The Association for association professionals in Chicagoland

The Development Associate supports the fundraising, stewardship, and operational efforts of the Oncology Nursing Foundation by focusing on annual fund growth, grassroots and digital fundraising initiatives, and individual donor engagement. This role strengthens donor retention, expands opportunities for new donor acquisition, and plays a pivotal part in deepening fundraising relationships with ONS Chapters nationwide.

Working closely with the Director of Development, the Development Associate helps execute annual giving strategies, works alongside development operations and data analytics, and contributes to the creation and implementation of emerging fundraising programs. This position is ideal for an early-career development professional seeking to build experience across multiple facets of nonprofit fundraising.

This is a full-time REMOTE (work-from-home) position.  Occasional travel to the ONS Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA throughout the year will be required.

Responsibilities

Annual Fund & Individual Donor Engagement

• Support the planning, execution, and evaluation of annual fundraising campaigns, including Day of Impact, Giving Tuesday, Year-End Appeal, and ONS Congress–based efforts.
• Coordinate donor stewardship activities, including thank-you processes, donor communications, recognition, and engagement opportunities.
• Analyze giving trends to support donor retention strategies and identify opportunities for donor upgrades, reactivation, and personalized outreach.
• Assist in creating segmented donor communications across email, direct mail, digital platforms, and social channels.

Grassroots, Digital, and Emerging Fundraising Programs

• Develop and coordinate grassroots, peer-to-peer, and crowd fundraising initiatives that encourage broad community participation.
• Support DIY fundraising toolkits for ONS Chapters, individuals, and community supporters.
• Research and pilot new annual giving opportunities (monthly giving, micro-campaigns, social fundraising challenges, ambassador programs).
• Monitor performance of new fundraising programs and provide insights for growth.

ONS Chapter Fundraising Engagement

• In partnership with the Director of Development, serve as a point of contact for ONS Chapters participating in annual fundraising initiatives.
• Provide chapters with tools, resources, and talking points to support their fundraising efforts.
• Coordinate chapter stewardship, including recognition and communication of impact.
• Participate in chapter meetings or virtual events to share ONF updates as needed.

Administrative & Department Support

• Provide logistical and administrative support for fundraising events, chapter programs, and donor stewardship activities.
• Assist with preparing proposals, presentations, donor materials, and campaign collateral.
• Maintain an organized system of timelines, project trackers, and departmental dashboards.
• Collaborate across the ONE (ONS/ONF/ONCC) enterprise to support shared initiatives, ensure alignment, and strengthen cross-organizational fundraising and engagement efforts.

Strategic Collaboration & Growth Opportunities

• Participate in the development of new fundraising programs and multi-year fundraising strategies.
• Offer insights and recommendations that strengthen annual giving, grassroots fundraising, and donor engagement.
• Support long-term scalability by documenting processes, creating templates, and refining procedures.
• Contribute to a culture of philanthropy across the ONE (ONS/ONF/ONCC) ecosystem.

Work Environment & Values

• Demonstrates commitment to ONF’s mission and to supporting oncology nurses.
• Upholds a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Works collaboratively, proactively, and with curiosity to advance the Foundation’s goals.

• Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; ability to craft compelling stories and donor messaging.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, and data integrity.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite; comfort with CRM/databases and reporting tools.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build rapport with donors, volunteers, chapter leaders, and colleagues.
• Creativity and willingness to develop new fundraising approaches.
• 3–5 years of experience in nonprofit development, annual giving, marketing, or related fields.
• Experience working with volunteer leaders or chapters/affiliates is preferred.
• Familiarity with peer-to-peer fundraising platforms or grassroots campaign development is preferred.
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