Development Associate

Position Summary

United Way of Santa Cruz County is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Development Associate – Donor Operations & Community Engagement to support the organization's fundraising, donor stewardship, grant development, and revenue management efforts.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position serves as the primary lead for donor operations, grants management, workplace campaigns, CRM administration, fundraising reporting, and gift processing. The position plays a critical role in securing and stewarding both unrestricted and restricted funding that advances United Way's mission and strategic priorities.

This position works closely with the Development Associate – Marketing & Community Engagement. While each role has designated areas of ownership, both positions collaborate on fundraising initiatives, sponsorship development, community engagement activities, and organizational events.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Donor Operations & CRM Management

• Serve as primary administrator of the organization's donor database and CRM platform.
• Process donations, sponsorships, pledges, recurring gifts, and other charitable contributions.
• Maintain accurate donor, sponsor, volunteer, and stakeholder records.
• Generate fundraising reports, dashboards, and donor analytics.
• Manage donor acknowledgements and tax receipts.
• Ensure data integrity and quality control across all fundraising systems.
• Assist with donation reconciliation and financial reporting.

Grants Management

• Research and identify grant opportunities from government, foundation, corporate, and community funding sources.
• Prepare, write, and submit grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship requests, and funding applications.
• Manage grant reporting requirements and compliance deadlines.
• Coordinate with program and finance staff to collect outcomes, financial information, and supporting documentation.
• Maintain grant calendars, records, agreements, and reporting schedules.
• Assist with identifying both unrestricted and restricted funding opportunities.

Workplace Campaigns & Fundraising Operations

• Coordinate workplace giving campaigns and employee engagement activities.
• Serve as staff liaison to participating employers.
• Track campaign performance and fundraising outcomes.
• Support sponsorship tracking and stewardship activities.
• Conduct donor and prospect research.
• Support fundraising campaigns and annual giving efforts.

Community Engagement

• Build and maintain positive relationships with donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners.
• Represent United Way at meetings, events, presentations, and community gatherings as assigned.
• Deliver presentations and speak on behalf of the organization when requested.

Shared Organizational Responsibilities

Events & Fundraising

• Plan, coordinate, and support all United Way fundraising and community events.
• Assist with event logistics, sponsorship fulfillment, registration, volunteer coordination, donor engagement, and event execution.
• Participate in sponsor cultivation and stewardship activities.
• Support fundraising campaigns and revenue-generating initiatives.
• Assist in identifying and securing unrestricted funding opportunities.

Team Collaboration

• Work closely with the Development Associate – Marketing & Community Engagement to achieve fundraising and engagement goals.
• Support interns and volunteers assigned to development projects.
• Collaborate across United4Youth, United4Community, 211, and other organizational initiatives.
• Assist other departments and organizational priorities as needed.

Organizational Culture

United Way of Santa Cruz County operates in a highly collaborative environment. Staff members are expected to work across departments and initiatives, support organizational priorities beyond their primary responsibilities, and contribute to the success of fundraising efforts, community engagement activities, volunteer initiatives, and special events. Flexibility, teamwork, and a mission-first mindset are essential to success.

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
• Minimum two years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, grants management, nonprofit administration, or related field.
• Experience managing CRM or donor database systems.
• Strong written communication and grant writing skills.
• Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and cloud-based software.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
• Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Work Schedule & Expectations

• 25 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday, approximately five hours per day.
• Schedule may vary depending on fundraising campaigns, grant deadlines, community meetings, and organizational priorities.
• Evening and weekend work will occasionally be required.
• Local travel throughout Santa Cruz County is expected.
• Attendance at fundraising events, community events, volunteer activities, and organizational functions is required.

Pay: $27.81 per hour

Work Location: In person