Development Assistant

Temple Israel, a large and vibrant congregation celebrating its 75th anniversary, seeks a Development Assistant to join our team. Rooted in our mission to draw from Judaism's depth and richness, we strive to foster a thriving community—building connections, cultivating awe, living with purpose, offering healing, and pursuing social justice.

The Development Assistant will play a crucial role in supporting our development team’s operations, including management of clergy and lay-leader schedules, coordinating meetings with donors, tracking donor pipeline, and recording donor gifts. The Development Assistant will be instrumental in ensuring smooth and efficient operations, helping us meet our fundraising goals, and maintaining exceptional relationships with our donors.

As we mark our milestone anniversary, your role will support the success of our celebration and fundraising efforts, directly contributing to Temple Israel’s continued growth and impact.

Responsibilities:

• Scheduling and Coordination
• Manage and coordinate calendars between clergy, senior staff, and community members.
• Schedule donor meetings, ensuring all necessary stakeholders are included and informed.
• Prepare agendas, manage meeting logistics, and ensure follow-up on key action items.
• Gift Tracking and Donor Data Management
• Track and process donor gifts, ensuring accurate recording in the donor database.
• Maintain up-to-date records of donor contributions, pledges, and contact details.
• Produce regular gift reports to support fundraising strategies and donor acknowledgment efforts.
• Development Support and Documentation
• Assist in maintaining organized files and documentation for development activities.
• Support the development team in preparing and distributing donor communications.
• Generate and manage mailing lists for outreach efforts.
• General Administrative Support
• Provide general support for the development team, including handling phone calls and email correspondence.
• Assist in event planning for donor gatherings and other development-related events.
• Conduct research on prospective donors and funding sources as needed.

Note that we are not expecting the Development Assistant to make direct asks to potential donors.

Qualifications:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Proficiency in database management, Excel, and scheduling software
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Detail-oriented with a high degree of accuracy in data management
• Previous experience in development or donor relations is a plus
• B.A./B.S. degree
• One to two years of experience in a related field. Development experience a plus.
• Excellent computer, writing, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office required, particularly Excel and mail merge (letters, emails,envelopes, etc.).
• Sensitivity to confidential information and the appropriate maturity to exercise discretion.
• Interest in the field of Development as a career and desire to learn the fundamentals is a plus.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience with CRM systems like ShulCloud, Salesforce or Raiser's Edge
• Knowledge of nonprofit operations and fundraising best practices

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Evenings as needed
• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Experience:

• Fundraising: 1 year (Required)
• Microsoft Office: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Westport, CT 06880 (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Westport, CT 06880: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person

Salary : $60,000 - $70,000