Senior Associate, Development

This role serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Development Officer (CDO), providing high-level executive support while supporting donor communications, stewardship, and the development of high-impact fundraising materials. The ideal candidate brings strong organizational instincts, excellent writing skills, and the ability to manage complex priorities in a fast-paced environment. This position plays a critical role in ensuring seamless CDO operations and cultivating meaningful relationships with Asia Society’s donor community through professional stewardship and compelling gift proposals. Success requires excellent judgment, discretion, and the ability to manage multiple priorities with reliability and care.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Executive & Special Assistant Support (70%)

Provide dedicated, high-level support to the Chief Development Officer to ensure effective operations and stakeholder engagement.

CDO Support & Operations

Manage the CDO’s calendar, correspondence, and travel arrangements, anticipating needs and resolving competing priorities proactively

Maintain multiple calendars and coordinate scheduling across teams

Draft and manage high-level correspondence on behalf of the CDO with a high degree of discretion and professionalism

Serve as the primary point of contact between the CDO and internal departments, Global Board members, and external partners

Prepare briefing materials, presentations, and reports for Committee and Board meetings, including Global Board Meetings held twice annually

Routinely process administrative requests including purchase orders, invoices, and expense reports

Prepare agendas, take detailed minutes, and ensure diligent follow-up on all action items

Perform additional duties as required

Events & Special Projects

Support planning and execution of major Development-led events including the annual Asia Game Changer Awards

Assist with logistics, guest management, speaker and honoree coordination, and vendor relations

Liaise with internal departments and external partners to support organization-wide events and initiatives

Maintain project timelines, budgets, and progress reports for special projects

Provide flexible after-hours availability to support events and address urgent matters

Donor Communications & Stewardship (30%)

Support donor communications and stewardship efforts that deepen relationships with Asia Society’s philanthropic community, from frontline donors to major gift prospects.

Donor Correspondence & Stewardship

Draft and design compelling major gift proposals and tailored written materials for high-net-worth prospects

Manage personalized donor acknowledgment letters, impact reports, and regular stewardship communications on behalf of the CDO

Collaborate with the Development team to create tailored written materials for major donors and prospects

Support cultivation and stewardship efforts by preparing talking points, briefing documents, and donor profiles

Data & Reporting

Create and run reports from the CRM system to track donor engagement, gift history, and stewardship activities

Maintain accurate donor records, contact information, and correspondence logs in the CRM

Track and analyze stewardship metrics to inform future communications strategies

REQUIREMENTS:

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in a nonprofit, cultural, or philanthropic setting

3 to 4 years of experience in executive support, development, or donor communications

Skills and Competencies

Exceptional written communication skills with demonstrated ability to craft compelling, donor-facing content

Strong organizational and project management skills; ability to juggle multiple priorities and projects simultaneously under tight deadlines

High degree of discretion, integrity, professionalism, and the ability to work both independently and collaboratively

Proficiency with CRM platforms (Salesforce or similar); experience pulling and interpreting reports

Experience using Canva or similar design tools to create professional presentations and proposals.

Flexibility and availability to support after-hours events as needed

COMPENSATION:

Salary Range: $65,000 - $75,000

Compensation within this range is determined by skills, experience, and organizational equity.

Asia Society offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, and vision coverage, a 403(b)-retirement plan, numerous paid holidays, tuition reimbursement, self-development hours, and more. Please visit www.asiasociety.org/about/careers and click on “Employee Benefits” to view our full benefits summary

Benefit package highlights:

An HRA plan supplements our medical plan and covers the part of annual deductible.

After 1 year of service (1,000 hours), the Asia Society contributes 6% of gross earnings to an eligible employee’s 403(b) account, regardless of whether the employee makes their own contributions.

The Asia Society offers Self-Development time off, including Self-Development Summer Fridays between July 4th and Labor Day.

ABOUT ASIA SOCIETY:

Founded in 1956, Asia Society’s purpose is to navigate shared futures for Asia and the world across policy, arts and culture, education, sustainability, business, and technology. We provide a platform for dialogue and encourage a diversity of views as we try to find the most effective ways forward. Headquartered in New York City, the organization has thirteen other Centres around the world, a global staff of over 200T, and an annual global operating budget in excess of $44m.

With a problem-solving mandate, the Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) is a think- and do- tank that tackles major policy challenges confronting the Asia-Pacific in security, prosperity, sustainability, and the development of common norms and values for the region.

HOW TO APPLY:

To be considered for this role, all applicants must submit a completed application when applying online.

A completed application must include:

Resume OR CV

Cover letter

Salary requirements

Subject line: Senior Associate, Development

Only those candidates considered for an interview will be contacted. Please regard your submission as received unless your email is bounced back.

Asia Society is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Pay: $65,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Dental insurance
• Health insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in New York, NY 10021