Associate, Development

About Room to Grow

Room to Grow is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the vision that one day all parents will have the resources they need to unlock their families’ potential and become champions for babies and their community. Its mission is to offer structured parent support, material goods, and community connections to support parents as they activate their natural strengths and expand their knowledge, so children thrive from the start. Room to Grow was founded in New York in 1998 and expanded to Boston in 2005, currently partnering with over 1,500 families with an annual budget of $8.5M and a team of 50+ passionate and dedicated staff members. 

Room to Grow uses a two-generation, preventative, and strengths-based approach to engage families. Through its unique program, parents and caregivers partner with program staff to develop strategies to support their child's development, select the material items that their child needs, and connect with community resources that can expand their support network. Room to Grow program staff work alongside parents and caregivers as they build upon their existing skill sets and parenting styles and promote the well-being of their children and family. 

As an entrepreneurial and growth-oriented organization, Room to Grow is in an exciting period of development as it continues to expand its reach and impact in Boston, New York and Chicago. 

Position Summary

Room to Grow is seeking a Development Associate to join the External Engagement Department, which leads the organization’s fundraising efforts, marketing and communications, inventory procurement, and volunteer program. Reporting to the Senior Director of External Engagement, the Associate will collaborate closely with all members of the External Engagement Department. They will be responsible for supporting grants administration, assisting in prospect research and donor stewardship, and providing administrative support to the Chief External Engagement Officer and Senior Director of External Engagement. A successful candidate will have strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and flexibility, allowing them to actively contribute to the development and implementation of organization-wide fundraising efforts. 

This is a full-time hybrid role requiring 2-3 days per week in person at one of our Room to Grow locations. Candidates in New York and Boston will be considered.

Position Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Assist in the preparation and submission of grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and grant reports by gathering information, formatting documents, and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date grant records, including tracking deadlines, deliverables, and reporting requirements.

• Collaborate with other departments to collect and maintain up to date attachments and information necessary for proposals, reports, and donor communications (e.g. 990, board lists).

• Conduct donor and funder research, compiling profiles, requests for specific information or answers to targeted questions, and assist with pipeline development and management

• Assist in drafting donor communications, including thank-you letters, acknowledgment notes, and stewardship materials.

• Contribute to the creation and implementation of targeted campaigns, development mailings, and other solicitation (i.e. Annual Appeal, Annual Report) including but not limited to preparing mailing lists and executing physical mailings

• Participate in operational aspects of fundraising efforts by supporting database management (e.g. gift processing, donor records), revenue reporting, and donor communications.

• Provide administrative support for the Chief External Engagement Officer and Senior Director of External Engagement including: scheduling meetings, calendar and contact maintenance, meeting preparation and follow up, booking travel and accommodations, vendor & account management, among additional responsibilities

• Collaborate with the larger External Engagement Department to implement fundraising campaigns and events, providing logistical and administrative support as needed.

Qualifications and Experience

• A passion for the mission, vision, and core values of Room to Grow

• 1-3 years experience in office administrative support, development, or operations is preferred, all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply regardless of years of experience.

• Background in nonprofit or mission-driven companies preferred but not required.

• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ability to quickly prioritize in order to successfully navigate a deadline-driven work environment

• Fundraising database or CRM experience preferred, but not required

• Demonstrated curiosity that drives a willingness to ask questions, seek feedback, and actively engage in professional development opportunities

• Proven ability to work collaboratively in a team environment, as well as independently with minimal supervision.

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to interact professionally with donors, staff, volunteers, and other stakeholders.

Core Competencies

Mission and Culture Alignment - Allows a candidate to thrive at Room to Grow and to be highly motivated by the organization’s work and mission. A successful candidate:

• Embodies RtG core values, including integrity, respect, growth, collaboration, community and inclusion
• Articulates an authentic passion for and unwavering belief in RtG’s mission, demonstrating a commitment to and literacy around the issues of equity that undergird the work
• Navigates ambiguity and pivots with ease; presents as collaborative and flexible with a strong service mentality and ability to navigate a local/national structure
• Models transparency and encourages open dialogue and inclusivity
• Demonstrates a growth mindset; approaches work with a learning orientation, continuously seeking to improve his or her own work and the work of the organization
• Possesses a deep appreciation for diversity, equity and inclusion and seeks to bring people together along lines of difference; is able to model this value in Room to Grow’s internal work by treating our diverse population of families with sensitivity, respect, compassion, and dignity, as well as demonstrating this value with an external presence

Fundraising and External Engagement - Allows a candidate to achieve fundraising goals as well as serve as an effective ambassador and thought leader for Room to Grow, establishing deep relationships with a diverse range of external stakeholders. A successful candidate:

• Supports with fundraising for Room to Grow in all forms including annual giving, corporate and foundation relations, and donor communications
• Possesses excellent communication skills that support with the cultivation of stakeholder relationships, ranging from in-kind donors to institutional funders
• Takes initiative to fill in unforeseen gaps regarding internal organization, event/campaign planning, and/or special event execution

Resourcefulness - Enables a candidate to respond to difficult and complex situations quickly, responsibly, and respectfully with all constituents involved. A successful candidate:

• Embodies professionalism, comfortably and respectfully communicating and resolving minor issues with team members, program participants, and external stakeholders alike
• Reacts calmly and swiftly to unexpected challenges, adapting to unforeseen circumstances and quickly resolving issues
• Possesses strong time management skills and the ability to prioritize tasks and re-prioritize as necessary when unexpected situations arise
• Takes initiative by asking for further guidance or clarification as needed in order to execute work effectively. Can work independently, or with a team; is not dependant on any one individual, including those in a leadership position

Operational Focus - Enables a candidate to efficiently and effectively fulfill their responsibilities while maintaining Room to Grow’s high level of professionalism and integrity to the program. A successful candidate:

• Approaches work with a high degree of detail orientation and accuracy, ensuring that all deadlines are met and that the smallest task is not forgotten

• Maintains organization skills necessary to support all stakeholders and to implement operational processes

• Possesses customer service skills, the ability to anticipate organizational or stakeholder needs and respond to them in a timely and courteous way

Compensation and Benefits

Room to Grow offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package including:

• 8+ weeks of paid time off per year
• Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance, Health FSA, Dependent Care FSA
• 403(b) retirement savings with matching program
• Quarterly wellness reimbursement up to $150 per quarter
• So much more!

Salary and benefits will be competitive for our field and commensurate with experience. Room to Grow is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds.

Reasonable Accommodations

We are committed to an inclusive interview experience, including providing reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. We encourage you to share any required accommodations with elise.spector@roomtogrow.org, who will treat your requests as confidentially as possible.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We view differences between individuals (e.g., race, gender, age, cultural heritage, physical ability, education, beliefs, and lifestyle) as an asset. We celebrate what makes us unique and strive to create an inclusive environment for all. We are focused on fostering a culture of empowerment in an effort to better understand and serve the multifaceted cultures and identities of all of those within the Room to Grow community. At Room to Grow, our DEI efforts focus on uplifting the experiences and perspectives of underrepresented groups and doing the work that draws out the best in all of us.

To Apply

Submit your application via Room to Grow’s career portal.