor research profiles, and other regular needs across the Major Donor Relations portfolio
Support daily, weekly, and ad hoc major gift processing tasks, including cleanup, coding, issuing acknowledgments, and maintaining accurate donor records
Conduct donor and prospect research, strategically issue-spotting and effectively communicating results to front-line fundraisers and program leaders
In conjunction with the above, help to implement a systematic individual donor research program for the department, in close collaboration with the Development Associate focused on mid-level giving
Support the preparation for and production of both live and virtual donor events and briefings
Use Salesforce to manage logistics for large outreach campaigns, create and update contact lists, and ensure integrity of donor and prospect information
Coordinate meetings with donors and internal staff and delegate tasks to seasonal Development interns as needed
Other duties as assigned