Development Assistant (Tucson & Phoenix)

The Organization:
The Florence Project was founded in 1989 to respond to a representation crisis for indigent non-citizens detained at the rural Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detention Center in Florence, Arizona. Through our programs today, we provide services to thousands of adults, youth, and children detained in Eloy, Florence, Phoenix, and Tucson, Arizona on any given day. In 2001, the Florence Project implemented our Integrated Social Services Program, one of the first of its kind in this field. The Florence Project provides high quality legal and social services and supports initiatives for national changes in immigration law and policy. 

Development Assistant: 

The Development Assistant is a vital member of the Development Team, directly supporting the Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project’s fundraising initiatives to sustain and grow critical programs. Under the supervision of the Development Manager and in collaboration with the Director of Philanthropy, Executive Director, staff, and Board of Directors, the Development Assistant plays a key role in donor stewardship, data entry, and coordinating fundraising activities. This position ensures the accuracy of donor records, supports outreach efforts, and contributes to the execution of fundraising strategies.

Based in either Phoenix or Tucson, with regular travel to other offices, this role requires excellent organizational, communication, and technical skills. The ability to manage multiple tasks independently, maintain confidentiality, and thrive in a dynamic environment is essential. Proficiency in Word, Excel, and database systems is required, along with a demonstrated ability to learn new tools quickly. This position is contingent on funding and offers the opportunity to contribute to advancing justice and dignity for immigrants through direct services, advocacy, and systemic change.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:   

Data Management
• Record donor contact information and gift transactions in the database with a major emphasis on data entry, including updating/correcting detail as appropriate, and contacting donors when issues arise.
• Ensure integrity of the data by following all policies and procedures related to how donor and gift information is to be kept.
• In partnership with Development Manager, coordinate regular maintenance of database, including identified clean-up projects to ensure data integrity. and working with the Finance Department to reconcile financial and fundraising numbers.
• Access and download donor and gift detail from various platforms as needed for data entry.
• Support the Development Team, the Executive Director and the Board of Directors in contributing to donor records (updates, notes, actions, applying mailings, event registration/attendance, etc.) within two business days unless otherwise indicated and with accuracy in preparation for implementation of stewardship and cultivation strategies.
• Maintain donor confidentiality.
• Generate accurate and timely database lists and reports for mailings, e-blasts, data mining, donor cultivation and solicitation.
• Regular database reviews and 4-6 data maintenance projects per year, including identifying timeframes and completing maintenance (2-3 days per quarter)

Donor Acknowledgements and Stewardship
•Prepare and send accurate donor thank you letters in a timely fashion (20-200 per week), and Welcome Packets for new donors (20-50 per month).
•Regularly assist with donor stewardship efforts, including responding within 24 business hours and in a friendly professional manner to donor inquires, ensuring donors receive a personal thank you outreach (call, email, note) by completing 10-20 outreach actions per week as well as coordinating weekly assignments for the Development Team, Executive Director and Board of Directors as required.
•Assist with retention efforts by identifying donors for targeted stewardship. Identify unique opportunities to interact with donors and unique gifts to share with the team or appropriate parties.
•Assist fundraising efforts by gathering and sharing donor comments and special stories for communications with staff, Board and the public.
•Collaborate with Team on stewardship strategies to further enhance relationships with constituents.
•Track stewardship and retention of monthly donors. Implement monthly donor plan strategies such as annual statement mailing in January, at least one stewardship project per year, renewal calls, and other projects as assigned. mailings, etc.

Development Team Support
•Participate as a collaborative member of the team, helping to plan and execute fund development strategy and activities throughout the year.
•Support 4-6 mailing projects per year, including pulling and refining lists, coordinating quotes and purchase orders, coordinating with vendors, assisting with hand-addressing, distribution for personalization and completing own personalization, adding mailings to database records, ensuring gifts are properly coded and assistance with tracking expenses for ROI reporting, meeting deadlines as required in project plan.
•Maintain inventory and coordinate re-orders of fundraising materials and supplies for the department and programmatic staff as needed
•Assist the department with the planning and execution of fundraising and community outreach events.
•Ensure Development Team meeting notes are recorded and filed so that they may be referenced as needed.
•Ensure centralization, organization and accessibility of digital files for future reference.

