Philanthropy & Strategic Partnerships Associate

Position Overview

We are seeking a detail-oriented, mission-driven professional to support fundraising, client development, and political donor engagement across our portfolio of nonprofit, philanthropic, and political clients. This role is ideal for someone with experience in fundraising operations, nonprofits, and/or campaigns who is committed to precision, initiative, possesses a strong work ethic, and who is eager to grow their expertise in donor research, stewardship, and development support.

Client Service & Fundraising Support

• Uphold the highest standards of professionalism, accuracy, and follow-through in all client deliverables.
• Support Partner/SVP/VP-led teams in achieving ambitious fundraising goals for nonprofits, political campaigns, and philanthropic initiatives.
• Draft clear, well-crafted client-facing materials, including donor proposals, call scripts, reports, and stewardship updates.
• Manage call time logistics: verify donor contact information, prepare research bios, track pledges, and proactively identify priority prospects.
• Conduct thorough donor research across individuals, foundations, and corporations to inform strategies and expand prospect pipelines.
• Ensure rigorous CRM management (NGP VAN, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce), with timely and accurate entry of contributions, acknowledgments, notes, and coding.
• Track proposal and reporting deadlines, anticipate potential issues, and ensure all submissions align with donor requirements.
• Support donor meetings and events by preparing comprehensive briefings, drafting talking points, coordinating logistics, and ensuring prompt, accurate follow-up.

Fundraising & Donor Engagement

• Assist clients with targeted donor outreach by managing call sheets, prioritizing high-value prospects, and ensuring consistent follow-through.
• Analyze donor-giving patterns and political contributions to identify trends and new opportunities.
• Support fundraising events with disciplined invitation tracking, attendee follow-ups, and well-organized event materials.

Project Management & Operations

• Schedule, coordinate, and prepare for client meetings, ensuring that all necessary materials are complete, accurate, and ready in advance.
• Provide administrative support, including managing files, locating resources, and supporting team members with day-to-day operational needs.
• Manage deadlines across projects, monitor progress, and proactively address challenges to ensure timely execution.

Firm Strategy & Business Development

• Support firm leadership in creating business development materials and researching new fundraising opportunities.
• Engage with other firm verticals, including supporting government relations and advocacy clients.
• Provide insights and research to inform strategic planning and client pipeline development.
• Contribute to internal projects, training, and special initiatives as requested.

Qualifications & Skills:

• 1–3 years’ experience in political fundraising, campaign operations, donor relations, or nonprofit development.
• Prior experience supporting call time, donor outreach, and/or fundraising event preparation preferred.
• Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and completeness in every task.
• Proactive and resourceful, with the ability to anticipate needs, solve problems, and move projects forward independently.
• Strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering high-quality results in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent writing, communication, and research skills; able to adapt materials for donor and client engagement.
• Strong organizational and time management skills with the ability to balance multiple priorities.
• Familiarity with fundraising databases and CRMs (e.g., NGP VAN, Raiser’s Edge, Salesforce).
• Collaborative team player committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

This is a hybrid role with some in-person work in Washington, DC. This position requires the candidate to be based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

This position offers a strong foundation for a career in philanthropy as well as political and nonprofit fundraising, providing the opportunity to build expertise while contributing to meaningful client work that delivers measurable impact. The role reports directly to the Senior Vice President of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships within Lilette Advisors’ Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships vertical.