Join Our Team!

Make a Lasting Impact in Santa Cruz County

Build a stronger Santa Cruz County by joining our team! Our employees are passionate about the work we do and the impact we are making in people’s lives and in our community. And as an employer, we’re fortunate to have a diverse, collaborative and hardworking team of professionals—all of whom are dedicated to improving the lives of people in need.

Our United Way offers a flexible work environment built on transparency and trust and most team members have hybrid schedules. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, dental, employer contribution to employee's 403(b) retirement, paid vacation, and sick time off.

United Way Core Competencies for All Staff

  • Mission-Focused: Enroll others' commitment to mission to create real social change that leads to better lives and healthier communities. This drives their performance and professional motivations.
  • Relationship-Oriented: Understands that people come before process and is astute in cultivating and managing relationship toward a common goal. 
  • Collaborator: Understands the roles and contributions of all sectors of the community and can mobilize resources (financial and human) through meaningful engagement. 
  • Results-Driven: Dedicated to shared and measurable goals for the common good; creating, resourcing, scaling, and leveraging strategies and innovations for broad investment and impact. 
  • Brand Steward: Steward of the brand and understands their role in growing and protecting the reputation and results of the greater network. 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Expectations for All Staff:

  • Behaviors reflect a belief that individuals from diverse backgrounds lead to a more successful organization.
  • Educates self about Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with the organization and community. 
  • Demonstrates a willingness to become aware of and address one's own implicit bias.
  • Deliberately works to include individuals from underrepresented backgrounds in efforts both internally and externally as appropriate.
  • Identifies and integrates the tools and resources needed to create more equitable environments. 

Openings

Thank you for your interest in working on behalf of Santa Cruz County!

United Way of Santa Cruz County is seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Development Associate – Donor Operations & Community Engagement to support the organization's fundraising, donor stewardship, grant development, and revenue management efforts.

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, this position serves as the primary lead for donor operations, grants management, workplace campaigns, CRM administration, fundraising reporting, and gift processing. The position plays a critical role in securing and stewarding both unrestricted and restricted funding that advances United Way's mission and strategic priorities.

This position works closely with the Development Associate – Marketing & Community Engagement. While each role has designated areas of ownership, both positions collaborate on fundraising initiatives, sponsorship development, community engagement activities, and organizational events.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Donor Operations & CRM Management

  • Serve as primary administrator of the organization's donor database and CRM platform.
  • Process donations, sponsorships, pledges, recurring gifts, and other charitable contributions.
  • Maintain accurate donor, sponsor, volunteer, and stakeholder records.
  • Generate fundraising reports, dashboards, and donor analytics.
  • Manage donor acknowledgements and tax receipts.
  • Ensure data integrity and quality control across all fundraising systems.
  • Assist with donation reconciliation and financial reporting.

Grants Management

  • Research and identify grant opportunities from government, foundation, corporate, and community funding sources.
  • Prepare, write, and submit grant proposals, letters of inquiry, sponsorship requests, and funding applications.
  • Manage grant reporting requirements and compliance deadlines.
  • Coordinate with program and finance staff to collect outcomes, financial information, and supporting documentation.
  • Maintain grant calendars, records, agreements, and reporting schedules.
  • Assist with identifying both unrestricted and restricted funding opportunities.

Workplace Campaigns & Fundraising Operations

  • Coordinate workplace giving campaigns and employee engagement activities.
  • Serve as staff liaison to participating employers.
  • Track campaign performance and fundraising outcomes.
  • Support sponsorship tracking and stewardship activities.
  • Conduct donor and prospect research.
  • Support fundraising campaigns and annual giving efforts.

Community Engagement

  • Build and maintain positive relationships with donors, sponsors, volunteers, and community partners.
  • Represent United Way at meetings, events, presentations, and community gatherings as assigned.
  • Deliver presentations and speak on behalf of the organization when requested.

Shared Organizational Responsibilities

Events & Fundraising

  • Plan, coordinate, and support all United Way fundraising and community events.
  • Assist with event logistics, sponsorship fulfillment, registration, volunteer coordination, donor engagement, and event execution.
  • Participate in sponsor cultivation and stewardship activities.
  • Support fundraising campaigns and revenue-generating initiatives.
  • Assist in identifying and securing unrestricted funding opportunities.

Team Collaboration

  • Work closely with the Development Associate – Marketing & Community Engagement to achieve fundraising and engagement goals.
  • Support interns and volunteers assigned to development projects.
  • Collaborate across United4Youth, United4Community, 211, and other organizational initiatives.
  • Assist other departments and organizational priorities as needed.

Organizational Culture

United Way of Santa Cruz County operates in a highly collaborative environment. Staff members are expected to work across departments and initiatives, support organizational priorities beyond their primary responsibilities, and contribute to the success of fundraising efforts, community engagement activities, volunteer initiatives, and special events. Flexibility, teamwork, and a mission-first mindset are essential to success.

Knowledge, Skills & Qualifications

  • Associate's or Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent experience.
  • Minimum two years of experience in fundraising, donor relations, grants management, nonprofit administration, or related field.
  • Experience managing CRM or donor database systems.
  • Strong written communication and grant writing skills.
  • Excellent organizational and project management abilities.
  • Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities.
  • Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and cloud-based software.
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
  • Strong interpersonal and presentation skills.
  • Bilingual English/Spanish preferred.

Work Schedule & Expectations

  • 25 hours per week, generally Monday through Friday, approximately five hours per day.
  • Schedule may vary depending on fundraising campaigns, grant deadlines, community meetings, and organizational priorities.
  • Evening and weekend work will occasionally be required.
  • Local travel throughout Santa Cruz County is expected.
  • Attendance at fundraising events, community events, volunteer activities, and organizational functions is required.

Pay: $27.81 per hour

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Our policy: 
United Way employment practices are implemented without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religious beliefs, age, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, military status or any other basis protected by federal, state or local fair employment practice laws.

 

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