Position Summary
Ingenuity seeks a detail-oriented Development Associate with strong organizational skills who is excited about database management, a collaborative approach to fundraising, and advancing access and quality in arts education for Chicago Public School (CPS) students. The Associate will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the donor database, gift administration, donor portfolio strategy, and policies and procedures to support fundraising at Ingenuity. Additionally, the Development Associate will support and facilitate donor prospecting alongside the Development team using iWave/Kindsight, and assist the Development team with donor communications and events.
The Development Associate will be an integral member of the Development team, working alongside the Senior Director and Senior Manager of Development to support effective and efficient processes of fundraising. This position will provide foundational support to allow Ingenuity’s frontline fundraising to grow and maximize contributed revenue. The ideal candidate enjoys working with a variety of software, exploring creative solutions through trial and error, and recognizes that flexibility is required when working towards the end result of a project.
Key Responsibilities
Development Operations and Prospecting (75%)
● Develop knowledge of best practices related to gift processing and donor operations, including acknowledgements, recognition, record-keeping, information tracking, and basic understanding of charitable gift tax dedication and donor bill of rights.
● Ensure all data is entered into DonorPerfect in an accurate and timely manner; process all contributed revenue, gift acknowledgments, pledges, and fulfillments upon receipt or within one business day.
● Serve as administrator for all software used by Development: DonorPerfect, iWave/Kindsight, Givecloud, OneCause, and all online giving platforms; maintain user accounts and security, train users on processes as needed, ensure compliance with organizational gift and record coding protocols, maintain and update Tapestry gala website and Candid and Charity Navigator profiles as needed.
● Update and provide reports via DonorPerfect on the donor portfolios assigned to the Executive Director, Senior Director of Development, and Senior Manager of Development; send monthly contribution and pledge reports.
● Create and maintain accurate reports, filters, exports, mailing/email lists, and dashboards to support fundraising.
● Alongside Senior Director and Senior Manager of Development, perform routine and ad hoc maintenance on the database to maintain integrity and accuracy.
● Import data into DonorPerfect accurately.
● Write and maintain donor acknowledgement letters and collaborate with the Development team to ensure timely acknowledgement of all gifts.
● Update constituent records with current addresses and contact information.
● Respond to donor requests for gift histories, acknowledgements, refunds, and other needs, providing outstanding responsiveness and service.
● Maintain internal database policies, standard operating procedures, and architecture.
Donor Stewardship and Events (25%)
● Play an active role in Ingenuity’s annual Tapestry gala; collect sponsorship and donation pledges; cross-check progress with the Development team on a routine basis; update and maintain the Tapestry website; serve as primary liaison for OneCause software; observe all aforementioned responsibilities surrounding gift processing for Tapestry.
● Alongside the Senior Director of Development, draft content for the quarterly donor newsletter that centers on CPS students, sector news, and philanthropic trends.
● Provide support, communications, and registration for special events and donor cultivation and stewardship events.
Qualifications
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
● Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to build and maintain effective relationships with donors, Board members, staff, and diverse community stakeholders.
● Highly organized and detail-oriented with excellent time management and prioritization skills.
● Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while working independently and meeting deadlines.
● Ability to think strategically and independently, anticipate needs and challenges, and proactively develop solutions.
● Creative, resourceful, and adaptable approach to problem-solving.
● Outstanding computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
● Experience with CRM or donor database software is preferred.
● Demonstrated ethics, discretion, sound judgment, and commitment to maintaining confidentiality.
● Demonstrated commitment to anti-racism, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging principles and practices.
Desired Background
● Bachelor's degree required; equivalent professional experience may be considered in lieu of a degree.
● One to two years of relevant professional experience.
● Previous experience or demonstrated interest in Chicago's arts and culture, arts education, youth development, philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, or civic engagement.
● Bilingual proficiency in English and Spanish is a plus.
Ingenuity recognizes that there is no such thing as a perfect candidate. Even if you do not meet all the requirements for the position, we encourage you to apply.
Compensation + Benefits
Ingenuity recently completed a comprehensive compensation study to establish equitable, market-informed salary ranges across the organization. This position is classified as a Level 1: Coordinator/Associate role within Ingenuity's organization-wide compensation framework. As a result, the salary range for this role is $60,800 - $82,300; the starting salary for this position is $60,800.
The starting salary reflects where newly hired employees are typically placed within our compensation structure. Employees generally begin at the lower end of the range while they build experience in the role, develop proficiency across the full scope of responsibilities, and demonstrate sustained performance. The remainder of the range reflects opportunities for salary growth over time through annual compensation reviews as employees gain experience, deepen their expertise, and take on greater responsibility within the role.
Ingenuity offers a generous health insurance and benefits package, matching retirement plan contributions, personal days, and paid vacation and sick time. Our current excellent benefits package includes:
● Medical and dental insurance
● Life insurance
● Short- and long-term disability insurance
● Paid vacation time
● Paid sick time
● Paid personal time
● Twelve (12) standard company holidays per calendar year
● Pre-tax Commuter Expense Reimbursement Plan
● 401K retirement plan with up to 4% employer match
● Funds to support professional development related to work
● Employee Assistance Program
Please note that all employment-related pay and benefits provided to Ingenuity employees are subject to all applicable policies, practices, processes, and legal requirements, including changes to them that may occur from time to time.
