Development Associate

Development Associate

Overview of On The Rise, Inc.

On The Rise, Inc. (OTR) is a dynamic Cambridge, MA-based non-profit founded in 1995 that serves women, trans, and non-binary people currently/formerly experiencing homelessness throughout the region. Our Safe Haven day program provides a space where participants can meet some of their tangible needs, such as taking a shower, receiving their mail, or doing laundry, as well as meet one-on-one with advocates to work on longer-term goals. The Keep The Keys program supports our participants as they transition into stable housing and the opportunities and challenges that presents. Our innovative approach supports our participants’ initiative and core strengths to help them find safety and discover new possibilities. OTR is committed to social justice, dismantling oppression, and striving to be an anti-racist organization.

At On The Rise, the core of our work is building authentic, long-term relationships with program participants. Through these relationships we foster the trust and belonging that is foundational to people’s feelings of agency, empowerment, and safety in community. Program participants display enormous strength and ingenuity in coping with challenges such as homelessness, domestic violence, mental illness, the after-effects of childhood abuse, involvement in the legal system, systemic oppression, and intergenerational trauma. We work to meet people where they are and follow their self-determined visions of success as they navigate structural barriers and challenges. We strive to create a low-threshold environment where people can bring their whole selves, while also holding each individual accountable to the community.

Hours, Activities, and Responsibilities

This role offers the opportunity to work in a small nonprofit and develop skills in all areas of the Development function. You will succeed here if you possess extreme attention to detail, creativity, resourcefulness, and a collaborative, open-minded spirit. This position does not involve direct-service to the people we serve at On The Rise, but it is imperative to possess a sensitivity to others, an appreciation for different life experiences and choices, and to be able to communicate these in a respectful way.

This full-time, non-exempt employee reports to the Director of Development & Communications. The Development Associate will work a full-time schedule with occasional evening and weekend hours and the option to work remotely 2-3 days per week.

Responsibilities include:

Database/Gift Operations

• Maintain the Donor Database, Donor Perfect, in accordance with department and industry best practices, including but not limited to regular data entry, reporting and hygiene tasks to ensure all information is updated regularly and accurately
• Enter Gifts into the donor database weekly, Generate thank you letters to mail to donors and managing the process of printing, signing and mailing the letters
• Reporting: Completion of weekly stewardship report, monthly revenue reports; completion of Monthly Reconciliation, in coordination with the Finance Department. Additional data entry/reporting as assigned
• Regular updating of the Development Handbook in accordance with current practices
• Manage Online gift processing software, including creation of new campaigns, as needed, and updating related widgets and ticket pages on OTR’s website

Event Operations Support

• Provide general support for event operations, including but not limited to ticket/sponsorship collection vehicles (online forms), guest lists, guest registration processes, and auction software
• Provide ongoing event support for our annual Empty Bowls event (Jan - March) by helping to reach out to local artists and businesses, support for flyering local businesses, and collecting/sorting donated ceramics
• Help manage our upcoming Silent Auction for our fall Prepare For Winter Event (ongoing), including soliciting businesses, tracking gifts as we receive them, thanking donors, etc.
• Support third party fundraisers and “friend”-raiser events by preparing collateral, run-of-shows, catering orders, and day-of support as needed.

Administrative Support

• Provide daily administrative support to the Development and Communications team, including checking mail, managing and ordering supplies, mailing donor letters and packages, organizing, gathering and packing materials for events, and other related office support as assigned
• Continuously further your knowledge of On The Rise and the work we do so that you can best represent the organization

Who we are looking for:

The following qualities are essential in a strong Development & Communications Associate.

Mission and Values:

• Commits to On The Rise’s mission and values of inclusion, safety, self determination, diversity, relationships, wholeness, and community.
• Understands, articulates, and communicates On The Rise’s tenets of harm reduction, trauma inclusion, relational-cultural theory, strength-based de-centered practice, a wellbeing approach, and anti-oppression frameworks, to a diverse community.
• Participates in employer-sponsored activities acknowledging, confronting, and dismantling racism and other issues of oppression and examining the impact of racism on themselves, on On The Rise, and in the community at large.
• Interest in learning about and developing inclusive, equitable, anti-racist fundraising practices.

Teamwork and Collaboration:

• Actively supports, challenges, and communicates with teammates and receives support and challenge with openness, curiosity, and humor.

Relationships and Boundaries:

• Builds authentic relationships with the community of supporters (donors, volunteers), fellow staff members, program participants, and outside collaborators, while maintaining appropriate boundaries.
• Excellent written and oral communications skills with the ability to build personal rapport with diverse constituencies.

Initiative and Agency:

• Exercises independent judgment, creativity in problem solving, and initiative.
• Like all On The Rise employees, exhibits the flexibility required in a small organization, openness to change, and seeks out resources for personal and professional growth.
• Flexible and open to “pitching in” as needed with other duties that arise in the course of the organization’s day-to-day operations.

Skills and Expertise:

• At least a year of experience in areas of community engagement, customer service, marketing (telephone marketing), volunteer management, event planning, public relations, public speaking, or fundraising.
• Prior experience with database and office administration and donor management software strongly preferred.
• Detail-oriented individual skilled at handling multiple projects at the same time, who displays a commitment to the mission of On The Rise.
• Computer literacy and working knowledge of or willingness to learn Google Suite.
• Digital literacy, internet and social media savvy.
• Knowledge and/or experience of homelessness and trauma services is a plus.

Hiring Process, Salary, and Benefits:

• To apply: Submit a cover letter and resume to hiring@ontherise.org. Applications without a cover letter will not be considered.
• Salary Range: $45,000 to $50,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications. This is a full-time, salaried non-exempt position.
  • Starting Bonus: $1,500 starting bonus, less applicable taxes and withholdings. Half to be paid after 30 days of start date and half to be paid after 60 days of start date.
• Hiring Timeline: Applications will be accepted through Dec 6, 2024. It is On The Rise’s hope that the hired candidate begins work by the end of January, 2025.
• Generous benefits package including:
  • On The Rise covers 75% of employee premiums for Health and Dental Insurance. There is no waiting period to enroll in health or dental insurance.
  • OTR will contribute up to 5% of your salary to a 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan
  • Annual Paid Time Off includes 15 vacation days, 12 sick days, 12 paid holidays, and 2 personal days. Vacation days increase to 20 days annually after completing your fourth year.
  • Continuing Education Benefit: OTR pays for 3 full work days and reimburses up to $600 per year for employees who have been employed for more than one year who wish to continue their education or take a course.
  • 100% employer paid short-/long-term disability plans, life insurance, and paid family and medical leave benefits

On The Rise recognizes the importance and benefits of diversity in the workplace and the community. We are an AA/EOE, and we strongly encourage people who are bilingual/bicultural, people of color, people with disabilities, members of LGBQ/T communities, trans, and non-binary people to apply.

OTR is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities in employment, its services, programs, and activities. To request reasonable accommodation, contact hiring@ontherise.org.

More information about On The Rise at www.ontherise.org.