Development Assistant (Remote)

The Biomimicry Institute is a fully remote organization.  However, preferred candidates are from the states of Montana, Pennsylvania or California.  

Applicants from states with salary band posting requirements:  Salary is determined based on internal equity; internal salary ranges; market data/ranges; applicant’s skills; prior relevant experience; degrees or certifications, etc. The salary for this position ranges from $50,000 - $60,000.

**We encourage people of all backgrounds and experiences to apply. Even if you don’t think you are a perfect fit, apply anyway - you might have qualifications we haven’t even thought of yet.**

Job Purpose

The Development Assistant is responsible for all administrative aspects of development and fundraising activities. This new position reports to the Director of Marketing and Outreach, and plays an important role by providing support for key fundraising efforts including foundational giving, donor relations, appeals, individual and institutional donor research, grant-focused development efforts, marketing and communications, and special events. 

The Development Assistant will work to expand fundraising opportunities, manage a database documenting our fundraising efforts, and work to improve donor relations. Our ideal candidate has experience attracting support for an organization and improving fundraising efforts. While we prefer candidates with a degree, we are willing to onboard the right person as long as they have the relevant skills, experience, and the ability to work as part of a team.

Priorities include assisting with writing grant proposals, LOIs, outreach emails and reports (30%); identifying and cultivating new sources of income for the organization (20%); helping to grow TBI’s major donor program, including writing direct mail and electronic solicitations and assisting in occasional donor events (20%); supporting the design of an annual work plan for institutional and individual donor engagement (10%); providing content for social media and funder education (10%); activity tracking and reporting (10%).

Essential Functions

• The Development Assistant is responsible for assisting all donor relations activities and providing support for key fundraising and development efforts
• Research and identify grant opportunities and sponsors aligned with the organization's mission; coordinate timely and comprehensive applications to target grant programs; communicate to appropriate staff the terms and conditions of awarded grants in conjunction with the granting organization’s agreements
• Assist in writing grant reports to comply with grant requirements
• Manage the timely acknowledgement of gifts and ensure that all types of donations (cash, pledges, matching gifts, and planned gifts) are properly documented
• Assist Director of Marketing and Outreach with donor learning sessions/webinars, and other donor-facing activities
• Manage fundraising CRM (Neon), including records management for all prospects and donors, maintaining records of contributions, and corresponding acknowledgment letters and pledge commitments  
• Provide management with concise, meaningful, and up-to-date activity reports, and ensure accuracy of donation gift recording and financial accounting of all income and sources in collaboration with the Director of Finance and Accounting 
• Assist the Director of Marketing and Outreach with fundraising events each year. Events may be in conjunction with programmatic growth goals or stand-alone events hosted by Board members
• Maintain document of standard operating procedures for development programs, processes, and systems, updating as needed

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and Experience

• BA in related field and 2-4 years of progressive non-profit fundraising/development experience, specifically in grant writing and administration.  Proven track record in setting and achieving revenue targets.
• Knowledge of best practices in donor management. Understanding of all components of a diversified funding base. Familiarity with state and federal funding is a plus.
• Knowledge of the social impact or environmental funding space, or education and entrepreneurship domain expertise.
• Familiarity with new/ emerging fundraising ideas and strategies such as crowd-sourcing, fundraising on social media platforms, or creating campaigns that members can lead. 
• Proven commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion:
  • Ability to actively cultivate and develop inclusive and equitable working relationships with coworkers, management, board members and clients.
  • Employs anti-racist practices and principles to accomplish work.
  • Experience working directly with people from diverse racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  • Incorporates an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens into TBI programs.
  • Teaches using equitable and inclusive pedagogy.

Skills/Abilities

• Familiarity with CRM platforms for nonprofits.  NEON is a plus.
• Specific knowledge of biomimicry is encouraged; new hires without this experience will be asked
  to complete training (e.g. fundamentals course) in biomimicry.
• Confident, energetic, and dedicated to the mission of the Biomimicry Institute.
• Comfortable learning and using the digital tools the Biomimicry Institute uses—with little to no
  assistance, and willing to try out new technologies and work tools. G-Suite and Microsoft Office
  Suite required. Virtual meeting software, Asana, Box, Slack, and Zoom are helpful.
• A successful track record in setting priorities; keen analytic, organization and problem solving skills which support and enable sound decision making. Keeps track of responsibilities and meets deadlines and goals.
• Adaptable—manages a constantly changing remote work environment; learns to collaborate with geographically dispersed new team members, etc.
• Clear, direct, and succinct writer.
• Self-sufficient—takes the initiative and completes work without undue supervision
• Strong communication and relationship building skills. Ensures every team member is given a chance to speak. Demonstrates the ability to understand others’ thoughts and feelings (social sensitivity). Respectfully engages in disagreements. Keeps team members informed/updated. Is a good active listener who understands what’s being asked of them and the priorities of various tasks.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of that which an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Activities that occur constantly are communicating effectively with others to exchange information; assessing the accuracy, neatness and thoroughness of the work; repeating motions efficiently that may include the wrists, hands and/or fingers; prolonged periods
  of working at a computer; remaining in a stationary position, often standing or sitting for prolonged periods.
• Activities that occur occasionally are moving about to accomplish tasks or moving from one worksite to another; adjusting or moving objects less than 50 pounds in all directions.

Work Environment (Remote)

The work environment described here is representative of that which an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation can be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Duties are performed in a home workspace. Employees are expected to maintain their home workspace in a safe manner, free from safety hazards.
• No travel is required at this time.

This is not necessarily an exhaustive or all-inclusive list of responsibilities, skills, duties, requirements, efforts, functions, or working conditions associated with the job. This job description is not a contract of employment, or a promise or guarantee of any specific terms or conditions of employment. The Biomimicry Institute may add to, modify, or delete any aspect of this job (or the position itself) at any time as it deems advisable.

The Biomimicry Institute is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and consideration of all applicants for positions without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, military and veteran status, pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information or any other legally protected category.