Development Operations Associate

Purpose of the Position

The Development Operations Associate manages the donor database/CRM, pledges and donation processing, digital fundraising infrastructure, and manages email lists, tagging, and segmentation for email platforms. This role ensures data and list integrity, accurate record keeping for all gifts and pledges, timely automated and manual gift acknowledgements and donor recognition, and supports email communication through precise list management. The ideal candidate is highly organized, detail-oriented, a systems-thinker, and tech-savvy.

This role also supports events for the Helix School and Helix Adult Academy and may require occasional evening and weekend availability for events as needed.

The Development Operations Associate is a non-exempt, hybrid position working 32 hours per week (0.80 FTE) in the Development Department. Reporting to the Annual Fund Development Manager, this role supports fundraising operations, donor database management, gift processing, and development events for The Helix School and The Helix Adult Academy. The position requires a minimum of two days per week on-site in San Rafael and offers an hourly rate of $36.06–$39.06, depending on experience.

Employees working 30 or more hours per week are eligible for benefits in accordance with The Helix School's benefit plans and policies.

• CRM & Database Management
  • Serve as the primary system administrator for the Bloomerang CRM and QGIV fundraising suite, and Mailchimp email platforms
  • Maintain accurate and up-to-date constituent profiles and gift records, ensuring data integrity
  • Run routine database audits, clean-up queries, and deduplication processes
  • Sync data across platforms and sources including donors, event attendees, current and former school families and staff, board members, and subscriber lists across multiple platforms
• Gift Processing & Grant Tracking
  • Donation Entry:
    Process all incoming checks, credit cards, ACH, and stock gifts.
  • Acknowledgment Letters:
    Generate and send tax receipts within established timelines
  • Grants Research:
    Research potential grants for Helix School and Adult Academy collaborating with the Director of Development
  • Grant Pipeline:
    Track grant deadlines, proposals, awards, and reporting schedules
• Digital Fundraising, Events & Communications
  • Event Production:
    Provide hands‑on operational and logistical support for all events
  • List Segmentation:
    Segment email lists and apply target tags for campaigns
  • Email Journeys:
    Build, test, and manage automated email journeys in Mailchimp and Bloomerang supporting as guided by Development Manager
  • Fundraising Forms:
    Build, test, and optimize online donation pages and Google Form surveys
  • Mobile Giving:
    Set up, monitor, and report on text-to-give campaigns
  • Event Outreach:
    Create and deploy event invitations using Paperless Post
  • Mail Merges:
    Execute complex mail merges for physical direct mail appeals
  • Online Auction & Event Registration:
    Support Gala & 5K events on select 3rd party platforms for auctions, events, invitations, etc.

• Education, Experience & Competencies
  • Education:
    
    Hold the minimum of an associate degree from an accredited college or university
  • Background: 1–3 years of experience in nonprofit development or database operations
  • Event Support:
    Willingness and availability to work some evenings and weekends for events
  • Precision:
    High data‑entry accuracy and strict attention to detail
  • Discretion:
    Ability to handle confidential donor financial information securely
  • Ability to manage multiple tasks simultaneously and independently
  • Excellent English language written and verbal communications
• Required Technical Proficiency and experience
  • Donor CRMs:
    Minimum 1 year advanced hands‑on experience in Salesforce, Blackbaud, e‑Tapestry, Bloomerang, QGiv, or other comparable CRMs and fundraising platforms
  • Email:
    Direct experience and demonstrable skills managing email lists and campaigns in Mailchimp, Bloomerang, Constant Contact, or Hub Spot
  • Core technologies:
    Proficient in Microsoft Word (editing functions), Excel (filters, Pivot tables, VLookUP), Powerpoint;
    Google Suite programs, fundraising, and preference for expertise in content…