Development Assistant

826 Boston’s Development Assistant will be a key support for 826 Boston’s Development and Communications team. The Development Assistant will implement our signature peer-to-peer fundraising event—the Half Half Half Half Half Marathon—while supporting donor stewardship and team operations. This role is perfect for someone who thrives on managing logistics, enjoys creative problem-solving, and is excited about inspiring donor support through events, thoughtful communication, and efficient systems. The ideal candidate is a fast learner, a detail-oriented team player with strong communication and project management skills. 

Mission

826 Boston is a nonprofit writing, tutoring, and publishing organization where students in grades K-12 and beyond can share their stories, amplify their voices, and develop as leaders in school and in life.

Responsibilities

The Donor Assistant will work 40 hours a week. Regular in-person hours are required. Applicants must reside in Massachusetts and be able to commute to the in-person location listed below before the role starts.  

• In-Person Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 9am - 5pm with flexibility as needed
• In-Person Location: 1865 Columbus Ave., Roxbury, MA 02119
• Remote Hours: Most Fridays. Required all-team meetings, professional development, and tasks occur on virtual Fridays. 
  • Occasional departmental and organizational meetings will take place on Fridays at our Tutoring Center located at 3035 Washington Street, Roxbury, MA 02119.

Data operations and development team support (60%)

• Maintain and update CRM donor database (Salesforce) with accurate and timely donor information and communication efforts across multiple portfolio managers
• Manage personalized and timely acknowledgment for all donors, including overseeing intern support during high-volume acknowledgement season.
• Provide research on 826 community supporters to encourage tailored outreach and strategy Encourage continued support from 826 Boston donors through research and personalized outreach. 
• Support day-to-day operations by tracking and ordering development team supplies and mailing materials.
• Support the execution of seasonal fundraising mailings, including annual appeal and digital fundraisers.
• Assist the Development team with planning, preparation, and execution for at least five fundraising events throughout the year.

Peer-to-Peer fundraiser (40%)

• Coordinate the annual Half Half Half Half Half Marathon, 826 Boston’s peer-to-peer fundraiser, including securing sponsorships, maximizing attendance, pre-event timeline, day-of logistics, and  event staffing towards a goal of $40,000
• Partner with the Digital Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator to ensure timely and engaging communications and social media for participants throughout the event lifecycle With the Digital Fundraising and Engagement Coordinator, ensure that participants receive fundraising information.
• Serve as the main point of contact for vendors, sponsors, and community partners.
• Track and analyze event metrics to inform future planning and donor engagement efforts.

Additional Responsibilities

• Support organization-wide summer programming as needed.
• Provide support at select outreach and fundraising events, including one early morning, and nights and weekends on rare occasions.
• Support the Development and communications team with administrative tasks.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is a team player with a steadfast commitment to improving the quality of K-12 education, a desire to work in a collaborative and inclusive culture, and a passion for youth empowerment through writing and publishing.

826 Boston recognizes that impostor syndrome and the confidence gap might prevent some applicants from applying. Few candidates will have all of the relevant experience listed below, but 826 Boston is committed to assessing candidates with transferable skills and a willingness to be trained for this role.

Skills and Experiences 

• 0-2 years relevant experience.
• Interest in fundraising, events, or nonprofit work, with related internship, volunteer, or campus leadership experience a plus
• Ability to collaborate and work independently, including initiating contact and building relationships 
• Willingness to learn new systems and skills, with a proactive and positive attitude
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple timelines
• Computer proficiency in Google Suite; Familiarity with customer relationship management software (like Salesforce) is a plus
• Commitment to educational equity and youth empowerment
• Must have strong written communication skills with an emphasis on proofreading 
• Experience with mission-aligned nonprofits in Boston is a plus

Compensation

Salary and Benefits: 826 Boston offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience in a similar position, with the potential for an annual performance-based bonus. The salary for this position is $42,000 annually. 

We offer competitive salaries and benefits and are committed to equity, trust, and transparency in compensation. Basing compensation on someone’s ability to negotiate or their prior salary can lead to inequities and bias in how people are paid, particularly for groups experiencing historical oppression. Therefore, we do not ask for prior pay history from our candidates, and our offer-making process is negotiation-free for salaries and benefits. We determine the best possible salary offer based on relevant experience and the extent to which candidates demonstrate the competencies for the role during the entire hiring process. New hires are typically brought into the organization at a salary between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint, depending on qualifications, internal equity, and the budgeted amount for the role.  

Benefits include flexible work from home options, generous paid time off (including 15 PTO days, accrued sick leave, 13 paid holidays, 6 Summer Fridays off, and an organization wide two-week winter break); health, dental, and vision insurance (826 Boston covers 80% of premiums), parental leave, paid sabbaticals, and more.

This is an exempt, full-time position (40 hours a week) that reports to the Development Director. The ideal start date is September 8, 2026. 

826 Boston Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement 

At 826 Boston, we honor and actively work toward diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) across our organization. We are committed to centering the voices of the students whom we serve, to creating inclusive spaces, and to incorporating feedback from our community into our decision-making processes. Our DEI lens is always evolving through the courageous conversations in which we participate and the relationships that we build through our work and service. We strengthen our cultural competency through experience, training, and feedback, which informs the development of all new organizational practices and goals and the evaluation of all existing procedures.

826 Boston is dedicated to providing a platform for student advocacy through writing and publishing opportunities. In our work and mission, we are committed to dismantling white supremacy culture by recognizing that we are complicit in systems of racism and oppression. We will work to hold ourselves accountable in addressing these harmful structures and behaviors. 

About Us

826 Boston is part of a national network of youth writing centers, co-founded by the award-winning author Dave Eggers and educator Nínive Calegari, that were named in GOOD Magazine’s “30 Places We Want to Work.” Since opening in 2007, 826 Boston has delivered its free youth writing and tutoring programs to more than 35,000 students and has been recognized by The Boston Globe as one of the best places in the city to volunteer. 826 Boston’s youth writers have published their work in The New York Times, The Boston Globe, and in numerous award-winning 826 Boston books, including A Place for Me in the World, which was hailed as a “triumph of middle school education” by The Boston Globe. In 2013, the 826 National network garnered the prestigious American Literacy Prize awarded by the Library of Congress. In 2025, 826 Boston was named one of the Bostonians of the Year by The Boston Globe for our steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Accommodations

826 Boston provides reasonable accommodations for candidates with disabilities at every stage of the application process. Disclosing a disability or requesting a need for accommodations is a separate process from admissions and will have absolutely no bearing on a candidate’s application status. 826 Boston will make every effort to meet your request, but specific requests are not guaranteed. If you need to request an accommodation, please contact Catherine Gomez at catherine@826boston.org.

How to Apply

Please include why you are interested in 826 Boston and how your experience has prepared you for this position in your cover letter. The priority application deadline for this position is June 6. After that date, applications will be considered on a rolling basis. It is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.