Development Associate

About the Position: The New Bedford Light is seeking an accomplished and mission-driven Development Associate to manage and coordinate a range of fundraising and donor engagement activities in close collaboration with the CEO. This role supports all development initiatives, including donor relations and communication, database management, donor and grant research, giving campaigns, and development processes. The ideal candidate will be highly organized and capable of managing multiple projects effectively. The Development Associate reports directly to the CEO and will work alongside various capable consultants and contractors as needed. We prefer candidates with strong ties to New Bedford.

Specific Responsibilities Include:

• Fundraising & donor relations: Plan and implement strategies for donor engagement, giving campaigns, donor research, and support the CEO and others in pursuing major gifts.
• Event planning: Coordinate and manage logistics for events, with attention to detail in planning and executing fundraising and cultivation activities.
• Grant management: Conduct grant research; assist with writing grant narratives and manage the submission process; and oversee and prepare required grant reports.
• Communications: Create and organize fundraising messages, newsletters, and multimedia campaigns for email and social media.
• Data and process management: Perform data entry and analysis to maintain accurate donor records, oversee gift acknowledgment and donor recognition, and manage donation tech stack (e.g. CRM, etc.).
• Advancement committee support: Assist with meeting preparation and follow-up.
• Handle other duties as assigned.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Commitment to The New Bedford Light’s mission
• Proven track record in development and communications, preferably in a nonprofit setting
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Experience using a donor database or CRM software
• Strong organizational and time-management skills
• Ability to prioritize and meet goals while managing multiple projects
• Strong sense of responsibility and detail-oriented
• Flexible and creative
• Strong people skills, with experience collaborating in a multidisciplinary, diverse, and dynamic team

About the Organization: The New Bedford Light is a free and independent digital news outlet committed to in-depth, nonpartisan journalism.Funded by a supportive community of readers, foundations, and sponsors, we prioritize high-quality reporting over clickbait and operate ad-free. Since our launch, we’ve expanded significantly in staff, funding, and readership. We have raised over $5 million from 1,600+ donors and an annual budget nearing $2 million. We reach an average of 65,000 website visitors monthly and have an average social reach exceeding 100,000 per month.