Development Associate

Job Description

The Housing & Community Development Network of New Jersey, the statewide association of housing and community development organizations, seeks a Development Associate to join our dedicated staff for this full-time position. The successful candidate will have strong writing skills; experience and understanding of affordable housing issues; and a commitment to racial, economic and social justice. We actively seek professionals who have a proven ability to manage their time, execute deliverables, and work well on their own and as part of a team. This position reports to and works closely with the Vice President of Fund Development. Our staff is composed of lifelong learners, who demonstrate strong attention to detail and can meet deadlines while managing multiple projects. The Network offers flexible hours, family-friendly work policies, and opportunities to work remotely for many positions.

Responsibilities:

• Drafting clear, concise, and persuasive proposals, narratives, and reports, often under tight deadlines.
• Researching and identifying potential new grant sources from foundations, corporations, non-profit organizations and government.
• Maintaining a tracking/filing system for all steps of the grant proposal process, including due dates, reporting deadlines, proposal files, reports on fundraising status, etc.
• Managing multiple grant submissions simultaneously, tracking deadlines, and coordinating with team members.
• Assisting in the development of annual and long-term fundraising plans, including events and direct appeals.
• Assisting in the maintenance of positive relationships with funders, including answering queries on submitted proposals.
• Providing cross-functional support to the fundraising team during peak campaign seasons.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications include:

• A Bachelor’s degree (English, Communications, or related field) and/or equivalent work experience. Previous experience in nonprofit fundraising, grant writing, or fundraising is preferred.
• 1–3 years of experience in grant writing, fundraising, or professional writing is preferred.
• Exceptional, persuasive writing and editing skills with a high level of accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel) and familiarity with grant management software or donor CRMs (Grant Station and Foundation Search)
• Collaborate with leaders from a variety of backgrounds, as well as residents in diverse multi-racial, multi-ethnic settings.
• Understanding the nonprofit sector, donor cultivation, and the grant-making process.
• Able to pivot quickly between independent writing tasks and collaborative team projects.

This is hybrid position, with office and event attendance required regularly. Candidates must have access to reliable transportation to attend these in-person activities.

Compensation: This position has a starting salary range of $55,000 - $65,000. HCDNNJ offers a comprehensive medical and dental plan as well as other benefits.

Equal Opportunity Employment:

HCDNNJ is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds, including people of color, women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and people from economically marginalized communities. Interested applicants should send a resume to human.resources@hcdnnj.org through May 31, 2026

HCDNNJ offers a comprehensive medical and dental plan as well as other benefits.