Assistant Director of Development

Title: Assistant Director of Development 

Job Type: Full Time - Exempt 

Compensation: $102,000 - $111,556 

Schedule: Monday – Friday  

Location: Hybrid: Office Location: 1620 L Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, D.C. 20036 (Note: candidate must currently reside in DC, Maryland, or Virginia)  

Benefits: Generous Benefits Package. Advancing Justice – AAJC pays 100% of the monthly premiums for employee-only coverage on medical, dental, vision, short- term disability, long-term disability, and long-term care 

Are you a relationship-builder who thrives on turning donor connections into lasting impact? As Assistant Director of Development, you'll be a key strategic partner to our Head of Development leading proposal writing, stewardship initiatives, and donor engagement across institutional, corporate, and individual funders, while also taking the reins on our signature fundraising event: American Courage Awards, while supporting additional events throughout the year. If you love the blend of strategy, storytelling, and relationship management that great fundraising demands, this role is for you! 

About the Position: 

Day to day, you'll manage a portfolio of foundation and corporate funders tracking deadlines, drafting and editing grant proposals, and coordinating reporting requirements to keep submissions accurate and on time. You'll maintain organized, up-to-date records of all funder interactions and giving history, pulling data and reports to help shape appeal lists and fundraising decisions. As the lead on the American Courage Awards and other events, you'll coordinate everything from sponsor outreach and invoicing to venue logistics, marketing collateral, and post-event follow-up, working closely with the Communications and Finance teams to align messaging, manage budgets, and ensure smooth reconciliation. As second in command in the Development Department, you'll assume leadership responsibilities and acting authority in the absence of the Head of Development, bringing a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives, making critical decisions independently, and leading projects from conception to execution with autonomy and accountability. 

Responsibilities Overview:  

Serve as a thought partner to the Head of Development on fundraising strategy, including the American Courage Awards, with high independence in execution. 

• Cultivate and grow a portfolio of foundation, corporate, and individual donors, building engagement strategies tied to financial targets. 
• Manage the grants process end-to-end tracking deadlines, coordinating proposals, and drafting reports. 
• Develop donor stewardship strategies and maintain accurate, detailed records of all funder interactions and giving history. 
• Lead planning and execution of the American Courage Awards and other events, managing sponsors, invoicing, and logistics an area to grow hands-on event skills. 
• Maintain strong donor database proficiency data entry, gift processing, record maintenance to support accurate donation processing. 
• Run queries and reports to build appeal lists and support income projections and pipeline analysis. 

• Support in producing the annual report. 

• Oversee the Development Associate's daily workflows and database accuracy, supporting their growth with strong attention to detail. 

What You’ll Need:  

• Bachelor’s Degree required. 
• Minimum seven years of fundraising experience in a nonprofit or corporate setting required. 
• Ability to work independently, manage competing priorities, drive projects to completion, and meet internal and external deadlines in a fast-paced, rapidly-changing environment is required. 
• Strong project and process management skills, with exceptional attention to detail and organizational follow-through. 
• Facilitative and collaborative leadership style, with strong interpersonal and people management skills.  
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and accurately with donors, funders, and external constituents.  
• Strong written communication skills, including experience drafting donor-facing materials, grant proposals, or reports.  
• Experience planning and executing fundraising or cultivation events, including budget management and vendor coordination.  
• Proficiency in fundraising database management. 

Preferred Experience: 

• Experience with foundation relations and grants management preferred. 
• Experience in and knowledge of Asian American, civil, and/or human rights issues preferred. 
• Experience with database management Raiser’s Edge NXT preferred. 

General Advancing Justice – AAJC Roles 

• Live and exhibit the Values of Advancing Justice – AAJC, by contributing to an environment that promotes trust, teamwork, and transparency among staff, board, National Advisory Council, affiliates, and community partners. 
• Contribute to, establish, and follow policies and procedures, including maintenance of confidentiality, to ensure that the principles of Advancing Justice – AAJC are implemented. 
• Participate in decision-making processes, understand outcomes, and be accountable for decisions made in or affecting their area. 
• Understand the values and principles of Advancing Justice – AAJC and apply them fully in work responsibilities. 
• Participate in other activities and serve on ad hoc committees as requested. 
• Attend and contribute to Advancing Justice – AAJC and Board of Directors’ meetings as requested. 
• Be available to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends. 

*** COVID vaccination required. Exemption requests considered on a case-by-case basis. *** 

Organizational Profile: Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC (“Advancing Justice – AAJC”) is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1991. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all. For 30 years, we have served as the leading Asian American voice on civil rights issues in our nation’s capital – fighting for the rights of our communities through policy advocacy, litigation, research, public education, and community engagement. 

Based in Washington, DC, Advancing Justice – AAJC is a member of the Asian Americans Advancing Justice (Advancing Justice) affiliation. With our affiliates in Atlanta, Chicago, and Southern California, we work together as equal and independent partners, operate under one name, and strive to speak with one unified and powerful voice to promote justice, empower our communities, bring local and national constituents together, and strengthen our multiracial democracy. 

This is a unionized organization, and this position is not in the collective bargaining unit. 

Offers contingent upon satisfactory reference checks. 

Application Process

Send separate attachments for cover letter, resume, and a short writing sample to Hiring Manager at hiring@advancingjustice-aajc.org or 1620 L Street NW, Suite 1050, Washington, DC 20036. Applications with all three items attached will be considered. Offers will be extended based upon satisfactory reference checks.  

Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC is an equal opportunity employer.