Institutional Advancement Associate Job at Engage Cleveland (Lakewood)

Job Description

The Institutional Advancement Associate plays a critical role in executing annual giving campaigns, donor stewardship, tasks that support the Institutional Advancement team, and special events at Beck Center for the Arts. This individual will ensure the accurate and timely processing of gifts, plan and coordinate fundraising and donor events, and support donor engagement strategies. The ideal candidate is an outgoing, detail-oriented, and organized professional who thrives on building relationships and ensuring a positive donor experience. This position is ideal for someone who is eager to grow in donor relations, annual giving, and event-based fundraising within a well-established, community-oriented nonprofit organization.

Job Responsibility

Process daily gifts, ensuring accurate entry and donor recognition within 48 hours using PatronManager (Salesforce-based CRM).
Develop and execute direct mail and email appeals, including solicitation letters and online fundraising campaigns.
Work with the Director of Individual Giving to develop donor prospect lists, fundraising strategies, and planned giving leads.
Create donation letters, in-kind letters, and thank you notes for donors and partners
Work with Pres & CEO of Beck Center and the Associate Director of Community Engagement on stewardship of Community Partners and Collaborators.
Maintain and oversee the annual calendar of donor contacts, ensuring regular communication with key donors and prospects.
Collect, track, and analyze fundraising data and results by appeal and fiscal year.
Proof Institutional Advancement materials, grants, proposals, and letters of interest, as well as philanthropic materials, and marketing materials
Assist in scheduling donor meetings, preparing talking points, assembling presentations, and coordinating Institutional Advancement meetings.
Assist the Director of Individual Giving by serving as a daily point of contact for donors, cultivating new relationships and ensuring excellent donor experiences.
Provide timely reporting and assist with data analysis through PatronManager and OneCause platforms.
Assist with fundraising and donor events, including the Spotlight Annual Gala, donor cultivation events, private events, and stewardship receptions, as needed
Coordinate with staff, vendors, and volunteer leaders to execute high-quality fundraising events.
Oversee some food and beverage arrangements, setup requests, space rentals, and strike for those events.
Support staff meetings and additional events as needed.
Work community events, including but not limited to, Lakewood 4th of July Parade, Lakewood Arts Fest, Best of the West, and other events that engage current and new constituents of Beck Center.
Collaborate on the creation of marketing and development materials for fundraising campaigns and donor communications.
Assist in preparing presentations and reports for internal and board needs.
Support online giving initiatives, including social media campaigns and digital fundraising strategies.

Requirements

Education: Degree in a relevant field preferred, commensurate experience will also be considered.
Experience: 2+ years of nonprofit development-focused experience preferred but not mandatory.
Understanding of fundraising, donor relations, and event management, preferably in an arts or nonprofit setting.
Proficiency in PatronManager (Salesforce CRM) or similar donor database systems.
Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines.
Enthusiasm for interacting with donors in person, by phone, and via email.
Self-motivated, goal-oriented, and a proactive self-starter.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
Passion for the arts and nonprofit fundraising.
Ability to work collaboratively in a team-oriented environment while also independently managing tasks.
Experience in arts, culture, education, or community-based organizations strongly preferred.
Must have a valid driver’s license and the ability to travel locally for donor events and meetings.
Availability for some evenings and weekends as required for events.
Ability to work onsite in Lakewood, Ohio, at least three days a week, with some hybrid flexibility.

Nice to have

Customer service or hospitality experience a plus.
Experience supporting annual giving programs, including appeals and stewardship workflows
Demonstrated understanding of donor lifecycle management, from acquisition through retention and upgrade
Familiarity with online giving platforms, peer-to-peer fundraising tools, and/or ticketing systems
Experience maintaining accurate donor records, gift coding, and acknowledgements
Strong data hygiene practices and ability to generate standard and ad hoc fundraising reports
Proven ability to manage event timelines, budgets, and logistics for multiple events simultaneously
Experience working with volunteers, board members, and donor committees in event or cultivation settings
Comfortable coordinating vendors and internal partners to ensure smooth execution
Experience drafting donor-facing communications, including day-to-day emails, invitations, and follow-up messaging
Strong proofreading and editing skills with an eye for clarity and warmth
Understanding of how marketing and development intersect to drive engagement
Adaptable and responsive in a fast-paced, event-heavy arts environment
Comfortable balancing behind-the-scenes administrative work with frequent donor-facing interactions
Professional, personable, and able to represent the organization with confidence and care
Organized, creative, detail-oriented, proactive, energetic, collaborative

Engage Cleveland - All Job Offers

Select Country

Institutional Advancement Associate

Job Description

Job Responsibility

Requirements

Nice to have

Looking for more opportunities?

Institutional Advancement Associate

Associate Project Officer- Research

Research Associate I - R&D, Complex Product Development

Division Head, Neuroradiology

Director of the Konza Prairie Biological Station

Nurse Shift Manager NICU

Research Associate I, R&D Complex Product Development

Research Associate I - R&D, Complex Product Development

Corporate and Transactional Paralegal

Our AI answers in your language