Development Associate

Pivotal Now • San Jose, CA

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

Pivotal supports young people in and from foster care as they pursue educational and career goals and equitable access to opportunity. The organization provides individualized academic and career-oriented services to current and former foster youth and works with community stakeholders to improve opportunities for youth from the foster care system. Pivotal describes its approach as data-driven and evidence-based and its culture as collaborative, innovative, and committed to diversity.

The Development Associate supports Pivotal’s fundraising, donor engagement, and marketing efforts. The role maintains donor records, processes gifts, coordinates acknowledgments, supports donor research and reporting, and helps protect the accuracy and consistency of the donor database. It also contributes to marketing and communications activities, including email campaigns, social media, website updates, and event promotions. The position provides administrative and event support to the Development team and collaborates with organizational leaders and communications staff.

This is a full-time, non-exempt hybrid position. Regular in-office attendance of at least four days per week is required, with flexibility to work on-site, remotely, or in a hybrid arrangement. The role requires attendance at mandatory meetings at Pivotal’s main San Jose office and other Bay Area locations, and local travel for evening or special events as needed. Some evening and weekend hours are required. The position involves sitting and using office equipment and computers. A full background check is required, along with compliance with county contract requirements, including COVID-19 vaccination, a TB test, mandatory training, and other applicable health and safety requirements.

Requirements

• Commitment to Pivotal’s mission to improve the lives of foster youth.
• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and experience in a related field.
• 0–2 years of professional experience; nonprofit development, fundraising, or administrative experience is preferred.
• Experience and proficiency with donor CRM systems such as Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, HubSpot, or similar platforms.
• Familiarity with online giving platforms and data integration tools.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to engage professionally with donors, stakeholders, and team members.
• Excellent attention to detail and accuracy in data entry and record-keeping.
• Ability to organize, prioritize, and manage multiple tasks effectively.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while contributing to a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to meet the position’s hybrid attendance and local travel requirements, including attendance at meetings in San Jose and other Bay Area locations.
• Ability to work some evening and weekend hours as required by the supervisor.
• Must undergo a full background check and comply with county contract requirements, including COVID-19 vaccination, TB testing, mandatory trainings, and other health and safety requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with graphic design tools such as Adobe Creative Suite or Canva.
• Experience supporting marketing and communications efforts, such as email campaigns, e-news, social media, or website updates.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary contact for Development-related phone calls, emails, social media inquiries, and other donor communications, providing excellent customer service.
• Maintain accurate donor records and process gifts in the CRM database.
• Send thank-you letters within one week and coordinate hand signatures from the CEO.
• Provide administrative support, including managing office supplies, taking meeting notes, scheduling meetings, and completing other tasks assigned by the Chief Development Officer.
• Collaborate with leadership to analyze donor data and provide actionable insights for fundraising strategy.
• Segment donor data for direct mail and email campaigns to optimize outreach.
• Research potential supporters and maintain an evolving donor pipeline in collaboration with the Chief Development Officer.
• Work with the Director of Development Operations and Communications to track institutional funding and support timely grant proposal and report submissions.
• Audit the donor database, manage de-duplication, and standardize data-entry practices.
• Coordinate with third-party vendors and consultants on system upgrades, database migrations, and integrations with email marketing and online giving platforms.
• Develop and maintain documentation on CRM processes, data workflows, and user guides to support system consistency and staff training.
• Assist in designing promotional materials for fundraising events and scholar workshops, including flyers, invitations, and social media graphics.
• Support monthly email marketing campaigns.
• Collaborate with the Director of Development Operations and Communications to update website content, post monthly e-news, blogs, and event information, and maintain SEO best practices.
• Assist with social media management by creating content, building relationships with followers and stakeholders, and fostering online community engagement.
• Assist the Development Team with event planning and logistics, including vendor coordination.
• Complete other duties or projects as assigned.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with 100% employer-covered premiums, depending on plan selection.
• Life insurance and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) insurance.
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Commuter benefits.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• 401(k) plan with up to a 4% employer matching contribution.
• 15 days of vacation accrual during the first year, with increased accrual based on tenure.
• 12 paid holidays annually, plus a holiday break in December.
• Generous family leave and workplace accommodations available to eligible employees.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level