Development Associate
Community Legal Aid (CLA) seeks a full-time Development Associate to work in its Worcester office.
CLA is a non-profit organization that ensures fairness in the justice system by providing free legal services to low-income and elderly residents of central and western Massachusetts. We intervene in moments of crisis, where the clients’ problems – protecting their livelihood, home, health, or family – require immediate legal solutions. We help tenants facing wrongful eviction; survivors of domestic violence; workers denied lawful benefits; children in need of stable homes; and elders whose economic security or health care is in jeopardy.
Position Overview
The Development Associate will support the Development Director in the implementation of CLA’s annual strategic development plan, designed to build and enhance all donor communications and experiences, and to structure and prioritize solicitation activities. The Development Associate will report to the Development Director, and will work closely with the Executive Director, the Grants Manager, Board Members, and key volunteers. The position will involve occasional travel to the counties of western Massachusetts.
Responsibilities
- Responsible for timely and accurate gift entry in donor database and other donor files, maintaining clean and up-to-date donor records, and producing donor acknowledgements with adherence to vigorous standards. Organize, update and purge files on a regular basis.
- Configure and manage database query and reporting;
- Reports on and analyzes results of various campaigns throughout fundraising cycle.
- Expected to understand and recommend best practices as result of analysis.
- Manage all donor correspondence, including campaign and solicitation materials, donation acknowledgment and welcome packets;
- Manage Development Department files;
- Plan and execute donor cultivation, celebration, and solicitation events;
- Represent CLA at public events and meetings with donors;
- Manages website updates, social media presence, and regular e-communications.
- Support Development Director in creation of print publications (annual report, newsletters etc.);
- Support Development Director in donor prospecting, cultivation and solicitation;
- Support Development Director and Grants Manager in grant research, writing and packaging, and reporting;
- Assist in board relations and communications;
- Perform other job-related duties as assigned.
Requirements
- BA or BS degree required. Advanced degree a plus;
- Minimum two-year experience in fundraising;
- Proven database management skills with facility in using Internet, Microsoft Office Suite and donor management software.
- Familiarity with cloud-based donor relationship management systems (CRMs), as well as managing data migration across platforms, a plus;
- Superior writing and communication skills;
- Superior organizational skills, especially the ability to work independently and quickly, plan workflow, handle multiple tasks simultaneously and meet deadlines;
- Experience working with vendors and external service contractors;
- Knowledge of website maintenance;
- Good interpersonal skills and the ability to work with a diverse employee population; and
- Understanding of and commitment to CLA’s social justice mission.
To apply, please submit by email (jobs@cla-ma.org ):
1. A cover letter explaining your interest in the position and in CLA’s work;
2. Your current resume;
3. One writing sample (short); and
4. The names, email addresses and telephone numbers of three references.
Salary dependent upon experience. Community Legal Aid offers a liberal fringe benefits package.