Development Associate

The Arbutus Foundation, founded in 2018 by artist and musician David Byrne, is hiring a part-time Development Associate to join our tight-knit team. Arbutus celebrates, re-presents and amplifies ideas found in surprising places, ensuring that our picture of the world contains the joy that it should, and is accessible to everyone. A common thread among our current projects – Theater of the Mind and Reasons to be Cheerful– and those Arbutus has in development is that they have been dreamt up and are being created without adherence to a defined path or genre.

The Development Associate manages, streamlines, optimizes and troubleshoots the development systems and initiatives that drive the financial sustainability of the Arbutus Foundation. This person reports to the Managing Director, and works across an array of projects and departments to track donors, synthesize data, communicate with members, coordinate fundraising efforts and consult on strategy. The ideal candidate brings exacting attention to detail, a proactive approach and a collaborative spirit to ensure the smooth operation and steady growth of our development activities.

Qualifications

• Minimum of three years experience working in nonprofit development or fundraising, with a focus on tracking, managing and strengthening donor relationships;
• Proficiency in CRM platforms, MailChimp, Google Sheets and other relevant tools for donor engagement and campaign management;
• Exceptional communication skills for engaging with donors through direct outreach, membership drives, social media campaigns, newsletters and other channels;
• Adept at balancing multiple priorities while handling both strategic and day-to-day tasks seamlessly;
• Self-motivated and adaptable, with the ability to work independently and thrive in a collaborative, mission-driven team environment.

Job Description

• Track, manage, and analyze all donor data, including over 3,000 Reasons to be Cheerful members, ensuring accurate records and presenting insights in accessible formats for the broader team;
• Work closely with Arbutus’ business managers to reconcile contributed revenue monthly;
• Draft and distribute all donation acknowledgment letters as needed;
• Run regular giving reports through Arbutus’ CRM system to present accurate data to leadership team;
• Work closely with the Senior Development Consultant to identify and research potential foundation funding opportunities, evaluate their alignment with organizational goals, recommend high-priority prospects, and track outreach efforts to ensure timely follow-up and engagement;
• Engage with current and prospective donors to foster support, enhance retention, address inquiries, resolve issues, and build meaningful connections;
• Collaborate with the Audience Engagement Manager to develop and implement campaigns via social media, member newsletters, and other communication channels;
• Refine and oversee an automated notification system to manage membership communications, such as welcome messages, payment alerts, and renewal reminders;
• Plan, promote, and execute donor appreciation initiatives, including campaigns, giveaways, and recognition efforts;
• Support Managing Director to cultivate relationships with high-level donors through personalized outreach, gifts and the annual “Founders Club” gathering;
• Provide regular updates to Arbutus’s managing director and Reasons to be Cheerful's executive editor on the status, achievements, and challenges of the membership program;
• Support cross-departmental efforts by collaborating on events, webinars, workshops, and other donor-centric activities as needed.
• Capture, file, and distribute minutes for Arbutus quarterly board meetings;
• Create and circulate board connection surveys in coordination with funder prospects.

Commitment: 25 hours per week.

Location: Hybrid, with at least one day per week in our Manhattan office.

The Arbutus Foundation does not discriminate against any applicant for employment, or any employee because of age, color, sex, disability, national origin, race, religion, or veteran status.