Seeking a Development Associate to round out our team!

Oakland Rising
Job Description
Development Associate

Oakland Rising was founded in 2007 to educate and mobilize voters in the flatlands to speak up for and take charge of the issues impacting our lives. We are a multilingual, multiracial collaborative between APEN, EBASE, Causa Justa :: Just Cause and the Ella Baker Center with deep roots in East and West Oakland's neighborhoods. Together we are proving that everyday residents working together have the power to change the way our city is run. With longtime Oakland families and our newest neighbors working shoulder to shoulder, we are building on Oakland’s incredibly rich history to advance smart, community-first solutions for a thriving Town.

Our current work focuses on three major goals through which we are developing critical and key pieces of infrastructure necessary to build progressive power in Oakland:
1. Build a permanent political/electoral infrastructure;
2. Exercise and expand political influence; and
3. Align organizations and coordinate with other progressive forces.

Oakland Rising is fiscally sponsored by Movement Strategy Center

POSITION SUMMARY
This position provides coordination and support to Oakland Rising’s overall development work, with a focus on supporting the growth and development of Oakland Rising’s small, medium and high individual donor base. This is achieved through working with Oakland Rising’s Executive Director and consultants to: 1) coordinate, integrate and support grassroots fundraising goals, strategies and activities, especially to lead grassroots fundraising, 2) implement communications plan, including media, newsletters, and email blasts, 3) provide administrative and logistical support for organizational events, meetings, etc, and 4) support program organizing goals. The Executive Director will provide supervision and support for the Development Assistant.

PRIMARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Grassroots Fundraising and Events – 50%

Grassroots Fundraising Coordination, Support and Development
• Coordinate, implement & support the overall direction, goals, and grassroots fundraising work within Oakland Rising and Oakland Rising Action Fund
• Create plans that facilitate, integrate and support the capacity of all Oakland Rising staff, board and volunteer components to engage in grassroots fundraising work. Facilitate coordination between development and program to engage in cross-component grassroots fundraising.
• Plan activities for volunteers and interns to support Oakland Rising programmatic and grassroots fundraising work, including forming a working volunteer network.

Individual Gifts Program
• Implement plan to prospect, acquire and cultivate individual donors
• Implement plan for higher-level donors circle in collaboration with Executive Director
• Work with volunteers, board and staff to engage in fundraising efforts
• Coordinate the production and mailing of email appeals
• Lead phone banking w/staff, board and volunteers
• Regularly update and maintain database, track donors, and manage donor acknowledgement process
• Design and implement direct mail appeals
• Track donors and maintain database. Oversee the maintenance and development of Oakland Rising’s database of donors and foundations to ensure most effective protocol and system.

Monthly Donor Program
• Develop and implement plan for monthly donor program

Special Events
• Plan and coordinate special events and activities with individual donors, including house parties, dinners, annual event, and briefings

Communications, New Media and Website cultivation– 30%
• Write and edit documents, articles, press releases and correspondence
• Develop and evaluate grassroots fundraising materials (e-news, brochure, newsletter, annual report)
• Coordinate video shooting and editing for donor cultivation
• Regularly update and maintain Oakland Rising’s Facebook and Twitter accounts
• Coordinate & support the content development of Oakland Rising’s website, in coordination with Field Director

Assist Foundation Fundraising – 10%
• Maintain foundation calendar and files
• Assist with writing and assembling attachments for proposals and reports
• Conduct research, writing, and other foundation related duties as they come up
• Support development staff and consultants to create and implement development goals, strategies and evaluating mechanisms

SECONDARY ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Administrative – 5%
• Logistical support for organizational events, membership meetings, staff meetings, and board meetings
• Coordination and documentation of staff and board meetings
• Assist and/or coordinate organizational mass mailings
• Archive newsletters, press clippings, photos, etc.
• Provide other administrative support as needed

Organizing & Program Support – 5%
• Support implementation of organizing goals, strategies, and campaigns including: turn out and support members and leaders, document & reflect on program activities, build and evaluate ally relationships.
• Contribute to planning for program

Required Experience and Qualifications
Demonstrated experience with successful fundraising.
Experience and enthusiasm for grassroots / individual fundraising.
Superb written and oral communication skills. Excellent editing skills.
Strong computer skills, particularly MS Word, MS Excel, database and website content management.
Demonstrated commitment to racial and social justice, civic engagement and Oakland.
Familiarity with campaign communications, including media, newsletters, and email blasts.

Most qualified candidates will also have additional experience
Experience with special events and/or donor development.
Bi or Tri Lingual~ Spanish, Cantonese/Mandarin

APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications are due electronically to info@oaklandrising.org and should include:
• Resume including chronological employment history
• Cover letter describing interest in the position, qualifications, salary history and expectations
• Short writing sample (2-5 pages maximum)
• Four references

Position is open until filled – applications received by August 1, 2010 will be given priority.

Compensation and Benefits
Competitive salary DOE and generous benefits package. Fast-paced working environment that encourages team work and recognizes high-quality work. Willing to train and provide professional development opportunities to the right candidate.