Development Associate

Position Summary:
The Development Associate plays a vital role in supporting the Harlem School of the Arts’ fundraising strategy across individual, institutional, and event-based revenue streams. Reporting to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), this position manages a portfolio of low- and mid-level donors, oversees comprehensive data and CRM functions, and coordinates donor communications and stewardship initiatives. The Development Manager serves as a key administrative and operational anchor for the Development team, ensuring all systems, processes, and donor touchpoints are executed with accuracy, timeliness, and professionalism. This role is ideal for a proactive, detail-oriented individual who thrives in a mission-driven environment and is eager to contribute to HSA’s organizational growth.

Responsibilities:

● Individual Giving

○ Serve as point of contact for low- and mid-level donors, including managing inquiries, processing gifts, and facilitating pledges.

○ Provide donors with clear information on giving vehicles (ACH, DAFs, corporate matching, etc.).

○ Coordinate and execute annual fund mailings (postal and email), including mail merges and collaboration with the CDO, CEO, CMO, and program leads.

○ Research prospective donors and prepare bios, briefing documents, and background reports for the CEO and CDO.

● Institutional Giving

○ Support preparation of institutional giving materials, including gathering documents, preparing attachments, and tracking submission deadlines , and the drafting and/or editing letters of inquiry and reports.

● CRM and File Management

○ Manage donor-related data entry (institutional and individual) with consistent accuracy and attention to detail.

○ Maintain organized digital and physical donor files. Pull reports, queries, and mailing lists as needed to support campaign planning, stewardship, and leadership requests.

○ Generate weekly, monthly, and campaign-specific development reports for leadership use.

● Events

○ Support execution of HSA’s fundraising and stewardship events, including the annual gala and donor cultivation salons.

○ Manage logistics such as vendor coordination, RSVP tracking, seating lists, run-of-show documents, and on-site support.

○ Assist with scheduling and logistics for donor meetings, tours, salons, and site visits.

● Communications

○ Process all gift acknowledgments and pledge reminders promptly and accurately. ○ Manage content development, layout, and distribution of the monthly donor newsletter in collaboration with Development leadership and the Marketing team.

○ Assist in drafting donor updates, appeals, invitations, and stewardship messages. ○ Draft copy for website updates, donor impact stories, and social media posts related to fundraising campaigns.

○ Assist with photo/video collection and curation for stewardship communications and newsletters.

● Administrative & Operational Support

○ Maintain the Development Department’s annual calendar, including grant deadlines, campaign timelines, and event milestones.

○ Assist with preparing materials for Board Development Committee meetings (agendas, minutes, reports, presentations).

○ Track and reconcile development expenses and vendor invoices, working collaboratively with Finance.

○ Maintain organized shared drives and oversee consistent file-naming and documentation protocols.

Desired Skills & Qualifications:

● 2–4 years of experience in nonprofit fundraising, development operations, or related administrative roles.

● Strong written and verbal communication skills; ability to draft clear and compelling donor communications.

● Demonstrated proficiency with CRM or donor database systems (e.g., Salesforce, NEON CRM, Raiser’s Edge, DonorPerfect, PatronManager, etc.).

● Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.

● Experience coordinating events, including logistics and guest management.

● Strong analytical skills and comfort working with data, reports, and spreadsheets. ● Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion with donor information. ● Collaborative and team-oriented, with the ability to work across departments and interact with senior leadership and program staff.

● Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; comfort with mail merges and basic design tasks (e.g., Canva, Adobe Express) is a plus.

● Commitment to HSA’s mission and values, and passion for arts education and community-centered programming.

About Harlem School of the Arts

Founded 61 years ago by internationally acclaimed soprano Dorothy Maynor, Harlem School of the Arts (HSA) was built on the belief that the arts are a powerful pathway to character, purpose, and self-expression. From its beginnings in a church basement, HSA has grown into a world-class cultural institution and a beacon of opportunity in the heart of Harlem. Today, HSA serves a diverse community through comprehensive training in five core disciplines—music, dance, theatre, musical theatre, and media & design—delivered by 70 accomplished teaching artists and supported by 20 dedicated staff and a 16-member Board of Directors.

With an annual operating budget of approximately $5 million—half of which is supported by philanthropy—HSA provides robust financial aid and reaches students through on-site classes, 12 school partnerships, and 19 community partnerships. HSA’s student body reflects the richness of our community: approximately 90% of students identify as People of Color, with families across a broad income spectrum—nearly 60% earning under $50,000 annually. 100% of students receive financial aid.

HSA’s mission remains steadfast: to provide gold-standard arts education and youth development with equity at its core—empowering students of all backgrounds to dream boldly, create fearlessly, and thrive.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Pay: $60,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 403(b)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person