Development Associate

Beyond Legal Aid is reimagining what legal aid can be through community activism lawyering. The Development Associate plays a key role in supporting fundraising, donor engagement, communications, and event initiatives to expand Beyond’s impact.

Responsibilities

• Assist with drafting and editing public communications, newsletters, annual reports, and other organizational materials
• Support social media content creation aligned with organizational messaging and fundraising priorities across Beyond’s social platforms
• Collaborate with staff and community partners to create campaign stories, gather data, and showcase impact highlights
• Provide development-related support as instructed by leadership
• May assist with development-related materials connected to board engagement, as appropriate
• Conduct research on funding opportunities aligned with Beyond’s mission and program areas
• Assist with the preparation of letters of inquiry, grant applications, and renewal materials
• Support development of interim and final grant reports, including data gathering and narrative drafting
• Help maintain grant and data tracking systems, deadlines, and associated documentation
• Support donor engagement activities, including outreach, cultivation, and stewardship, in coordination with the Development Team
• Help maintain accurate donor records and giving histories
• Assist with donor prospect research to strengthen Beyond’s network of supporters
• Assist with planning and executing fundraising events, including the annual fundraiser, cultivation events, and community-based gatherings
• Coordinate event logistics, guest lists, partner outreach, marketing materials, and post-event follow-up
• Support onsite event operations as needed
• Provide support to various committees and volunteers
• Assist with drafting internal and external development reports, including our annual report
• Maintain organized systems for development materials, documents, and data
• Enter, update, and analyze donor and program data in relevant CRM and database systems
• Provide general support to the Development Team and contribute to department-wide initiatives
• Participate in staff meetings, cross-departmental collaboration, and internal committees as assigned
• May provide guidance or support to interns or temporary staff supporting development activities
• Other responsibilities as assigned

Skills

• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, accurate, and persuasive materials
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Interest in nonprofit development, grant writing, communications, law, or related fields
• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, mission-driven environment
• Commitment to social justice and alignment with Beyond's community-driven model
• Experience with design tools such as Adobe or Canva
• Experience with nonprofit development, communications, community organizing, or related work
• Familiarity with donor databases, CRM systems (such as Little Green Light), or data management tools, including Google Suite
• Research experience (academic or professional)
• Experience with video editing and production
• Professional competency or fluency in another language
• Basic accounting skills, strongly preferred
• Social Media Example(s), preferably video content if available

Benefits

• Health, dental, and vision insurance at 90% coverage
• Participation in an organizational 401(k)
• Paid time off, holidays, 1 floating holiday
• Professional development opportunities
• Hybrid work schedule with a mix of flexible and fixed hours: Beyond currently operates four days remote and one day in-person at our downtown Chicago office

Company Overview