Senior Development Associate

Acacia Center for Justice•Washington, DC

About The Position

The Senior Development Associate is a key project lead within Acacia Center for Justice’s Development team. The role takes ownership of assigned fundraising initiatives from planning through execution and helps ensure strong systems, timely follow-up, and meaningful engagement with philanthropic partners and supporters. The associate supports Acacia’s annual fundraising strategy across institutional, individual, and other philanthropic funding sources; researches funding prospects; develops fundraising materials; coordinates information across teams; and tracks opportunities, deadlines, and deliverables. The position supports and may independently manage donor and philanthropic-partner relationships, coordinating cultivation and stewardship activities and maintaining accurate CRM records. It also strengthens Development operations through project coordination, recordkeeping, fundraising calendars, tools and workflows, metrics, and cross-departmental coordination. The associate leads or coordinates special fundraising and engagement initiatives, including campaigns and events, and evaluates their effectiveness to inform improvements. The role advances Acacia’s mission of immigration justice through community engagement, resource mobilization, and relationship-building.

Requirements

Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to engage diverse stakeholders effectively.
Knowledge of community-centric development principles and practices.
Proficiency in digital campaign management and social media platforms.
Experience planning and executing events, both virtual and in person.
Ability to manage databases and CRM systems for donor and stakeholder tracking.
Strong organizational and project management skills, including the ability to multitask and prioritize effectively.
Collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively in a team environment.
Understanding of fundraising principles and strategies, with a focus on relationship-building and empowerment.
Commitment to equity, inclusion, and social justice, and passion for Acacia’s mission.
Flexibility and adaptability in dynamic and evolving development initiatives.
A bachelor’s degree in a relevant field is preferred; applicable work or life experience may be considered in lieu of a formal degree for candidates with exceptional qualifications and expertise.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in nonprofit or community development roles.
Knowledge of trauma-informed care principles and practices.
Understanding of legal empowerment frameworks and pro se assistance programs.
Fluency in languages relevant to Acacia’s target communities.
Experience in grant writing or proposal development.
Knowledge of data analysis and reporting techniques for development metrics.
Demonstrated commitment to continuous learning and professional development in community engagement and development.
Ability to work independently and take initiative in identifying opportunities for stakeholder engagement and resource mobilization.

Responsibilities

Support implementation of Acacia’s annual fundraising strategy across institutional, individual, and other philanthropic funding sources.
Independently manage assigned fundraising projects and opportunities, coordinating internal inputs, timelines, materials, and follow-up.
Research and identify prospective funders and donors aligned with Acacia’s mission, programs, and strategic priorities.
Draft or contribute to proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, concept papers, donor briefings, presentations, and other fundraising materials.
Coordinate with program, finance, research, communications, and leadership staff to develop accurate funding requests and reports.
Track funding opportunities, deadlines, deliverables, and next steps, and identify areas requiring follow-up.
Support development of funding strategies and approaches as opportunities and the immigrant justice landscape evolve.
Support and, where appropriate, independently manage relationships with a portfolio of donors, prospects, and philanthropic partners.
Coordinate donor cultivation and stewardship, including meetings, briefings, correspondence, acknowledgments, updates, and other engagement opportunities.
Prepare donor research, meeting briefs, talking points, background materials, and follow-up communications for Acacia leadership.
Identify opportunities to deepen donor engagement and strengthen relationships with current and prospective supporters.
Maintain timely and accurate CRM records of donor interactions, commitments, interests, and next steps.
Help ensure donors receive consistent, thoughtful, mission-aligned communications about Acacia’s work and impact.
Coordinate and execute Development team projects, systems, and workflows.
Maintain development records, including donor and prospect information, gift documentation, contact reports, funding pipelines, and reporting deadlines.
Help manage the Development team’s fundraising calendar and keep deadlines, deliverables, and follow-up activities on track.
Develop and maintain tools, templates, processes, and systems to improve Development team efficiency and effectiveness.
Track fundraising activity and assist with internal reports, dashboards, projections, and development metrics.
Coordinate across departments to obtain programmatic, financial, impact, and organizational information needed for fundraising.
Identify opportunities to improve Development processes and recommend solutions.
Lead or coordinate special fundraising and engagement initiatives that advance Acacia’s strategic priorities.
Develop project plans, timelines, communications, and engagement strategies for special campaigns and initiatives.
Coordinate internal and external stakeholders to move projects from concept through implementation.
Support fundraising initiatives responding to emerging needs and opportunities across Acacia and its national network.
Evaluate initiatives and recommend adjustments based on results, feedback, data, and lessons learned.
Lead special development initiatives to mobilize resources, build capacity, and foster community-centric development.
Design and execute campaigns, events, and projects that engage community members, donors, and supporters.
Plan and execute donor briefings, cultivation events, funder convenings, virtual events, and other development-related engagements.
Manage event logistics, timelines, invitations, registration, materials, vendors, and follow-up as appropriate.
Partner with Communications and other teams on event messaging, promotional materials, and participant communications.
Ensure events support fundraising, stewardship, and relationship-building goals.
Coordinate post-event follow-up and identify opportunities for continued donor and stakeholder engagement.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage, with some plans available at no cost to the employee.
Employee Assistance Program.
20 days of vacation per year.
12 days of sick time per year.
5 personal days.
4 organization-wide Wellness Days.
11 observed holidays, including the last week of December.
First-time home office set-up stipend.
Internet stipend.
401(k) with a 5% employer contribution; employee participation is not required.