Advancement Associate

*HIRING BONUS: $750!*

At Avalon, housing is a human right. Our mission is to build healthy, safe and inclusive supportive housing communities as a long-term solution to homelessness.

Avalon Housing is a non-profit supportive housing provider. Supportive housing is a combination of affordable housing paired with services, such as case management. We don't just help people find housing, we help people stay and thrive in their homes.

If you are passionate about creating more diverse, inclusive, and equitable communities where all people are welcome, Avalon may be a good fit for you.

The Mission Advancement Team works closely and collaboratively with other Avalon departments to ensure that Avalon has the resources and support needed to fulfill its mission. They oversee private fundraising, volunteers, government support, advocacy, and all external public communications, including community engagement.

The Advancement Associate ensures that all donors to Avalon Housing have a positive experience interacting with our organization. They assist the Director of Mission Advancement with implementing the agency's Fund Development Plan, including donor relations (cultivation and stewardship), fundraising events and appeals, data entry and analysis, public relations, and volunteer support. The Advancement Associate is the team lead for data tracking, data entry and donor and community volunteer stewardship efforts. They will act as the primary agency contact for entry and mid-level donors and take the administrative lead on all appeals and stewardship reports.

In addition to a competitive salary, here are some of the key benefits that Avalon staff receive:

Paid Time Off Paid time off includes three weeks of vacation time plus additional sick and personal time allowances. There is also an extra paid holiday every month!

Medical Full-time employees can choose from three different medical insurance plans with dental, vision, and prescription coverage, including an option with no per-payroll premium contribution, even for families! Your personal annual deductible is capped at $1,000.

Life and Disability Plan All staff working more than 16 hours per week are provided life insurance and short- and long-term disability plans, with Avalon covering the premium cost.

403(b) Retirement Plan Avalon sponsors a 403(b) retirement plan through Vanguard, available to all employees.

Core Responsibilities Include:

Donor Cultivation and Stewardship

• Processing donations and preparing acknowledgment letters and other correspondence within 48 business hours of receipt
• Coordinate production and dissemination of several segmented direct mail appeals and updates each year
• Oversee donor database records in partnership with the Director of Mission Advancement
• Act as the main point of contact for entry-level, mid-level, recurring/monthly donors, and community groups/organizations

External Affairs and Special Events

• Advance the organization's mission and story with external audiences, including volunteers, donors and supporters, by:
  • Handling in-kind and volunteer inquiries, disseminating relevant volunteer opportunities
  • Representing Avalon Housing at third party outreach and fundraising events as needed

• Support the coordination of annual fundraising events, including:
  • Maintaining attendee lists
  • Gathering and preparing registration and program materials
  • Ensuring that attendees are properly recognized and stewarded before, during and after these events

Desired Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in communications, business or related field preferred
• Two to five years' experience in an administrative position with a consistent track record of exceeding goals and expectations, preferably in a fast-paced start-up or small nonprofit environment
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to juggle multiple priorities simultaneously
• Demonstrated strong written and oral communication skills and ability to effectively negotiate with multiple stakeholders
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), social media, web navigation, and database management required and demonstrated proficiency with running mail merges
• Experience using development database
• Valid driver's license and access to personal transportation

Job Title:Advancement Associate

Reports to: Director of Mission Advancement

Location: This position and office is based in Ann Arbor, MI with some WFH flexibility

Status: Full time position, salaried, non-exempt

Starting Wage: $53,000

Benefits including excellent health insurance options, dental & vision, 403(b), generous vacation and additional holidays, Life / AD&D / Short and long-term disability plans, Employee Assistance & Wellness programs

Avalon Housing is an equal opportunity employer and actively seeks applicants from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, as well as historically marginalized groups. This includes but is not limited to underrepresented gender identities, sexual/romantic orientations and/or relationship structures, people living with disabilities or mental health conditions, and with lived experience with homelessness or recovery from a substance use disorder, and people with underrepresented religious and/or socio-economic backgrounds. Avalon also encourages those with criminal histories to apply. Avalon doesn't request information about criminal histories until an offer of employment is extended. Avalon will not exclude someone based on criminal history unless it is determined the criminal history is related to or directly conflicts with the responsibilities of the position. We are committed to transparency about our decision making process, and will seek clarifying information from an applicant to help us make a determination in this regard.