Development Associate

Organization Description

Grow Brooklyn's mission is to preserve and grow the assets of our community members, thereby securing their economic future. Integral in our fulfillment of that mission are our direct client services in the areas of tax prep, financial counseling, and legal services. Most of our work is focused on the historically marginalized, mostly Black and brown neighborhoods of Central and Eastern Brooklyn.

The Foreclosure Prevention Program works with homeowners at risk of losing their home to help track a course back to financial and legal stability. The Program has a full-time staff of one foreclosure prevention counselor and two attorneys, all of whom help clients to understand their loan documents, assess their financial situation, and apply for workouts from their mortgage servicers. The attorneys also represent homeowners in in-court settlement conferences and in some motion practice.

The Grow Brooklyn Free Tax Prep program, also known as VITA, offers free tax preparation to households making $97,000 annually (with dependents) and $68,000 or less (without dependents), persons with disabilities, the elderly and undocumented immigrant taxpayers. IRS-certified volunteers provide free basic income tax return preparation with electronic filing to qualified individuals. An important goal is to assist eligible taxpayers in applying for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which can result in substantial refunds for low-income working families and individuals.

Position Summary

Grow Brooklyn seeks a Development Associate with strong persuasive writing skills, impeccable organization, and a passion for community-serving work. This role supports fundraising, grant writing, donor communications, and partnership development.

This job is ideal for:

• An entry-level candidate with excellent writing skills, strong initiative, and a desire to grow in nonprofit development, or,
• A more experienced candidate drawn by the mission, schedule flexibility, and the chance to build major components of a development operation.

The Development Associate plays a key role in sustaining and expanding Grow Brooklyn's programs, working closely with the Executive Director and Managing Director.

Key Responsibilities

Grant Writing & Reporting (40%)

• Draft, edit, and submit persuasive letters of inquiry, proposals, and grant reports.
• Translate program impact into compelling narratives and data-informed justifications.
• Maintain a grants calendar and ensure all deadlines are met.
• Assist with gathering data and coordinating with program staff for submissions.

Donor Communications & Stewardship (25%)

• Develop donor-facing materials including newsletters, annual appeals, impact updates, and thank-you letters.
• Support donor engagement efforts such as small cultivation events and partner briefings.
• Maintain CRM records, updating donor information, interactions, and giving history.

Events & Campaign Support (20%)

• Support planning and execution of fundraising events, neighborhood pop-ups, and seasonal campaigns.
• Assist with sponsor outreach, event communications, and volunteer coordination.

Research & Partnership Development (10%)

• Identify new funding opportunities including foundations, corporations, and government programs.
• Conduct prospect research on donors, partners, and institutional funders.

Internal Coordination (5%)

• Participate in development team meetings.
• Assist with special projects aligned with Grow Brooklyn's strategic plan.

Qualifications

Required:

• Excellent persuasive writing skills — clear, compelling, and mission-aligned.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple deadlines.
• Commitment to economic justice, community empowerment, and asset-building.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-moving environment.
• Familiarity with Google Workspace.

Preferred but not required:

• Experience with grant writing, fundraising, or nonprofit communications.
• Experience with CRM systems (e.g., Bloomerang, Salesforce, Network for Good).
• Prior work in community development, financial empowerment, or related fields.
• Event planning experience.
• Bilingual in Spanish, Haitian Creole, or another language commonly spoken in NYC's underserved communities.
• Familiarity with NYC housing programs, such as tax exemption programs, foreclosure prevention services, and homeowner assistance programs.
• Experience in advocacy or public policy related to economic justice.

To Apply

Send your resume, a writing sample (1–2 pages), and a brief cover letter to with the subject line:

Development Associate – [Your Name]

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

Job Types: Full-time, Temporary

Pay: $ $26.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Paid time off

Ability to Relocate:

• Brooklyn, NY 11225: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Brooklyn, NY 11225