Development Assistant
Innocence Project
New York, NY
Anticipated Start Date: 6/1/26
Description
The Development department is charged with funding the Innocence Project’s work by cultivating donors and prospects, soliciting donations, and stewarding those donors across the department’s various revenue lines which include individuals, foundations, and corporate entities. The Development Assistant provides administrative and operational support to the Development department, assisting with donor communications, scheduling, gift processing, and departmental coordination.
This role serves as a key front-line contact, ensuring timely responses, accurate data management, and smooth day-to-day operations in support of fundraising efforts.
This full-time position reports to the Chief Development Officer. We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States.
However, we are not able to sponsor visas and we are not an e-verify employer. The duties of this position require approximately 40 hours of work per week to be performed virtually/in-office. We currently have a hybrid in-office model, with all employees in the office three days per week and the remainder of the week remotely. Wednesday is our organization’s “anchor day” where all staff works in the office. The number of required in-office days is subject to change.
THE IDEAL CANDIDATE
The Innocence Project seeks a detail-oriented, collaborative communicator who is passionate about social justice, who is highly organized, and is skilled at multitasking across administrative, scheduling, and database responsibilities. In addition, the ideal candidate models our IP Values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness. All Innocence Project employees must embrace, respect and value the rich diversity of perspectives and lived experience of our staff. We recognize and appreciate that our work is better for having varied participants and thought partners. The ideal candidate is someone who thrives in this type of environment.
Responsibilities
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS
DEPARTMENT ADMINISTRATION & SUPPORT
Process and track invoices, expenses, and reimbursements with the Finance Department in a timely and accurate manner
Answer the department phone line, triage and respond to donor inquiries in a timely and accurate manner
Serve as the primary front-line contact for the Development email inbox, monitoring and triaging incoming messages, responding directly when appropriate, and coordinating follow-up with team members and Gift Processing Associates as needed.
Monitor, track, and refund or process misdirected funds to other Innocence network organizations.
Track, order and maintain department inventory of stationery and office supplies.
Work with the Office Manager to maintain supplies
Assist with printing and mailing (incl. letters and packages) as well as returned mail
Maintain organization of department files (including network drives, log-ins)
Assist with editing donor materials
Assist in preparing for and executing donor briefings both in person and remotely (including the preparation of donor one-sheets)
Assist with coordinating and drafting Development Committee meeting materials and minutes
Assist with onboarding new department employees; assist with Development orientation
Oversee administrative volunteers, including interns Other departmental support as assigned
SCHEDULING DUTIES
Assist the Chief Development Officer and development staff in scheduling meetings.
These include but are not limited to internal meetings, donor meetings, interviews, and vendor meetings.
Meetings are held in-person and virtually, and may include catering orders/reservations.
Maintain and update the Development Department calendar
GIFT PROCESSING AND DATABASE UPDATES
Assist in processing gifts, refunds, and misdirected payments when necessary
Assist with managing recurring donor requests, including cancellations, upgrades, downgrades, pauses, and refunds for monthly gifts
Assist with mailing acknowledgement letters as needed
Maintain excellent data hygiene by ensuring donor communications are reflected in Salesforce.
Assist with donor record modifications (donation or contact-related), as requested by donors via phone or email, or provided by portfolio manager
RECEPTION SUPPORT
Provides front desk reception support for main receptionist during lunch breaks and absences, which includes the following duties: Welcomes visitors; answers inquiries within administrative capacities
Answers incoming calls on multi-line telephones and advises callers on case submission procedures, answers other inquiries within administrative capacities, forwards calls as appropriate, takes and relays adequate messages as required
Stamps, sorts and distributes mail and packages Maintains conference call and conference room shared calendars
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
1 year of work experience
Experience with or willingness to learn Salesforce
Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, communication skills, and judgment with the ability to maintain privacy and confidentiality
Must be legally authorized to work in the
U.S. KEY COMPETENCIES + VALUES
Superior skills in organization, planning, and attention to detail
Ability to learn database management tools with ease and enter high volume of data
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
Ability to work independently and collaboratively
Enthusiasm for the work of the Innocence Project and for social justice, including a demonstrated commitment to public interest
Shared commitment to the IP’s values of accountability, collaboration, empathy + compassion, equity, person-centeredness, quality focus, and self-awareness
Salary Range and Employee Benefits
$27.34 - $30.05 per hour (equivalent to $56,875 - $62,500 annually).
Salary commensurate with experience. This position is overtime eligible.
How to Apply for this Job
About the Organization
ABOUT THE INNOCENCE PROJECT
The Innocence Project was founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University to assist the wrongly convicted who could be proven innocent through DNA testing. The Innocence Project’s groundbreaking use of DNA technology to free innocent people has provided irrefutable proof that wrongful convictions are not isolated or rare events but instead arise from systemic defects. Now an independent nonprofit organization closely affiliated with Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the Innocence Project’s mission is to free the staggering numbers of innocent people who remain incarcerated and to bring substantive reform to the system responsible for their unjust imprisonment.
WORKFORCE DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY
The Innocence Project considers the diversity of its workforce to be vital to our organization’s success in meeting its mission. We strongly encourage applicants from all cultures, races, educational backgrounds, life experiences, socio-economic classes, sexual orientations, age, gender, and physical abilities to apply. Individuals with personal connections to the criminal legal system are strongly encouraged to apply. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, it is our policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, familial status, marital status, predisposing genetic characteristics, actual or perceived domestic violence victim status, unemployment status, caregiver status, or any other category protected by law.
WOC is not responsible for the content of job postings.
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