Minimum Requirements:
•Associate’s degree or equivalent experience, with 2 years managing tasks and schedules.
•Proficiency in Word, Excel, Microsoft products, and willingness to learn platforms like Raiser’s Edge NXT, GSuite, Legal Server, and Adobe.
•Strong written and verbal communication; ability to provide and receive constructive feedback.
•Excellent interpersonal skills and commitment to diversity, inclusion, and demonstrated commitment to advocating for indigent immigrant clients in a respectful and empowering way. Zealous support of the Florence Project’s mission.
•Highly organized, detail-oriented, and able to manage multiple priorities in high-volume settings.
•Proactive and communicative problem-solving, research, and analytical skills; adaptable under pressure.
•Team player with a client- and team-centered approach and strong work ethic.
•High ethical standards and ability to maintain confidentiality.
•Valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and willingness to travel.

Preferred Requirements:

• 2-years relevant experience.
• Experience with data analysis.
• Advanced knowledge of Word and Excel
• Advanced knowledge of Raiser’s Edge or another comparable CRM database.

Working Conditions/Physical Demands:
•Operate in a professional office environment and requires the ability to sit for long periods of time with intermittent walking, standing, bending, squatting, pulling, and pushing.
•Ability to use standard office equipment such as scanners, computers, keyboards, phones, shredders, photocopiers, and filing cabinets. Requires the ability to lift-up to ten pounds - accommodations may be available.
•May require travelling to our other office locations.
•Effective September 1, 2021, FIRRP has implemented a mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policy. To comply with this policy, active employees must be fully vaccinated by October 15, 2021. Employees seeking an exemption due to a medical condition or sincerely held religious belief should contact our Human Resources Department at humanresources@firrp.org.

Salary & Benefits:

This is a full-time position. Salary is competitive for our field and geographical area. Salaries will be calculated based on relevant experience and our established comprehensive wage scale: $41,000 - $53.807.96 Annually DOE.

We strive to create and uphold a positive, supportive, and inclusive work environment for all staff. We offer excellent benefits, including:  

• Medical plans including health, dental, vision coverage, subject to plan terms
  
• Short Term Disability
  
• Eligibility for group benefits such as voluntary life insurance, subject to applicable waiting periods
  
• Retirement plan, subject to plan terms
  
• Paid Time Off earned on a biweekly accrual basis- Twenty-five (25) Days of Vacation Time, annually
  
• Five (5) Days of Medical/Sick Time, annually
  
• One (1) Day of Personal Time, monthly
  
• Eight (8) Week Paid Sabbatical, after three years of employment
  
• Bereavement leave.
  
• Fifteen (15) Organization-paid holidays, all observed
  
• Eligible for Parental Leave which includes Thirteen (13) paid weeks
  
• Mileage reimbursement for travel between offices and places of work.
  
• Relocation Assistance for out of state new hires available for some positions.

Application Procedures:

This is an immediate opening. Salary is commensurate with experience. The position will remain open until we receive enough qualified applicants. To apply, please submit a cover letter detailing your interest in the position as well as your resume, three professional references and email a writing sample to jobs@firrp.org (choose a writing sample that you consider will be most relevant to this position). Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and candidates are encouraged to apply early. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted. The Florence Project values diversity in the workplace and strongly encourages applications from people of color, LGBTQ individuals, persons with disabilities, and members of underrepresented communities.  

At FIRRP, we recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the requirements of a job.  If your experience is close to what you see listed in our current job opportunities, please still consider applying.  Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to innovation and excellence, which is very much valued at FIRRP.  Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions.  Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process. 

This job announcement is for informational purposes only and is subject to change and modification without notice. This job announcement includes a non-exhaustive list of responsibilities, qualifications and requirements of the position, but does not necessarily include all the job functions of the position. This position is eligible for membership in the union Proyecto Solidaridad-FIRRP affiliated with OPEIU Local 251.

Salary : $41,000