Development Associate

Category: Full-time; exempt

Location: Hybrid work environment. Day-to-day will be remote, but must reside within/near the San Francisco Bay Area in California as the position will include weekly travel to the office to process gifts and occasional travel for meetings or other organization-related events, including weekends.

Students Rising Above (SRA)

Students Rising Above (SRA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit founded over 25 years ago to serve all nine counties of the San Francisco Bay Area, now supporting students across the country. Students Rising Above (SRA) believes in the transformative power of education and every day we work to empower underrepresented students to achieve their life goals by connecting them to the tools, resources, and supportive community they need to excel and thrive on their college-to-career journey.

Comprised of a tightly organized team of trained experts, corporate partners, an engaged student community, and the commitment of both individual donors and foundations, SRA has created an all-encompassing program that offers students support, including but not limited to:

• Social-emotional support
• Academic advising
• Healthcare navigation
• Career guidance
• Professional development

By providing comprehensive guidance and support whenever and wherever it’s needed, SRA accomplishes its mission through a series of proven initiatives that have a direct and profound impact, affecting lives for generations. For more information, visit www.studentsrisingabove.org.

Overview:

The Development Associate, reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, will support a growing, data-informed, and relationship-driven development strategy. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and supporting both the COO and CEO in fundraising efforts, this role is responsible for project managing grants submissions, generating donor reports to support stewardship efforts, and ensuring timely and accurate gift processing and acknowledgments. This is a great opportunity for someone who is eager to contribute meaningfully to donor engagement, operations, and revenue strategy at a mission-driven nonprofit.

The ideal candidate will have a background in fundraising, donor management, and event coordination, and is detail-oriented and deadline-driven. You are proactive, adaptable, and a creative problem solver who is eager to learn and grow in the field of nonprofit development. You are skilled at managing up to senior leadership and working laterally across teams to achieve shared goals.

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Stewardship & Relationship Building

• Build and maintain accurate donor and prospect records in SRA’s CRM (e.g., Salesforce).
• Monitor weekly donor activity and generate stewardship reports for the CEO/COO, flagging new donors ($200+), lapsed donors, and priority prospects.
• Communicate directly with donors via email, phone, or mail — including new, lapsed, and current — to thank them, share updates, and invite engagement.
• Schedule and coordinate meetings between donors and the CEO/COO, including prepping materials and briefing documents.
• Support follow-up after events and campaigns by preparing contact lists and ensuring personalized outreach.
• Coordinate donor engagement events such as small salon gatherings and the annual Gala, including guest communications, RSVP tracking, and event-day logistics.

Grant Support & Communication

• Maintain the grants calendar, prospect for new opportunities, and proactively project manage submission and reporting deadlines.
• Manage communications with the CEO, COO, and Director of Programs to ensure they have sufficient time to review and provide input, and to draft reports in time for submission by required deadlines.
• Coordinate with program and finance teams to gather data and stories that support narrative and financial reporting.
• Prepare briefing documents and written collateral for meetings with funders and partners, supporting the CEO, COO, and Director of Programs, who will be executing the strategy.
• Draft and edit compelling grant proposals, letters of inquiry, reports, and donor updates that reflect SRA’s voice and strategic goals.

Gift Processing & Financial Stewardship

• Ensure all gifts are promptly and accurately processed, entered into the CRM, and acknowledged in alignment with SRA’s donor stewardship standards.
• Coordinate timely generation of thank-you letters, tax receipts, and personalized acknowledgments.
• Partner with Finance to maintain accurate revenue records, reconcile data across platforms, and address any discrepancies promptly.
• Support finance and audit needs related to donor revenue and grant documentation.

Project Management & Initiative

• Own and manage multiple complex projects (e.g., annual appeals, donor reports, grant cycles) with strong attention to timelines, quality, and coordination.
• Recommend improvements to existing development processes and documentation.
• Serve as a proactive partner to the CEO and COO by anticipating needs, managing follow-ups, and offering logistical support.
• Support donor engagement events, direct mailings, and campaign execution as needed.

Data-Driven Strategy & Reporting

• Produce data-informed reports and dashboards that guide fundraising strategy and executive outreach.
• Leverage donor and giving data to identify trends, gaps, and new opportunities for cultivation and stewardship.
• Conduct prospect research on individual donors and institutional funders using available tools.
• Help maintain a learning culture by sharing insights and supporting cross-team alignment.

Required Qualifications and Competencies:

• Bachelor's degree required
• Access to reliable transportation
• 1-3 years of experience in development, nonprofit operations, or a related field
• Strong project management and organizational skills
• Available to work flexible hours including weekends and evenings as needed
• Self-directed; experience working independently with the ability to stay on top of all projects and meet deadlines
• Keen attention to detail; must be confident and able to provide accurate and reliable information
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills
• Positive, team-oriented attitude with willingness to take on ad hoc duties as necessary

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with college access and success organizations or programs
• Salesforce, Asana, Slack and Canva Experience

Compensation

SRA offers a competitive salary and benefits package rooted in market research and commensurate with experience and skills. For this position the range is $70,000 to $76,000.

Application Instructions

To apply for this position, please submit a cover letter and resume. In your cover letter, please respond to the following:

1. Please share an example of a time you successfully managed multiple priorities in a fundraising or donor relations context — such as coordinating with leadership, meeting tight deadlines, and ensuring high-quality donor communications or events. What was your approach, and what was the outcome?

Applications will be accepted through September 5, 2025

SRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer. SRA has a strong commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. We strive to create and maintain a professional environment that supports these practices. SRA welcomes and encourages applications from minorities, people of color, veterans, persons with disabilities, people of any religion, people of any sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression and members of the LGBTQI+ community. All applicants are considered for all positions without regard to pregnancy, age, physical/mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, genetic information, marital status, citizenship or immigration status, or any other protected classification, in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.