Development Associate at Pursuit in Long Island City, NY

Development Associate

About Pursuit:

Pursuit is a social impact organization that creates transformation where it’s needed most. Through our intensive, four-year software developer training program, we teach high-need, high-potential adults the technical skills and industry smarts needed to get their first tech jobs, advance in their careers, and become the next generation of leaders in tech.

Our graduates are hired by leading companies like Pinterest, Kickstarter, LinkedIn, BlackRock, and JPMorgan Chase, and increase their average annual salaries from $18,000 to over $85,000. By connecting talent with opportunity, Pursuit empowers graduates to transform their families, tech companies, and communities across the nation.

About the Role:

As Pursuit’s Development Associate, you will support the Development and Employer Services team in driving fundraising, donor engagement, employer partnership efforts, and strategic initiatives across Pursuit and Pursuit Benefit Corporation (PBC).

This is a high-impact role within a fast-paced, startup-like environment managing a fundraising pipeline exceeding $150M and hundreds of external stakeholder relationships annually. The ideal candidate is highly organized, intellectually curious, responsive, and energized by managing multiple priorities simultaneously.

You will support relationship managers across foundation, corporate, and high-net-worth donor partnerships by conducting research, preparing stakeholder briefs, drafting proposals and reports, and supporting communications and operational workflows. You will also help support emerging AI-focused partnership initiatives, employer engagement efforts, and special projects.

This role is ideal for someone who enjoys balancing strategy and execution, thrives in ambiguity, and wants exposure to fundraising, partnerships, operations, and project management within a mission-driven organization.

About You:

• Comfortable in an ambiguous environment
• Able to reprioritize quickly
• Highly organized and detail-oriented
• Resourceful and proactive
• Growth mindset
• Collaborative and team-oriented
• Analytical and intellectually curious
• Comfortable in a high-volume, fast-moving environment
• Strong writer and communicator

Key Responsibilities:

Donor Research & Fundraising Support

• Conduct donor research and prepare briefing materials and stakeholder profiles
• Draft and edit proposals, reports, and funder submissions
• Support grant reporting and track deadlines
• Support relationship managers across foundation, corporate, and individual donor streams
• Assist with management of a complex, high-volume fundraising pipeline

Donor Communications

• Draft donor correspondence and thank-you letters
• Support newsletters and donor-facing materials
• Prepare talking points, meeting briefs, and follow-up communications

Data Management & Systems

• Maintain Salesforce and Excel tracking tools
• Organize, clean, and analyze data
• Improve internal systems, reporting, and operational processes

Employer & PBC Support

• Maintain employer records
• Support employer-related initiatives and workforce partnerships
• Assist with AI-focused partnership projects and workshop initiatives

Project Management & Administrative Support

• Coordinate schedules, deadlines, meetings, and deliverables
• Support AI workshop grant tracking and implementation
• Assist with communications for the CDO and broader team
• Manage project follow-ups, weekly reporting, and stakeholder coordination
• Support workshop tracking and implementation

Requirements:

• 2–4 years relevant experience
• Strong organizational and project management skills
• Excellent communication and writing skills
• Experience with CRM tools (Salesforce preferred)
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• High level of discretion
• Strong analytical and research skills
• Passion for Pursuit’s mission

Compensation: $80,000 - $90,000

Where You’ll Work: Hybrid schedule (Mon/Fri remote; Tues–Thurs in office)
Location: Long Island City, NY
Time Commitment: Full-time

Pursuit offers: 

• An opportunity to work at the intersection of tech and social impact, and make a direct impact on the communities of those we serve.
• Competitive compensation in base, plus bonus and a full benefits package
• 401k Match
• Unlimited PTO and an all-Pursuit summer break the last week of August and a week-long holiday the last week of December
• Hybrid workspace: Tu - Th on site in Long Island City, Monday and Friday work from anywhere policy
• Catered lunches once a week and delicious snacks
• Dedicated time to build in AI and hone your AI skills

Pursuit values diversity: 

Our team has a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and we value the richness that diversity brings to our organization. We welcome new perspectives and affirm that all employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, ancestry, religion, national origin, age, familial or marital status, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy, gender identity or expression, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other classification protected by federal, state, or local law. Pursuit is an equal opportunity employer.