Development Associate at Aperture

Aperture is a not-for-profit organization, connecting the photo community and its audiences with the most inspiring work, with the sharpest ideas, and with each other—in print, in person, and online.

Created in 1952 by photographers and writers as “common ground for the advancement of photography,” Aperture today is a multiplatform publisher and center for the photo community. From our base in New York, we produce, publish, and present a program of photography projects, locally and internationally. The foundation offers public programs including lectures, workshops, panel discussions, and conferences that contribute to and expand the dialogue on photography’s role in our society, as well as outreach education for children and teens, building visual literacy and aimed to engage diverse new audiences. More information about Aperture can be found at aperture.org.

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POSITION SUMMARY
Aperture seeks a Development Associate to provide essential program and administrative support for the Development team, ensuring the smooth operation of all aspects of the department’s goals and initiatives. The Development Associate is responsible for maintaining the department’s priority-setting calendar; supporting institutional and individual giving activities; maintaining donor records in Salesforce; overseeing the gift processing and acknowledgement process; producing contributed income reports and donor listings; and assisting with the coordination of Aperture’s fundraising and patron cultivation events. Related tasks will include collaboration with Executive Director, Trustees, and colleagues in other departments as needed.
The Development Associate reports to the Individual Giving Officer and to the Chief
Development Officer.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
• Manage Development Department schedules, clearly identify priorities and goals
set by Development staff with other departments, track projects, and coordinate
planning and communication with other departments
• Oversee administration and daily operations of the patron and membership
programs, including fulfillment of benefits, maintenance of donor records, timely
processing of upgrades and renewals, and follow-up by phone or e-mail when
necessary
• Keep track of departmental income/expenses and financial budget/projections
• Oversee gift processing, ensuring full coordination with accounting staff as well as
data and record input
• Work with the Individual Giving Officer to implement fundraising and patron
events

• Work with the Chief Development Officer to schedule trustee Development and
Nominating Committee Meetings and draft meeting minutes
• Field inquiries via phone lines and development and membership email inboxes,
providing member service/troubleshooting as necessary, while referring more
complex inquiries to appropriate Development staff
• Work with the Development team on implementation and tracking of appeals,
campaigns, and other development initiatives
• Conduct individual donor prospect research and create profiles as assigned
• Maintain department files and copies correspondence as needed
• Produce all printed matter and oversee all mailings for events, stewardship
mailings for corporate and institutional donors, patron and membership
acquisitions and renewals, and annual appeals
• Maintain department materials and coordinate proposal packets and materials,
benefit sheets and brochures, and other department ephemera
• Assist with aspects of the Annual Gala and Auction with the direction of the
Chief Development Officer
• Oversee and manage development work scholar(s) and volunteers
• Other duties as assigned

QUALIFICATIONS:
• Bachelor’s degree
• 1-3+ years’ development experience for an arts and culture organization, preferably
visual arts
• Attentive to detail, while adapting quickly to, planning for, and managing multiple
projects in a fast-paced setting
• Solid organization and communication skills, including written, oral, and active
listening
• Ability to exercise flexibility, good judgement, and discretion
• Ability to function independently yet work within a department and organizational
structure
• Understanding of Aperture’s mission and the ability to be an effective spokesperson
and representative
• Proficient use of Microsoft Office programs, internet applications, and fundraising
databases (with Salesforce experience a plus)
• Ability to travel locally and work occasional evenings and weekends.

TO APPLY
Please send a resume and professional cover letter in one PDF attachment, including salary requirements, and describe how your skills and experience meet the qualifications, to newhiredevelopment@aperture.org, using the following conventions:

Subject line: Development Associate
One PDF attachment: yourfirstname_yourlastname_coverletter and resume.pdf

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. NO CALLS, PLEASE. Only applicants who meet our requirements for this position will be contacted.
Aperture offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience, and excellent medical,
dental, life, disability, and retirement plan coverage. Our staff also has generous vacation,
sick leave, and personal days, access to a variety of cultural institutions, and a stimulating and collegial work environment.