Now Hiring: Development Associate (Part-Time)

Location: DREDF maintains a physical office space at the Ed Roberts Campus in Berkeley, California. This position is hybrid for candidates based in the Bay Area (2-3 days per week in office) and fully remote for those outside the Bay Area.

Status: This is a part-time (.5 FTE), non-exempt position.

Union Notice: This position is part of the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund’s bargaining unit.

The Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund (DREDF) is a leading national civil rights law and policy center led by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights of people with disabilities through legal advocacy, training, education, public policy and legislative development. For over 45 years, DREDF has been at the forefront of disability rights advocacy, fighting for the legal and civil rights of disabled people nationwide.

We are looking for a Development Associate to join our team and help grow DREDF’s fundraising and development efforts. In this role, you will keep our donor database organized, build relationships with our supporters, and help plan and run events that raise awareness for our work. This position works closely with the Executive Director and Development Director.

Donor Data Management

• Keep donor records up to date in our database, making sure all information is accurate and complete.
• Record all donations, pledges, and payments promptly.
• Pull reports and data to help the team understand giving trends and plan outreach.
• Help create and follow clear procedures for managing donor data.

Donor Engagement & Stewardship

• Be a friendly and responsive point of contact for donors who reach out with questions.
• Help write and send thank-you letters, updates, and other communications to donors.
• Stay in regular touch with current donors to show appreciation and keep them connected to our work.
• Find meaningful ways to recognize donors for their generosity.
• Work with the team to move donors through stages of deeper engagement and giving.

Special Events & Visibility Initiatives

• Help plan, promote, and run fundraising events, donor gatherings, campaigns, and community outreach activities.
• Help handle event logistics like coordinating vendors, managing volunteers, and supporting day-of operations.
• Create event materials such as invitations, programs, and sponsorship packets.
• Bring ideas for new events and partnerships that help more people learn about DREDF.

Required

• A bachelor’s degree.
• 1–2 years of experience in fundraising, development, communications, project development, event management, or a similar role, ideally in a nonprofit setting.
• Comfortable using donor management or CRM software (such as Bloomerang, Salesforce, Raiser’s Edge, or DonorPerfect).
• Strong writing and communication skills, with the ability to connect with a wide range of people.
• Organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to handle multiple tasks at once.
• Comfortable with Google Workspace.

Preferred

• Experience helping plan and run events.
• Familiarity with fundraising and donor stewardship.
• Experience with email marketing tools like Mailchimp.

The salary for this part-time position is $35,700/year.

We take care of our team. Benefits include health, vision, and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan with a discretionary employer match of up to 7% after your first year, a flexible spending account, paid time off, and support for your professional growth.

DREDF values diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, and does not discriminate based on race, color, ethnicity, national origin, age, religion, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, or weight. We encourage and welcome people of color, people with disabilities, higher weight people, parents of children with disabilities, LGBTQI+ people, and people with diverse life experiences and backgrounds to apply.

To apply, please email a letter expressing your interest, as well as your resume or a link to your LinkedIn profile, to apply@dredf.org. Please write “Development Associate” in the subject line. Note: references are not required for the initial application but may be requested as part of the final stages of the selection process.

We want the application process to work for everyone. If you need any accommodations, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

We appreciate your interest! Applications will be accepted until March 16, 2026. Only candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.