Development Associate

About Tipping Point

Tipping Point finds, funds, and strengthens the most promising poverty-fighting solutions so one day everyone in the Bay Area can prosper. Since 2005, Tipping Point has invested over $440 million in community interventions, policy change, and new ideas. Last year, our grantees provided life-changing services in housing, early childhood, education, and employment to nearly 91,000 of our neighbors across the Bay Area. Visit www.tippingpoint.org to learn more.

Values

Tipping Point’s core values are at the heart of everything we do and we look for individuals who share our commitments:

• We cultivate community because we know we are more powerful together.
• We practice gratitude.
• We hold ourselves accountable to achieving impact for and with the communities we serve.
• We relentlessly pursue equity because one’s background and identities should not predetermine one’s opportunities.

Position Overview

The Development Associate is highly organized, analytical, and excited to help build and refine the systems and practices around prospecting, research, and pipeline development. As part of the Development team, the Development Associate plays a key supporting role in Tipping Point’s prospecting, research, and donor engagement functions. The role also contributes to the stewardship of donors and guest management at events, with the understanding that attention to detail and a strong customer service orientation toward our donor community are foundational to effective stewardship and prospecting. The Development Associate has a strong pulse on the Bay Area philanthropic and business landscape, and is excited to learn about emerging companies, influential employers, and individuals who are shaping the region and could meaningfully support Tipping Point’s work.

This position reports to the Development Strategy + Operations Director but works closely with the broader Development Team, including the Chief Development Officer, Senior Director of Philanthropy, Giving Team, and Development Associate.

What will you do?

• Support the Development Team in the planning and execution of prospecting, research, and pipeline-building efforts; contribute informed recommendations grounded in data and aligned with team strategy and direction.
• Project manage development deliverables and timelines related to prospecting, research, donor stewardship, and guest management at donor events.

Prospecting + Research

• Partner with the Strategy + Operations Director, Senior Director of Philanthropy, and Giving Officers to develop and implement systems that support prospecting and pipeline development.
• Build and maintain tools that help the team surface, track, and prioritize high-potential prospects at the individual, institutional, and corporate levels.
• Support prospect mapping and relationships for our Board, Leadership Council, and major donor community by synthesizing connections, trends, and affiliations across sectors and networks
• Manage key data in Salesforce with a focus on accuracy, timeliness, and consistency to support high-quality, usable information for the fundraising team
• Project manage engagement plans for the Board and Leadership Council, ensuring key information is organized, timely, and actionable for the team.
• Maintain and optimize internal knowledge-sharing systems to ensure alignment and efficiency across the team.

Stewardship

• Partner with Development + Operations Strategy Director to design and maintain systems to scale stewardship for donors, including templates, segmentation, and data-informed cadences.
• Collaborate with the Giving Team and Development Strategy + Operations Director to refine and test stewardship approaches across donor segments.
• Support donor engagement opportunities, including volunteer experiences, ensuring strong coordination and clear documentation.

Guest Management

• Manage event logistics, including guest management, RSVP tracking, seating, and check-in, ensuring accurate information and a smooth donor experience.
• Track and update guest data in Salesforce; support process improvements to increase efficiency and coordination across the team during high-volume periods.

All other duties as assigned.

What qualifications are we looking for?

In addition to our core values, Tipping Point staff exhibit four core competencies: flexibility, exceptional communication skills, ability to work well on a team, and the ability to continuously problem solve in the face of challenges.

Additionally, the Development Associate must have:

• Experience with donor research, prospecting, and pipeline building; skilled in using systems and tools (Salesforce and Excel strongly preferred) to support strategy and streamline development workflows.
• Knowledge of or strong interest in companies, influential employers, and individuals who are shaping the region and could meaningfully support Tipping Point’s work.
• Demonstrated track record of being able to organize and prioritize multiple tasks while remaining focused on accuracy and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated excellence in project management with the ability to self-direct, anticipate roadblocks, meet deadlines, prioritize among competing goals, and manage through others as appropriate to keep project moving.
• The ability to build and manage relationships effectively among various stakeholders.
• Analytical and organized, with an interest in the science of fundraising and a strong partnership mindset to support prospecting and moves management strategy.
• An ability to handle sensitive information with precision and in a confidential manner.

Salary + classification

Tipping Point is committed to paying competitive wages. In an effort to increase equity, because we know that salary negotiations tend to have an unfair bias, we do not participate in a salary negotiation process for any candidate. We will make our best offer, and it will be the same regardless of the candidate. The annual starting salary for the Development Associate role is $89,000. This is a non-exempt position as defined by state and federal law. Non-exempt employees paid on an hourly basis and are eligible for overtime pay.

Hybrid Work Environment

Tipping Point is committed to the safety of our staff and to facilitating connection and community with one another. While we were remote for almost two years, we are a highly in-person culture and have moved into a hybrid work environment. While managers have some discretion over the schedule, teams are generally expected to be in person Tuesday-Thursdays. All other days staff may choose to work in the office or remotely. Please note that in a constantly changing environment, Tipping Point may adjust this arrangement as it sees the need to.