Development Associate

About Minds Matter Boston

Minds Matter Boston (MMB) is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to connect driven and determined students from low-income families with the people, preparation, and possibilities to succeed in college, create their future, and change the world. For the last 15+ years, every Minds Matter Boston graduate has gained admission to a 4-year college, and 97% of alumni are still enrolled or have graduated from a 4-year college.

Position Overview

Minds Matter seeks a passionate, organized, and driven Development Associate to join the team. The Development Associate will play a critical role in expanding our base of support as Minds Matter Boston continues to scale in size and impact, with the goal of making college dreams a reality for local students.

The Development Associate will support fundraising, communications, and operations. Specifically, this role will assist in the planning and execution of fundraising events, lead donor data management and gift processing, support donor cultivation and prospect research, manage communications projects, and oversee social media strategy.

This position is a unique opportunity to work with a small team making a large impact in the nonprofit sector. This position will report to the Director of Development and collaborate with all members of theMinds Matter Boston team, the Associate Board, the Board of Directors, and a corps of community volunteers.

Core Responsibilities

Fundraising:

● Contribute to the organization’s $1.8M revenue goal, namely the planning, creation, and promotion of five major annual campaigns;

● Assume a leadership role with two of these campaigns, our year-end peer-to-peer appeal, and the Boston Marathon charitable team;

● Support planning of our annual fundraising gala, with particular emphasis on event logistics, sponsorships, and in-kind donations;

● Effectively work alongside volunteer groups, including the Associate Board and Board of

Directors, to further key projects;

● Research, identify, and qualify new prospective funding opportunities, including corporate

partnerships, foundation grantmaking, and major individual/family gifts;

● Collaborate with the Director of Development to design and maintain an annual calendar of

donor stewardship activities that advance year-over-year retention.

Communications & Marketing:

● Manage and grow Minds Matter’s online presence through our blogs, newsletters, website, and social media accounts, with the goals of both increasing engagement among MMB community members as well as promoting awareness among the Greater Boston community;

● Develop marketing collateral, including annual reports, sales packets, and email appeals to

support fundraising activities;

● Liaison with a professional graphic design firm to support MMB's upcoming brand overhaul;

● Develop skills in supporting design & marketing software platforms including MailChimp, Canva, and Adobe;

● Assist the Director of Development in generating key messaging strategies throughout the year.

Operational Support:

● Manage CRM database, including donor information, revenue tracking, dashboard and report creation, and more;

● Manage matching gifts, stock gifts, write-offs, monthly giving, and online fundraising platforms;

● Create and send thank you notes, donation tax receipts, invoices, pledge reminders, and other

key deliverables;

● Support financial operations, including budgeting, annual audit, and gift processing alongside a professional bookkeeping agency;

● Oversee general office management, including supply inventory and expense & reimbursement processes.

Essential Qualities

● Connection with the Minds Matter mission of promoting education equity and furthering college access.

● Demonstrated ability to work with individuals with diverse backgrounds, interests, and skills.

● Strong written and verbal communication skills.

● Excellent organizational skills and acute attention to detail and accuracy.

● Ability to multitask and prioritize requests from multiple members of the team.

● Ability to self-direct and manage one’s own workstreams.

● Commitment to helping a highly successful organization implement systems and structures to support a new phase of strategic planning.

Qualifications

● Proficiency in Google (Docs, Sheets, Slides) & Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Publisher,

PowerPoint).

● Previous experience with CRM databases, such as Salesforce, is preferred.

● Willingness to work approximately 2 in-person days each week (3-4 hybrid days) and occasional weekend and evening events (approximately 10-20 throughout the year).

● Bachelor’s degree required.

● 1-3 year(s) work experience in development preferred.

Compensation & Benefits

● $45,000 - $55,000; salary dependent upon qualifications

● Excellent benefits package includes medical/dental/vision/life and short and long-term

disability insurance, 15 paid vacation days, 15 sick days, paid holidays, and a 401k plan.

● Minds Matter Boston is a hybrid organization; all programming staff work in-person two days a week

Minds Matter Boston is an equal-opportunity employer and is deeply committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. We encourage applications from those who identify as people of color and/or as first-generation college graduates, as these experiences and identities reflect those of the students we serve.