Job Description
About Bellwether
Bellwether is a national nonprofit that exists to transform education to ensure students furthest from opportunity achieve outcomes that lead to fulfilling lives and flourishing communities. We work hand in hand with education leaders and organizations to accelerate their impact, inform and influence policy and program design, and share what we learn along the way.
We are a remote-first team, and our work is national in scope, so our flexible working style allows our professionals to work where they have built their lives, which means Bellwether can hire the best person for each role, regardless of geography. This role can be based anywhere in the United States. Up to approximately 10-15% travel may be required.
Our philanthropic revenue comes almost exclusively from institutional foundation grants across 15 portfolios of work.
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About the Role
Bellwether seeks a Senior Development Associate to join our development team. This role reports to the Senior Development Manager and works in close partnership with the Senior Director of Development and Program Team colleagues.
Bellwether’s grant portfolio is growing. This role exists to make sure growth is matched by strong reporting, clean data, and a clear view of our funder pipeline. It serves as the connective tissue between our funder relationships and our systems of record. You’ll own grant reporting end to end, build the systems that keep 15 portfolios coordinated, and give the team a reliable picture of each funder relationship.
Core Responsibilities
Grant Reporting (40%)
- Own the full grant reporting lifecycle, from deliverable tracking through submission, ensuring every report is accurate, high-quality, and on time.
- Collect and synthesize input from project leads, finance, and senior leadership that connects work completed to stated grant outcomes.
- Manage the reporting calendar and funder portal logistics, including deadlines, requirements, credentials, and submission status.
Pipeline and Moves Management (20%)
- Log funder interactions, meetings, and next steps to build institutional knowledge of these relationships.
- Track cultivation moves against stage, owner, amount, and timing; surface stalled opportunities before they go cold.
- Produce pipeline summaries and revenue snapshots for team meetings, board reporting, and planning cycles.
Systems and Grant Operations (20%)
- Build and maintain the trackers, templates, and documentation that keep grant coordination consistent across the entire grant portfolio.
- Maintain data hygiene in Salesforce for grants, funder records, and opportunity stages.
- Write and update a grants procedure manual so processes are documented and repeatable.
- Partner with finance to reconcile grant payments and issue timely acknowledgments.
Prospect Research (10%)
- Identify and qualify new institutional funding prospects aligned with Bellwether’s priority areas.
- Write concise prospect memos covering funder priorities, giving history, and recommended entry points.
- Monitor funder announcements, requests for proposal (RFPs), and leadership changes, flagging time-sensitive opportunities for the team.
Team Contribution (10%)
- Use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to raise the quality and speed of research, drafting, and data work, with judgment about when human review is essential.
- Build trusted working relationships with leaders across the organization.
- Contribute to team meetings and planning for development and external relations.
- Travel two to four times per year for team and organization-wide convenings.
Recommended Qualifications
- 2-4 years of nonprofit development experience, or equivalent experience.
- Education sector and institutional/foundation giving preferred but not required.
- Strong writing and communication skills, including the ability to synthesize complex program, budget, and outcomes information into clear, compelling narratives for funder audiences.
- Demonstrated experience with grant reporting, prospect research, and pipeline coordination.
- Proven project management skills, including the ability to manage a high volume of deliverables, competing deadlines, and multiple stakeholders independently.
- Exceptional organizational skills and attention to operational detail, including managing calendars, keeping accurate records, and maintaining consistent processes and documentation.
- Sound judgment in using AI tools, including appropriate verification of AI-generated content and careful handling of sensitive donor and organizational information.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and Google Workspace; Claude/ChatGPT and Salesforce experience strongly preferred.
Compensation
The base salary range for incoming team members in this role is $77,250 to $82,250 annually, with eligibility for an annual performance bonus targeted at $4,113 based on individual and organizational success. While the final offer amount will be determined by multiple factors — including previous experience and content knowledge — and may vary from the stated range, Bellwether is committed to transparency, and all offers align with our compensation philosophy.
Bellwether provides competitive compensation and an attractive benefits package that includes a performance bonus based on individual and organizational success, healthcare coverage, and a 401(k) plan with matching employer contributions.
To Apply
Use your online application — a custom letter of interest and a current resume — to show us you have the skills listed here or why the skills you have are the ones we actually need. You should also use your application materials to highlight how your background and experience align with Bellwether’s mission, including our commitment to helping young people furthest from opportunity. This role has a priority application deadline of September 17, 2026. While we prioritize applications received on or before that date, we will review applications as we receive them until the position is filled.
Note: Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the United States. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment visa at this time.
Use of AI in Hiring
Our team may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of our hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, summarizing interviews, or assessing responses. These tools help our teams work efficiently, but they never replace human judgment. Our team makes every final hiring decision. If you have questions about how we process candidate data, please reach out to us at [email protected].
Bellwether is committed to providing equal opportunities. It is our policy to ensure that all individuals with whom we are in contact are not discriminated against based on age, race, ethnicity, color, disability, gender identity, gender expression, political viewpoint, marital status, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status. Further, as described above, Bellwether is committed to building a diverse team and strongly encourages individuals from all backgrounds to apply.
