Development Operations Associate

PolicyLink • Oakland, CA

9h • $68,600 - $83,200 • Remote

About The Position

PolicyLink is seeking a Development Operations Associate to join its Development team and maintain the data infrastructure that drives strategic fundraising decisions. The Development Operations Associate will serve as the foundation of the Development team's data systems, with primary responsibilities including data entry and cleanup across Salesforce, Google Drive, and spreadsheets. Success in this role means maintaining data accuracy to enable strategic fundraising decisions, creating documentation and standard operating procedures that support team efficiency, and building the skills to independently prioritize competing demands. Reporting to the Director of Development Operations, this role will work closely with the entire Development team.

Requirements

• Strong affinity for data quality, with attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.
• Ability to independently prioritize and manage multiple tasks with good judgment, building trust through reliability and follow-through.
• Quick learner who is coachable, eager to build new skills, and has an aptitude for learning technical systems and troubleshooting basic issues.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to create clear documentation and standard operating procedures.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to foster effective working relationships and collaborate across teams.
• Comfortable with results-based accountability and learning.
• Commitment to racial and economic equity and the mission of PolicyLink.
• A minimum of 1–3 years of relevant experience, preferably at a nonprofit organization.
• Experience with, or strong interest in, development operations, data entry, and database management.
• Prior experience with a Development CRM (Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or similar) is preferred; willingness and aptitude to learn new systems and tools are required.
• Demonstrated ability to conduct research, gather data, analyze information, and prepare reports.

Responsibilities

• Perform accurate and timely data entry of donor projections, pledges, and gifts into Salesforce and related systems.
• Process and manage gift and tax acknowledgments for all donations, ensuring timely and accurate donor stewardship.
• Maintain high-quality development data in Salesforce, including record updates, coding, and documentation, with attention to identifying and correcting data errors.
• Support the technical management of development systems (Salesforce, online donation platforms, and email tools) by troubleshooting basic issues, documenting processes, and coordinating with internal and external tech support as needed.
• Create and maintain Salesforce dashboards and reports for moves management, progress-to-goal tracking, and departmental reporting.
• Assist in developing systems to track donor ratings, capacity, and background data within Salesforce to support strategic fundraising decisions.
• Help ensure ratings for Candid and Guidestar are maintained and updated annually, coordinating with relevant staff to gather and submit required information.
• Create, maintain, and refine development processes and workflows, including written procedures, how-to guides, and checklists for recurring tasks.
• Maintain a digital library of current policies, forms, training materials, and standard operating procedures, ensuring easy access and version control for the Development team.
• Support onboarding of new staff to PolicyLink's development systems and database tools, including sharing materials, demonstrating basic system functions, and answering process questions.
• Support management of online giving campaigns, including tracking and processing online gifts.
• Draft, edit, and proofread donor-facing materials, including cultivation emails and event follow-up.
• Assist in preparing briefing materials and donor-related background information as needed.
• Assist in the in-house logistical planning of cultivation events, including managing guest lists and maintaining event data.
• Conduct basic prospect research and compile background information on institutional and individual donors as requested.
• Support special projects related to improving development systems, processes, and reporting.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Benefits

• 100% employer-paid medical, dental, and vision plans.
• 401(k) with employer and employer-matching contributions that vest immediately. New employees are eligible to participate within one month of their date of hire.
• Flexible Spending Account.
• Short- and long-term disability insurance.
• Group term life insurance plus guaranteed-issue voluntary life insurance.
• Unlimited vacation and sick leave, and other generous leave benefits.
• Three required organization reset weeks plus 13 paid holidays.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 51-100 employees