What are the responsibilities and job description for the Development Associate (Full-time w/ benefits) position at Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy?
Development Associate
Organization Description:
Since 1981, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy (Parks Conservancy) has been the nonprofit partner of the National Park Service. Working alongside the Presidio Trust, community partners, donors, and volunteers, the Parks Conservancy supports the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA). Spanning three Bay Area counties, the GGNRA includes iconic destinations such as Muir Woods National Monument, Fort Point National Historic Site, Alcatraz Island, Crissy Field, Mori Point, Lands End, and the Presidio of San Francisco.
The Parks Conservancy engages at the intersection of national park stewardship, social justice, and climate resilience. We collaborate to enhance public awareness and provide volunteer and educational opportunities in our parks. Together, we are caretakers, educators, and advocates, working to fulfill our vision of Parks for All Forever. Join Us!
Department Description:
The Development team is responsible for advancing the Parks Conservancy’s mission by cultivating and stewarding donors and securing funding through various programs, including individual giving, major gifts, special events, legacy gifts, corporate partnerships, foundation and government grants. Together, the team collaborates to support the financial sustainability of the organization and the preservation of the Bay Area’s national parklands.
Position Overview:
The Development Associate is a vital member of the Development team, supporting fundraising efforts through accurate data management, gift processing, donor communications, and event coordination. This role ensures the integrity of donor records in Raiser’s Edge, provides essential reporting for development activities, and collaborates with colleagues to maintain high standards of donor stewardship and operational excellence. This position will report to the Director of Philanthropy, Individual Giving.
Key Responsibilities:
Gift Processing
- Oversees management and processing of contributions across donor revenue streams using tools like Importomatic and Papersave into our database of record, Raiser’s Edge
- Creating and updating constituent records, receiving credit card transactions, inputting gifts as well as creating and recording check deposits, stock transactions, wires, and ACH transfers.
- Process all donations and create/coordinate gift acknowledgments for donor records, including but not limited to:
- Online donations;
- Tribute and commemorative gifts;
- Stock and wire transfers; and
- Donor advised funds.
- Liaise with the Finance team to ensure reconciliation and resolution of complex gift issues, including managing pledges and relevant reminders.
- Make adjustments to gifts as requested by Finance, work with gift officers and finance to create fund IDs for incoming gifts
- Evaluate and recommend improvements to gift processing workflows.
Acknowledgments
- Ensure timely acknowledgment of all gifts over $1,000 and campaign donations, ideally within 48 hours.
- Collaborate with the Director of Philanthropy and Chief Development Officer to manage and track the Trustee Fund, including, solicitations, acknowledgments and annual reporting.
- Update acknowledgment templates and procedures annually or as needed.
- Oversee CEO thank you and acknowledgement process, including annual holiday card outreach
Data Management and Reporting
- Create and manage queries, reports, dashboards and imports in Raiser’s Edge to support development operations, including invitation lists, financial updates, and donor renewal analyses.
- Working with the Associate Director of Donor Database and Development Operations, monitor database accuracy, addressing inconsistencies and recommending corrective actions.
- Provide updates for campaign tracking, prospect management, and other development priorities.
Solicitation Support and Communications
- Assist in pulling donor lists for solicitations and renewals.
- Collaborate with Communications to develop solicitation and stewardship materials.
- Draft and distribute solicitation letters for key donor groups, such as Trustees and campaign donors.
- Serve as the team lead for webpage updates related to fundraising campaigns.
Annual Report Coordination
- Compile donor data and reports for inclusion in the Parks Conservancy’s annual report.
- Collaborate with Communications to ensure stories and features align with organizational messaging.
Event and General Support
- Provide support for donor events, site tours, and meetings.
- Prepare materials, take notes, and assist with follow-ups for committee and internal meetings.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- Proficiency in gift entry, database management, and reporting; experience with Raiser’s Edge and/or Luminate Online is highly preferred (training available).
- Familiarity with integrations and tools used with Raiser’s Edge preferred. For example, Importomatic, Papersave
- Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with a focus on customer service.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within a dynamic, team-oriented environment.
- Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to recommend efficiencies and adjustments to internal processes to improve the donor experience
- Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
- High integrity and confidentiality handling sensitive donor and organizational information.
Education and Experience: 1–2 years of experience in nonprofit development, data management, or donor relations preferred.
Compensation and Location:
The pay rate for this position is $32/hour (Grade 12). Benefits include a competitive suite of medical, dental, and vision plans, up to 3 weeks’ paid vacation plus one week of personal days, plus holiday (11) and sick days (12), Employee Assistance Program, Commuter Program, employee discounts and more.
This position is full-time, and you must already be based in or willing to relocate to the San Francisco Bay Area. This position requires at least 3 days per week onsite, either in office (Fort Mason) or visiting our employees on location at our incredible park sites (for example, Alcatraz, Muir Woods, and Crissy Field).
Health and Safety:
It is the goal of the Parks Conservancy to create and maintain a safe and healthy workplace. We work to mitigate hazards and risks that may cause harm to employees, consistent with state and federal laws. Employees play an active role in creating a safe and healthy workplace and are expected to comply with all applicable health and safety rules.
Physical Requirements and Work Environments:
- Work is performed mostly in an office setting, with some outdoor locations
- Work is primarily performed sitting or standing; will regularly be at a desk with a computer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. All employees may be required to perform duties outside of their normal responsibilities from time to time, as needed.
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Recruitment, placement and promotions are conducted without regard to an individual's race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical handicap, veteran status or sexual orientation, or any other classification protected by Federal, State, and local laws & ordinances. We will consider qualified candidates with criminal history in a manner consistent with the requirements of the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply.
Salary : $32
